getting closer

Tomorrow is moving day for sure...as today we made a big dent in moving aboard and getting all the systems up and running.

The boys started the morning by unloading the car top
carrier to get to the 6hp outboard he bought for the dink.

Got her mounted and fired up on the second pull :)

What's a boy to do, but take a hot lap through the canals.

Next up, the mascerator needed tended to.
Donnie used the car battery to check the motor,
and it was simply frozen up from a lack of use.
Nothing a little grinding and lube job couldn't fix.
The shitter works, and it's not full :)

After that, Bryan and Paps offered a hand to get Windy, our
wind generator up and running. She's bolted and wired, so its
a go- we need to replace a chipped blade, but other than that it
will come in handy when we are cruising the Bahamas.

I have no fun pictures to show as I spent the day oiling the remainder of the teaks, washed every dish, bowl, cup, knife, fork and spoon, squirreled away three boxes of food we brought down, put all of our clothes away, and basically got our home in liveable condition.  All I have left to do is sweep the floor, but I will do that tomorrow after we get to Banana Bay.  Donnie called Larry the Dockmaster, and we're a go to come in tomorrow- slip 34, same as last year, on the wall overlooking the Gulf of Mexico- perfect!  Tonight, it was time to catch up with old friends and make some new ones, at the Hurricane.  It's Taco Tuesday and Wednesdays are 25 cent Hot Wings :)

Good to see Dan and Biddie again, our neighbors to the north
that we share the wall with at Banana Bay. The rest of the
year they are our neighbors to the south as they are from KY.

Dan and Biddie brough along some boat guests that are
staying with them from Pensacola over the New Year's.
L to R is Stacey, Bobby, and Kandy.

Tomorrow the plan is to finish stowing the scuba gear, extra lines, and take care of some loose ends.  We hope to cast off by 11:00am, cruise through the canals, and dump out at Book Key Harbor for a celebratory lunch at Burdine's.  From there, we'll sail under the Seven Mile Bridge to the Gulf side, and make a hard starboard to Banana Bay.  We'll have much to do on that end to get settled as well- fill the water tanks, hook up shore power and cable TV, put the bikes together, have a cold drink, sit in the hot tub, etc., etc., etc.  Donnie has to leave at about 5:00pm to go get Michael and Erica from the Miami airport.  I plan to stay behind to pedal, pedal, pedal to the grocery, make up the guest beds, do some more cleaning, and so on.  Then I plan to do some SERIOUS sunbathing by the pool and/or beach for the next three months. For now, it's time to go move Willis to his boat home.  For those of you who were wondering about our furried beast, he will promptly be put on house arrest for the first week or so.  I'm afraid if I turn him loose to go find the KitKat GoGo Lounge, he will over imbibe and not find his way back to the boat.  Better to be safe than sorry with a Willis on board. G'nite all!