Packing to move onto the boat

Well, we will be spending this week packing and getting ready to move on to the boat for good. We plan to be there in about 2-3 weeks providing he doesn't have another job coming in to do.
We haven't sold the house yet, but got a realtor listing it for us. So once it sells we will come back to town to sign the papers.

We are planning on leaving for our trip in April, but Tom has alot of work to do before we can leave. We need to be in Florida the 3rd week of May to meet up with Neal and Nicole, and Michelle will be flying down to stay a few days with us if she can. Neal and Nicole should be back in the States the 3rd week of May after they honeymoon in Greece. We will spend some time in Florida then come back to the marina slowly, doing our stops on the way home. We figure we should be back at the marina about early September right before the Hurricane season.

Why are we going so early to the boat? Well anyone who knows Tom, knows how slow he can be fixing things. So we will move out there, give him several months to get things ready. Plus the weather is still nice. Today it's 64 degrees at the boat and I'm not there.

I will get a job when we move out there, he will spend his days working on the boat, and babysitting the dog. Boodles won't let him out of her site, so to make the transition easier for her, he will stay home with her. Plus the fact to get the dog on and off the boat, she needs lifted and carried, that's his job.

The Queen of the boat - Boodles

The Shopping List:

We need to buy a few more things for the boat, we are going to go look for a small freezer so we don't have to keep running to the store as often. Plus the fact we can use the extra counter space. They have really small ones out there that we need to measure to see if it will fit on the boat. The refrigator has a freezer but you can fit 2 trays of ice cubes and it's full. So we need another solution.

We are looking for an inverter to run the refrigator during the day when the generator isn't running. We have enough spare batteries that will be charging while the boat is running to run the fridge.

We still need to get a grill, a good radio, a dinghy, a better GPS, and safety equipment.

The dog needs a life vest, I think bright Pink, fashionable, Tom is bulking at that suggestion.

Then right before we leave I have to go to Sprint and get an Aircard so I can always have Internet connection.

He may think that while we are getting the boat ready that he will be fishing all day, but I have plans for him:

The Honey-do List:

The most importaint thing is - He has to build my office for my computer, at least build me a desk so I can work. Since I have to work from the boat while we are on our vacation. (some vacation huh?). But I only plan on working about 2 hours a day. And it really won't be work- I enjoy writing.

Replace the carpet in the livingroom. ( I want a different color)

Install the flatscreen TV/monitor screen

Install the Direct TV (which we are still arguing about, he don't like the Dish part of that)

Build storage cabinets, install storage shelves in the kitchen.

Fix the leak in the hatch above where I sleep. Last time I was there I got dripped on.

Paint the wood to make it look new again.

So me going to work will be easier than the list of things that he has to do. But he will be happy, and I get out and off the boat everyday for the next few months.

Work on the boat over Thanksgiving

Tom has been gone all weekend working on the boat. He left Thanksgiving after dinner at Nicole's and Neals and headed to the boat. He has replaced the backdeck with new wood, and will be able to finish it when he goes out next time. He didn't take any photos of the progress, but I will take photos when ever I go back out there. He seems pleased with the work that he has done. I am anxious to see it. He even brought home some wood to sand and restain here where he has all his tool. He's so ready to move near the boat.



He has made a Christmas list of things that people can get him for the boat. I guess he's tired of getting the same stuff every year at Christmas.



As soon as I get photos of the work and the new improved boat, I will upload them.

How to ruin Tom's weekend

Hint:

Wreck his car... (the red car is Tom's)

You can't say that michelle doesn't know how to scratch a car a little... She is fine, notice that my car isn't as fine.

But becuase she took the car out of commission, he can't go to the boat this weekend. Instead he has to deal with the adjusters, and waiting for the police report, which they told us can take 10 days for them to prepare it. But in the mean time I have no car.. Shell has no car to borrow, and Tom is playing Taxi. Well he is working on getting her car back on the road, it's been off the road because she wrecked it months ago.

Soo Tom is unhappy cause he can't go to the boat. He will be going next week after we go to Nicole's and Neal's for dinner. But he will have alot to do this weekend to be able to spend the weekend on the boat.. Which after this week - he will need the rest...

