April 22nd

I am still trying to learn...not a lot of success so far, photos this time and lost typing...Any way here we are after our first day out, departing, dophins in our wake, will try to get better photos next time...Decided to spend one more night in St Aug.  due to wx and getting organized, could not have gotten this far without Beth and Mike, soooooo glad They shared our first day of the Loop with us.

Day one on our Adventure

Day 1 our Adventure

April 22nd

We left on Sat, 4/21/12 on our Great Loop Adventure, Beth & Mike came with us to St Augustine, FL.
First OOPS: we put a bumper overboard without a rope, Mike backed up and Rich got the bumper ($50.00 saved);  Nice trip up the Intercoastal waterway,

Officially on our way

After many hours of hard work by Mike, Rich and friends we are on our way !!  Here we are flying our Looper Flag, leaving New Smyrna Beach, FL.  north. Mike and Beth are with us to St Aug., Fl (YEAH)  Thanks everyone for all your help, we love you.

April 1st Rich took our two big heavy doors that open into the salon off to repair/replace the rollers.Well, April 6th they went back on...I should have taken a before photo !!  The rollers were a challenge, Rich took them to a machine shop to have the old rollers removed and new rollers put in the bracket for Home Depot's would not work !!  The machinist is a very unusual man and after all that time he finally got them finished...Rich was crawling the walls with impatience.  Meanwhile Mike says lets refinish the wood side while we are working on them.  So they did (Mike did a great job on the wood finishing). Then they put a brass kick plate on and except for needing new handles they look great, Rich put some insulation strips around and now you don't have a major draft when sitting by the doors !!  Wednesday Jolene, Frank Burley and Sunny came to see us for a couple of hours.  They are so great to be around,  looking forward to hearing about their summer adventures coming up with hiking in Montana.  We so enjoy them in Key West. Rich has been painting in the engine room today and I am doing the dreaded paperwork !! Excuse the tools etc., we are a work in progress !!  Going to have  Easter tomorrow at Beth's brother and sister in law's lovely home with all Beth family.  Happy Easter All !!

We are still in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  had a postponement for departure time, due to some skin cancers MK has to have worked on. Good thing is it is not Melanoma !!  Rich & Mike have worked so hard, and Rich feels so much better about the engine room.  What a before and after !!  Have made several trips up the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) taking friends, going for lunch, or eating aboard.
Really enjoyed having some of our Key West family with us some for a couple of days and some for not enough hours !!  Hope everyone has a Blessed Easter. ( Sunrise in New Smyrna Beach, FL, March 2012)