Week and half left

We have a week and one day left until Steve' last day of work. After that we will leave for Galveston. Steve' car was sold and our neighbor plans on buying mine, which is a great solution for us because it allows us to have one car until next week. 

This week is seeing friends and waiting for next week. My daughter came down this weekend. It was so good to see her one last time. Its not as if we wont see her again but this adventure has its unknowns and its always good to spend time with loved ones. 

We had some interesting fortune cookies. 

Giving Notice

Well Steve give his two week notice today. So basically its down to our last two weeks of regular life. Not much on our list left. Mostly, just getting the provisions for the 5-10 day trip there. I think its best to wait until the last week for that since it will fill our boat to the brim. 

Sails and new Bimini are back from the shop. Once again Steve surprises me with his design. I really questioned his Bimini idea but it looks good. It is removable for high winds, yet still covers nicely. He even included the back but I dont have a picture of it.   

Well until next week my friends.  

Going Away Party

Wow what a great party last night. Sure made us feel very loved. Steve didn't feel much last night but this morning he felt the room spinning and loved. Lol. He couldn't believe how everyone came out to see us one more time before we leave. People that we have shared our plans and dreams with since the beginning. It was awesome!  

We want to thank everyone for all the warm wishes and for coming to share a hot, steamy night with us filled with bug bites galore. Nothing like a summer night in Texas. We are going to enjoy every drink of all the great bottles of wine, champaign and liquor.  All of you have set us up for a good year of entertaining all the new friends we will meet along the way. We even have supplies and recipes from some seasoned cruisers. How awesome is that?!  They have already shared some very valuable information on cruising. We love the boating community; Never have we experience the love and acceptance as we have with it. 

We know that not everyone can do what we are about to do and for that we feel that we are not only doing it for us but for all the others. We all have a road to take in this life. We hope we encourage others to live life to the fullest on whatever road they are on. 

Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures but a few friends did, thank goodness. Here are just a few.  

Steve and his mom (Jean Boyd)

Oh Good Times!

Thanks again to all

Four Weeks and Counting

Well down to the last month before departure. Everyone asks if we are excited, "Uh Yeah!"   Our whole life is about to change drastically.  Im full of all kinds of emotions: excited, scared, anxious, happy, frankly emotionally exhausted.

The first week of October we will sail and anchor in Galveston somewhere and wait for the perfect weather window. Hopefully that will give us a little time to get calmed down and get more of a taste of what like will be like living anchored out. We will not have a car or a phone. We will have to dinghy to shore and walk to the store if we need supplies. 

No need to worry about Fairlane on board.  She  potties on the forward deck.  We just rinse her potty grass off. 

We have given our notice to the Marina. Steve will give his notice at work two weeks before October. Our cars are in the process of being sold. Transportation is a bit tricky. We might have to ask favors of friends or ride our bikes to where we need to go. 

We have requested a TIP (temporary import permit) which is regarded for Mexico. We will also need to get a Zarpe.  That is basically an exit form. Letting our first port' country know where we have come from. Oh and we have also requested fishing license from Mexico. 

We have copies of all important forms with them backed up on the computer and flash drives. We are taking two laptops and an ipad. One will be kept in watertight container for backup. We have a small portable printer, as well as 3 terabytes of back up storage for movies and music. 

I have bought silica gel packets and containers to put in our cabinets and with our electronic devices to help with the moisture we have been warned about. I have also started collecting things to trade with. I bought a case of toothbrushes that are individually wrapped and fishing hooks. A friend gave me a carton of cigarettes and some jeans. Lol I hope those are wanted for trade. When we go to remote islands the locals like to trade produce and lobsters for items. Not everyone trades but we thought it was a good idea to try and save some cash. 

Next Saturday is the big party to say good bye to everyone. I hope to see everyone there. Its Saturday, the 6th, at 7pm, Waterford Marina Pavilion.  

I think Ill follow the advice from a Sea Turtle

Well the boom gallo is installed. Now we will wait for the canvas to get made for the cover along with the sails to come back. Not too much left on the list of todos. Mostly buying back up items and he has a few odds and end things but nothing big. I still need to contact the phone company to let them know we want to turn off our service in October. Uggg. No phone!  Lol. Im doing it all by choice but its still going to be difficult. I have been practicing leaving my phone behind. Its getting a little easier. Maybe Ill try turning it off for several hours a day. We shall see. 

What inside looks like during this installation

Steve' tool bags 

What Steve looks like when he is done 

Lists After Lists

Not a lot to blog about this week. Going down the list of to dos. We both have gotten our yellow fever and tetanus vaccinations. The JIB sails are at the seamstress to have a foot rope put on them. The Boom Gallo is still at the welders. Address changes are in process of being done. Notice to Marina has been given. I copied my address book for my daughter to keep. I made sure everyone had each others contact information. Provision lists have been made and prices out.  Lists after lists are being made 

Two more weeks of the television and then its coming down. Thats been a big discussion around here. We decided to just go without a TV. It takes up space and I would really like to stop that habit along with the phones. We will be able to find internet where we go and that will be enough to correspond with family and friends and we can catch up on the news. We have two laptops  and  an ipad. That should be plenty.   I really want to get rid of my phone and television addictions.  Im actually looking forward to sending handwritten letters and post cards.  I also want to get out and explore the new places we go. 

What Happen to Sunday Blog Days?

What happened to my Sunday Blog Day!?  I am running out of things to tell you because we are still in the waiting mode. The things that remain on our todo list  are there mostly because they are things to do right before we leave. 

Steve is still in the process of refitting the boom gallo. Its with the welder. The fabric for the new Bimini has been ordered.  

There is a farewell party date set to send off our Neighbors who are headed to the East side of the Caribbean and ourselves, whom of course always go the opposite way of most, is headed to the west side of the Caribbean. We hope to see everyone there. 

Saturday, September 6th @ the Waterford's Pavilion around 7pm (potluck style). 

The subject came up with friends the other day about how will they know when we leave and when we have arrived safely. We are giving up our phones in October and we are not taking one of those Spot devices. But we do have an AIS device that you can track us on. Here is the website for that and you will have to search for our boat Saga Sea. You will be able to see where we were when we last turned it on. 

http://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels?name=saga

Of course we have a key person dedicated to be our person to call if we pull our emergency device. She will call our family. My daughter will have a copy of my address book and my passwords to the Blog and my Facebook to notify people of any event. I believe I have covered all the bases in case something goes terribly wrong. I think I am more prepared than most people and we all risk our lives daily getting on the road. 

I believe we have decided to wait for the northern front anchored in Galveston. That will give us sometime to get adjusted to living at anchor and traveling by dinghy.   That should be interesting. 

The only pictures I have to post this time are from my last White Linen night in the Heights.