Rainy Weekend at the boat

We just got back from the boat. We left Thursday night and came back today (Saturday) . Usually I don't go, but I had something to do in Virginia and had to go. We came back early cause it was suspose to rain today, and tomorrow all day. So there was no sense staying there unable to do anything.

We had a nice drive to Virginia. The place I had to go was about 1 hour from the boat. We passed a few junkyards that Tom noticed, and there were produce markets everywhere. There was alot of cotton fields and the cotton was picked and bundled up ready to go to market. I wish I had my camera to take pictures of it.

It rained all weekend. They must of gotten a hell of a rain before we go there. We did learn there was some leaks on the boat. Made notes on that and put that on the repair list. The water level at the marina is up. How do I know that? Well, being short, I had to straddle the boat to get on to deck. Tom on the other hand still is tall enough to get off the boat with ease. So With the rain, and the water level so high, you knew when I got off the boat, cause my jeans were wet, and it looked like I peed myself everytime I got off. I think I need a stepstool to get on and off the boat.

When we got at Lambs Marina on Thursday night there was a Yacht there. It was huge and Tom said it was from somewhere in PA. They were on their way to Florida, and was at Lambs for a few day. I didn't have my camera, cause shell has it somewhere. Since my appointment was early Friday morning, we didn't get a chance to check it out before we left, and they were gone when we got back. I didn't even get a chance to walk past it that night because I was medicated and half asleep.

I have no idea what I ate at Pizza hut that gave me an allergic reaction, but again my throat was closing and my face was swelling. This started about 45 minutes after we left the resturant. The medicine that I take for that knocks me on my ass, so I was half asleep by the time we got to the boat. At least time I didn't end up the ER and on the massive doses of steroids like last few times it happened.

We are going back to the boat in about 2 weeks. I wanted it one week, but Tom talked my into 2 weeks. It should be interesting, cause Boodles will be going. This will be her 1st time to the boat. Tom thinks she will like it, I am not sure. I personally think a dog on the boat will be a pain. She will have to lifted off the boat and lifted to get on the boat... Oh wait, it's the dog not me, he will make special adjustments for her to get on and off the boat easily.

We got the V-berth set up so we can sleep in it, which again is too high for me, I needed that step stool again. Some days it's hell being short. One of the leaks is above the bed in the hatch. That needs fixed due to water dripping while you are trying to sleep. This is the 1st time that it has really rained since we had the boat. We did get rain one night on the way home from Maryland, but we didn't notice any leaks, that or we were too exhausted to notice. The other leak is near the window. That one seems bad. The floor was soaked when we got there. The fan and towels dried it up, but that one defintally needs repaired, and figured out. He says you can only repair the leaks on nice days.... so.... if it's a nice day how do you know where it leaks????

I went to the post office to get a PO box, found out that you need all kinds of identification to get one now, I was going to get it in my name only, but if Tom doesn't go in with the 2 forms of ID NONE of his mail would be delivered there. It never ends. Something about 9/11 and the new rules.

Boat work planned for the weekend

This weekend Tom is off to the boat again. (shocked huh?). I was going to go, then he informed me that he was going to repair the back deck or something. He made it sound like he would be working hard all weekend, and I would be bored. So I am not going. Instead I will have the painters come in and paint at home. So that when he gets back on Monday everything will be painted and I don't have to hear him bitch about anything.

He is planning on replacing the soft wood, on the deck, before he gets it surveyed next week. This way the survey will give a higher price, and I will have to pay more property tax on it every year. It's a no win situation.

We have been looking at metal detectors for the beach. Soon we will be dressed in funky clothes, sandles with white socks walking the beach at the outer banks looking for treasures. Just like they old people do. Actually it sounds fun. Something different. Hopefully Boodles will like it and she will go with us. Cause I have learned if the dog don't like it, we don't do it. I think she will like the beach. As long as she is out with her daddy she is fine.

Maybe rename the blog - "the Adventures of Tom"?

It seems that Tom is always going to the boat for the weekends and somehow I always have plans and I never get to go. He just got back again last night from being up there. He left Friday night while I was at work, so again I got to puppy-sit his precious little mutt, that he left home with me.

He did take the boat out Sunday, he went with some of his friends up there, and they said they had a great time. He went to the bridge in Elizabeth City and back to Lamb's Marina. He has been working on the boat every weekend that he goes he says that it does run better now then when we brought it home. So of course he had to test-drive it.

