The Trip before the TRIP

Before the Big Journey, we drove from Prior Lake, Mn. to Ft. Myers starting Monday morning March 23 and arriving 3 days later, pulling a U-Haul trailer with the Jeep. Here are some thoughts on that trip.

• A great send-off by Rory and Becca as we left. Bacon, Eggs, the works! They will be living in our home till May.
• Why we have a fuel shortage? Traveling the 1750 miles diagonally through the Eastern US, most cars were at 75 MPH or above. Trucks were about the same, maybe some slower through Illinois where the limit for them is 55. Somehow people aren't getting the message that fuel consumption is highly correlated to speed. Diesel is now over $4.00 in most places.
• The best part, no problems getting here and arriving in 70 degree weather!

So this week we have been doing the things one does when planning to be on a boat for most of the next 9 months. It's been about 4 days now and Marlene has the place looking like a comfortable home. Pictures of family everywhere (our greatest earthly treasure) and the aft cabin looks like something out of Boat Beautiful. Provisioning and last minute maintenance has taken more time than anticipated - but we're still on schedule to leave Monday -- or Tuesday at the latest.