Hopefully I will be able to go soon, next weekend he will have to go to pull the boat out of the water to have the bottom painted and the survey done on it. I won't go for that, that's work in my book. Plus the fact, he won't be able to run the A/C while the boat is out of the water. So if it's still hot, he will have to suffer with no air. I will stay at home and enjoy my air.

For a weekend get away place, I haven't gotten my money's worth. He has, but I haven't been on it long enough to enjoy it. He says next time he goes he plans on taking Boodles.. (yeah, right)... so we will see...

Tom's Home

Tom is home. He came home yesterday, just in time to go to dinner with Randy! How nice. I ate stale pretzels from the snack machine at work.

He will be going back to the boat in 2 weeks when we get the boat pulled out of water. I think he has decided to sand and paint the boat himself. He is still deciding. But it doesn't matter to me, I'm not doing anything to the boat, except pay for it.

Tom did stop at Nicole's on the way home. He was proud of himself that he got Nicole to buy him lunch. He stopped to get the door panels for her car to get them fixed. I told him that he could brag about getting her to pay for his lunch, but give her enough time he will pay for the door panels. So actually that sandwich she got for him will end up costing him. $150! Infact me and neal got a bet that wueen will outfox tom.

Well i will update again when he goes back to the boat.

Getting the boat pulled out of water.

Tom went to the marina to see when we could get the boat pulled out of the water and paint the bottom of the boat, and get the survey done on the boat. It will be 2 weeks when we will be able to get it all done, but all the arrangements are made. So he will come home for 2 weeks, finish up a few jobs, and head back out.

Hopefully I will be working out there by then. I'm waiting for Time Warner Cable to call me about the job in Elizabeth City. It's only about 6 miles from the boat, and I can hardly wait to get back to work there. I went back to work here, and Ive been there for 3 weeks, still no log-ins, so for 63 hours a week (been working Overtime) I've had to find things to do myself since I can't take any calls. So basically they are paying me to be there and breathe. I'm hoping that I will be putting in my notice and be gone before they ever get my log-ins so I have to work work!

Hopefully between then and now the water level will go back up and we will be able to take the boat to the other marina. Right now, since we haven't had that much rain, our boat is sitting in 5 feet of water, and we have a 4 foot draft. There are spots when pulling out of the marina that we could go aground. Which personally i think will achieve the same effect of 'taking the boat out of water'... hey it's gonna be out of water, why pay someone to do it.. Just drive it out.

It will end up costing Tom about $1500-$2000 to have the bottom painted, and the survey done, and pulling the boat out of water. That doesn't include the time he will have to spend in the hotel while the boat is out of water. That's all extra. :(

And think I thought his muscle cars were expensive.

He will be coming home tomorrow, he has to stop off in Raleigh to get Nicole's doors from her car to get them re-done. They will go get recovered at the upholstry shop. Thrilling I know. Hopfully he won't get lost on the way home again. Lord knows that I can't go through that mess again like we did getting him there.

While he is gone, I've had painters come in and repaint, and guys cutting grass.. I think I will try to play the guilt card and make him think I worked really hard while he was gone. :) But then again he knows me well.

Tom's Adventurous Weekend

This weekend Tom went to the boat. With Tom if he doesn't have the Google Maps printed out with every turn, he can get lost. Which he did, a few times to get there.

Now I can give you the shortened version of the trip from home to the boat, Hwy 49 to Hwy 64 - To hwy 17 to hwy 158. To turn to Hwy 158 from Hwy 17 there is a HUGE BRIDGE THAT MARKS THE TURN. Sounds simple right...

This is tom's way to get there last night, which BTW he was in Raleigh at 7:30 only had 2 hours to get to the boat, should of been at the boat at 9:30 at the latest... At 2:30am I got my "I'm at the boat safe call"

Hwy 49 to Hwy 64 - Stopped at Nicole's house. (it goes downhill from here). Now Nicole lives 150 feet off of the beltline, so it wasn't a big deal. We get off the same exit she lives on, instead of going right you go left to get to her house.

Calls to Nicole and Neal, for updated directions to their house because he was "lost" = 2

He leaves Neal and Nicole's house, got directions from them, Missed the Hwy 64 turn, went to Greenville NC. Now since we lived in Greenville for 7 years, how confusing could it be.
Calls to Judy = 2
Neal calls to Tom to get him unlost = 1

Reason for being lost in Greenville = "Greenville has NO roadsigns" oh please....

Give Tom correct directions, tell him where to turn. Ask him to turn around on West side of town, he calls back he's at East side of Town, going to go to Washington NC to get 17 North. Added miles 55+

Calls me from some rinky-dink town, Scotland Neck - Searched Google, Google finally found this little town, made him backtrack 10 miles to get back on HWY 17 (didn't ask HOW he did that one).

Called him back at midnight, tell him to turn onto 344 East take to end of road make right, go to bridge make right, marina on left.

Update call at 1:30am - "where am I " Got him yet another way to get there from where he was, still he messed that up....

2:30am "I've made it, what a great adventure"... I can finally rest easy.

Saturday morning: Phone rings, it' s Tom:
"Was I suppose to turn after crossing the bridge to get to the Auto Parts Store? I didn't. I don't know where I am".................

I go ahead and hangs head and cries, cause Monday he has to take the boat to another marina to pull it out of the water..... he will be lost at sea.... Programming the Coast guard Number in phone this afternoon.. Figured I would call and give them a head's up. Faxing photos to them today, for their records. Personally I think they will need them.

I should be nice, after all to get to other Marina, leave Lambs Marina, make left, go straight next marina is on right side. It's rivers. Straight line.... How could anyone get lost... Have Google Map up on screen now with Elizabeth City, and water map - I know I will be called.

This is only day one, he will be gone most of the week working on the boat.

Christmas list for tom-
GPS for car.
Someone to train him how to use it. (thinks Neal)

Free Boat wash this weekend

We didn't go to the boat this weekend because of the Tropical Storm Gabrielle. Tom is pretty bummed out, but I brought it to his attention, that at least the boat will get washed with all the rain there. It's appearing that it will hit the outer banks, which the boat is less then 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. So it will be wet there.

The boat is where the Green arrow is -

The boat may get wet, but at home, they are closing down boat ramps at Lake Norman because of the drought, and the low water. There are boats tied up to slips out there that can't go anywhere, cause the water under them is gone. It's really bad here. It's been so hot everyday. At least we're not still in the triple digits anymore. We have not cut our grass since July. I think there is a blade or 2 that is still barely alive, the rest has died.

Update on boat

Tom came home yesterday, he went and spent the weekend on the boat. I didn't feel like going so he went alone. He spent some time fishing, and replacing sparkplugs, and fishing some more.

All the food that was in the refrigator had to be tossed out, seems the guy in the slip beside us took his boat out, and somehow turned off our electric. I'm glad I didn't go! Tom said it wasn't pretty to open up the fridge.

He did scrub down the boat this weekend. Then he fished. The boat will be getting pulled out of the water next month for a survey, and to paint the bottom. I do need to create the lettering for the name of the boat so I can get them printed up and ready to go on the boat once it's painted on the bottom.

We (he) decided to name the boat "GUZZLER" our Dingy will be named "LITTLE SIPPER" ....

Personally I would of liked other names, but somehow he feels important that he's being called Captain... Like that is a title with power.. HA! And since he's the captain he makes the rules.... Foolish man...

While he was gone, I got alot done here at home. It was peaceful all weekend, hopefully next time he will take his dog, who was a pain in the ass all weekend. Seems that a family of deer comes and visits in our yard everynight about 2am... Actually since Friday, you can set you watch by it. There are about 8 of them, with babies, and drives the dog crazy. So the dog wakes me up by barking, then it's about 5am before I can get back to sleep. She needs to go visit the boat. She really does.

Back to the boat

We're leaving again this Friday to go spend the weekend on the boat. Tom will be putting the alternators on the boat this weekend, It's suspose to be nice at the beach this weekend, we will go visit the outer Banks. We aren't going to take the boat out to the outerbanks, I don't think we are taking the boat out at all this weekend. We're just gonna work on it, and fix the things that need fixed. It doesn't matter to me, I get away for the weekend without Shell and the dogs. YEAH! No Dogs this weekend.

Who knows we may take up a new sport hangliding. (As my kids rush to check the Life Insurance policies to see if there is an Accidential Death clause in there and what the payout is) . The boat is only 45 miles from the outerbanks by car so we will go visit I love the Outer Banks.

I think he wants to take his fishing rods this weekend. Thrilled.. I love fishing. (NOT!) I can think of many other Better things to do then sit there holding a rod with a piece of string attached. But I will do it. You would of thought that after he had to fish my rod out of the water that he wouldn't let me do it anymore.. lol

But while he is working on the engines, I'm gonna tackle the curtains. I found the clips I needed to hang the curtains, and they are .99 EACH.. So i would need about 75 of them, so -- its gonna be Plan B to hang new curtains. I got to find the measurements so I can get curtains before I go back out Friday.

We didn't get to go last weekend, because Michelle was working and staying at Linda's to babysit her 38 Pitbulls. Now the funny thing about that is, Michelle was working at a Cat Show at the Convention Center, then going home to take care of Pits. So after last weekend she had her share of Animal's I think.

No boat this weekend

We didn't make it to the boat this weekend. So we are planning on leaving Friday Morning next week to go for the weekend.

We have to get a survey done on the boat for the insurance company. Ugh! This boat is becoming a money-pit already. For the survey it's about $18 a foot.. (do the math boat = 36 feet) . But then the insurance company insists that it be pulled out of the water to do the survey. $6 a foot to pull the boat out of the water. Plus we have to take it to another marina to have it hauled out of the water.

Hell while it's out of the water we might as well get the bottom redone, and painted. $1500. Are you feeling my pain yet? I cried when I had to fill the Chevelle up with gas and it came to $55 bucks that one time.

Tom got the new Alternators, $200 bucks to have them rebuilt. Sheesh.. does it ever end? Now we got to change the name of the boat, I am seriously considering "Money-Pit" instead of the "doghouse". I will be talking to a buddy about getting the graphics free for that if I can. I can design it on the computer and send it off to get them printed in decals. Somehow I don't feel it will be free like I am planning. Nothing is going to be free on this boat. Well, the seasickness I had on the boat was free... :)

At least now I have more time to figure out how to do these curtains. I know I was asleep when he said "We're getting a boat".

Join in the Poll... DO you think he Will let me ever drive the boat? Remember I had a 50-foot zone around his cars that I wasn't allowed to cross. I NEVER drove the El Camino, or the Chevelle that he owned. So he says Yes I will be allowed to drive the boat.. lol .. fool really thinks I'm falling for that.

Getting Ready to go back to the Boat this weekend

Thursday!
I guess we're leaving tomorrow to go back to the boat. If Tom doesn't have to take the truck he just sold to Daytona Beach. He will know that in the morning. The truck will be on the way to Costa Rico. It has to be put on a ship in Daytona. I hope he doesn't have to take it down there. I have no ideal how he gets himself into these deals.

Tom has gotten the alternators done, he will pick them up in the morning, and take them up and put them on. I need to go get curtains, which doesn't sound like a big deal, but this is the shape of the curtains.
I have 2 windows shaped like this. They did have custom curtains made, but they are dry rotted a little and needs replaced. I should of already had these bought, but I have been busy all week writing and getting things together from my week that I took off last week. I really need to get an Air Card for the boat. I can't go without internet access again for another week. It's hell catching up with everything.

I need to take better pictures of the boat, I didn't like the ones that I took. I figured Saturday morning we can work on the boat, then maybe head out to the outer banks for the afternoon. We got about 12 fishing rods that need to go to the boat. (I can't believe he has so many fricking fishing rods) With that many rods, you would think the guy liked eating fish. But neither one of us eat fish. Go figure. Men!

But I guess our traveling is done for awhile, now it's time to do some maintenance - ugh. I hate maintance. We have to move the new refrigator into the place where the old one is, because we don't need 2 fridges, and get a small freezer, the freezer for the small fridge sucks. We he said we could get a small freezer. Then I have to find a stove/oven... what I may do is rig up a hot plate, with a oven/microwave combo. I'm not sure yet. But I can tell this is going to be a money pit. His toy's always seem to cost a ton of money. One of these days I guess I will learn. LOL yeah, right.

New Photos Uploaded

I have uploaded new photos to the website. This is the last of the photos from Trip #1.

Day 3 of the boat trip!

This is what I saw looking out the front of the boat!!! And Tom thinks MY driving is bad!

This is one of the photos of the house we almost hit when the batteries went dead on the way to Marina. When the batteries went dead we lost power, couldn't throw the main anchor and the tide pushed us to the banks in the channel. The smaller anchor didn't hold well, and we drifted.
Luckily we had piers there we could tie up till the rescue boat came and got us. While we waited for the rescue boat to come get us, we made lunch. At least the generator worked and I could cook. We were eating burgers when they pulled up. I think they were kind of shocked to see we weren't that upset, and eating lunch. But hey, we were safe, the boat was floating, and I didn't have to put on the stupid life vest. Everything was okay. and besides we were only in 3 feet of water and as you can tell by the photo, VERY CLOSE TO LAND.

On the way to the marina to get new batteries we did pass the birds on the channel marker - They were even looking at us like we were idiots.


At the marina we told them we needed 2 batteries, they put a tester on to confirm what we told him, then had the balls to charge us $120 to tell us we needed new batteries! I was mad, but had to pay the bill. It really sucked. They did offer to sell us a battery charger along with the batteries for a $100 but we knew we could get one at Auto parts store for about 50 bucks. We charged the old batteries over night and they seemed to work fine.

At the bathroom and shower at this marina, I had to think for a moment which one to use, they weren't marked MALE/FEMALE but INBOARD/OUTBOARD... Yes I did go to Inboard!

We stayed at that marina that night, and fished off the dock, (which is where I caught my crab, and dropped the pole). This is what was in the water off the pier.


I tried to get one with the fishing rod, but that didn't work. Tom wouldn't jump in and catch a jellyfish for me.. Hey - sometimes you just gotta ask.

The dryers didn't work at the laudry-mat there, so I washed the clothes and did the redneck trick with bungie cords - They dried quickly on the boat.



We are finally on our way towards Norfolk and the Great Dismal Swamp! LOL trust me the adventure and troubles continues.......

We're Home and Back on Dry Land!

First I would like to thank my sister, Karen for updating the blog when I was unable to get internet access. I have to get a new phone or an aircard to get access- as much as I hate to do it, I will probably get Tom a new phone, so I can connect to the internet. He likes phones simple, he's not computer savy at all.

We're HOME!!! We got home about 1:30am Friday night/Saturday morning. We are exhausted!

It has been a fantastic week, we had a blast!! The Dismal Swamp was awesome by boat. It was like a 6 hour trip. It was so peaceful, and we saw so many different kinds of wildlife, we got bitten by every insect known to man, and loved every minute of it.

I learned that with a coffee maker you can cook other things besides coffee. ( bet ya didn't know you can sucessfully make macaroni and cheese with it). I learned that if you tie up to a dock and make a pretty bow with the rope that they guys on the dock will bring a buddy out to see the "newby's" knot. Also learned that Tom can fish out my fishing rod from the jelly-fish infested water with his fishing rod. I caught a crab, it scared me, I dropped the rod in the water - He wasn't jumping in to get it because of all the jellyfish.

We docked the boat in Elizabeth City, at the only marina that sells gas there. None of the marina's sell gas anymore since the hurricane a few years ago destroyed so much. It was a 5 hour drive from Elizabeth City to Concord, and we did stop in Raleigh at Nicole's house to have her make dinner for us, then we came the rest of the way. We could of stayed there, but Tom missed his dog. He had to come home tonight to see her. She is mad at him, she is giving him the cold shoulder, so that means for the next week she will play the guilt card with him. She could care less if I was gone or not, she's a daddy's girl.

The boat is 288 miles from us. Which is about as close to Charlotte as we could get. But to get there will be mostly 4 lane highway, once we get to Raleigh it's 64 to highway 17 and we're there. But with the boat docked there, we can do the Dismal swamp again, or we're close enough to take the boat the outer banks. We can get to the outer banks in about 30 minutes or so by car, not sure how far by boat.

Tomorrow is another busy day, we got to take the car back to Enterprise, and then unpack everything, upload the photos from the laptop and the camera, go get some prints made to get them mailed out to Tom's Mom.

We should be going back to the boat in about 2 weeks, Tom had to remove the alternators from both motors, as they aren't charging the battery's as the should be. Tom brought them home to rebuild. These 2 pieces of the motor caused us so much problems! We had to buy 2 new batteries for the boat, and a battery charger to get the boat to the dock.

But we suceeded! YEAH!

Maybe we will be able to sleep in past 5am since there are no species of waterbirds that will be waking us up!

I will recap our week tomorrow, right now it's like 2:30am and I'm off to bed, after I put more lotion on my sunburn. :( Guess no amount of sunblock works for me! I still ended up with a bad sunburn that is blistering right now.

They're coming home tomorrow!

Red called about 9:00 The stopped in Elizabeth City, NC. Yes, it's further north than they were planning, but they're exhausted. They have been putting 12 hour days to get the boat home. It has finally taken its toll, I guess. This is the boat's new home port! Which is cool because she can go back out, head north, and go see Readhead Bay. She didn't even know it existed until I told her. How sad she missed it the first time through! I marked it on the map for future reference.

Red said the Dismal Swamp was amazing. She would be writing this herself, but she could not get internet connection where they docked. Her sunburn is killing her and she's miserable right now. In the morning they will be renting a car and driving home. Tom will have to leave his baby behind for a while.

You should be hearing from Red some time tomorrow. I'm not sure when they're leaving, but she said it will be about a five hour drive back home. There should be plenty of pictures coming up really, really soon! If she doesn't pass out first! So this is the last entry I think I will be making. She'll probably change the password & everything to keep me out. The rest is up to her to tell.

Glad to hear you two are safe!


Take time to relax!

They made it past Norfolk!

What a treat! I got to hear from Big Red twice in one day! They escaped Chesapeake Bay finally. Red said she thought it never ended. They were cruising along for about 12 hours just to get past Norfolk.

She called at 8:30 tonight. They made it past Norfolk, Virginia but not without being pulled over by the Coast Guard. Speeding you say? Something else only they can think of? Nah. They had to stop to let a submarine through. They were just the lucky first ones in line. Red was all excited about getting a picture of a submarine and the Coast Guard dudes.

They are at the mouth of the Great Dismal Swamp, on the border of Virginia and North Carolina. She said they may be able to be at their pick up point some time tomorrow.

Norfolk was tough, it was raining & the water was choppy, tossing them both around. Figures only Red has bruises, and a killer sunburn! Even with sunblock and a canvas overhead, she is officially a crispy critter. And of course, she didn't think to bring sunburn ointment.

SO with enough excitement for one day, they are exhausted. She went on a bit longer about the great pictures she took and she can't wait to upload them for everyone. She said goodnight & then started picking on Tom about Batman & Robin? Yea, that should be a good story for another day.

Back on the Bay!

They are back on the water again! Red said that they were docked when the little storm came through. While they were waiting, Tom did some fishing, I guess Red tried her hand at it too. What a great haul! Red caught a crab, scared herself half to death, dropped the pole & all Tom got was Red's fishing pole! And we're all surprised why?
Red said they were surrounded by jellyfish all night. How nice, I hope they were the glow-in-the-dark kind. They would have made nice night lights!
So they shipped off again this morning & are again en route to their destination! Wherever that may be.... until I get another phone call.... (She was "back seat driving" right before she hung up.)

Update From Big Red and Captain Tom!!

Well, Red called me at about 4:00 this afternoon.

They said there was a thunderstorm coming on so they were docking at a marina for the night and then leaving in the morning. She also said they were about 25 miles north of the Chesapeake bridge.

Her phone is on roaming, she has no internet access, but has a lot of really neat pictures, but I'm not allowed to tell you what they are. She also has some interesting stories to tell, but I'm not allowed to tell anyone what she said. Again, a pattern is forming...

So far as what she was saying, there was no mention of seasickness today. No mention of sharks or alligators. And yet, it is proving to be an interesting journey, but I'm not allowed to tell why. I'll leave that ALL to her. Heeheehee....

Why ARE there abandoned homes in Chesapeake Bay?? Then again, you have to know Red to even understand that it's probably logical...

Don't forget to check the Google Map to follow along on Red & Tom's Excellent Adventure! Red is having so much fun, she skipped a day on the calendar!

I hope to talk to her tomorrow and I will send another update.

Day 2 Still in Chesapeake Bay

Map has been updated!!!! We made progress!!

I swear this bay is never going to end. We were in the middle of it today and couldnt see land anywhere. That's about the time I got sick. Of course you know I was picked on. Infact I still feel quesy . it's my fault. linda begged me to take the dramiene, but i told her I would be fine. LOL I know she is having a good chuckle over this.

I'm learning how to tie a boat up to the docks. Yesterday Tom and the Dockboy mad fun of me cause I tied a bow.. It was a pretty bow, obliously not a man-bow.. If there is such a thing as a man-bow. Today I was lucky the dock-boy came out and helped tom. They had to push the boat to the slip. I wasnt helping, I've pushed enough cars Im not pushing a boat.

Tomorrow hopefully we will make it to that stupid bridge/tunnel, at least our goal is to make to norfolk. Once we get to Norfolk, we hit the great dismal swap. Hopefully Me and Tom will still like each other enough that One of us isnt alligator bait.

Till Next time.

Day 1 Boat Travels

update

I've update the map we did pretty good today. We didn't run the boat really hard. We are now in a marina somewhere. (and Tom thinks I'm a good navigator. ) All I care about is they had nice showers and we are finally able to turn on the AC on the boat. It was 96 degrees today in Maryland.

Today is the 1st day that I've been able to get online since we've left. We've been staying at a slip at a private residence. We had a blast there but there was no internet connection.

Linda left right before we did this morning. She was heading home towards the Chesapeake Bay Brige Tunnel. We should cross that ourselves in the next few days.

I will upload photos yet tonight. Photos are uploaded, cant edit them with this computer. but heres the link

Till next time we get connection
Tom and Judy

They Are On Their Way!!

I just talked to Red. They arrived safely and were exhausted. Then they took care of business and cleaned the boat, then they were exhausted. Then they shopped & cooked & checked the engines and then they were exhausted. (Seeing a pattern here?) They left this morning.

Linda was crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge about 12:00 or 1:00, I couldn't exactly hear everything that was said. Lots of background noise.

They were about 50 miles southwest of Philadelphia, she said. TJ was only about 50-75 miles southeast of them this weekend. He was just over the Chesapeake Bridge at a wedding. Bummer. TJ was thinking about fishing with Tom on the new boat! OK, That's the update until Red can get an internet connection. She didn't want to talk long and wear down the cellphone battery.

Can't wait to hear from you Red! Keep us updated!

We leave today

We leave this evening to go to Maryland to get the boat. Linda has been sweet enough to go with us to bring the car back home. She's aways willing to go out on a new adventure. She's coming back home across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which I'm jealous cause I want to do that.
But instead I will be in swamp water with Tom for a week. But that's ok, I'm scared of water and Bridges, and I hate bugs, heat, sun, humidity, fish, things under water I can't see. Yup this is my fantasy.

Everything is packed. Just waiting to go, since we have to drive through Washington DC we need to time it right. Anyone that has ever driven through DC understands that.


It may be a few days before I can update again, you can reach us by our cellphones. We will keep Neal and Nicole updated as to our progress.

Boat Pickup

We pick up the boat on Friday! I'm so excited that I could throw-up.

Here is the map of the route we plan to take.

Click on the link and it will take you to the bigger map and you can follow our progress. (takes a moment to load). I will update it with where we are as I get internet connection on the boat. We plan to come down the Intercoastal Waterway, from Maryland to North Carolina. It should take about a week to do depending on weather.

Tom says I will be allowed to drive the boat, now this is from the guy that would never let me drive ANY of his cars. Yup that's right, never drove the El Camino, the Chevelle, and wasn't allowed near the Corvette. All the cars are now gone - everyone of them finally sold. But we will see if he lets me drive his boat.. I'm taking bets, NOPE.

I will be taking the laptop, camera, sea-sickness pills, we got fishing rods, which this fool thinks I'm gonna put dead fish on a hook to go fishing? NOT! But all in all it sounds like fun.

Tom says it's going to be a vacation. Now a vacation in my book doesn't include anything that has a kitchen. This boat has a kitchen/ galley - me and kitchens don't work well together besides a kitchen means work.