It seems so straightforward. Prepare the boat, load the lockers with food, drop the mooring line and just go. But it never works that way no matter how much you plan ahead.

As Chris and I thought about what our upcoming winter should look like, we agreed. The Bahamas it is! Having passed through twice before, we were enthralled with the islands but felt we missed so much. After all, the are more than 3000 islands, cays and inlets.  We’ve barely scratched the surface!

After spending the summer in Nova Scotia with thoughts of returning next year and extending our reach to Newfoundland, the project list started to grow. We need to finish installing heat. The unreliable alternator needs replacing and that leads to thoughts of changing our battery system. Both major undertakings, requiring hours of designing, planning, purchasing and drilling holes for installation. I don’t like adding holes to a boat, by the way, but I do like being warm.

So, our original departure date of September 17 got a bit tougher to realize. Chris plugged away with me as sous chef. By now I am well acquainted with every tool on the boat. But those tools are stored beneath the seats, chart table, chart table seat and floor. Needless to say, September 17th passed us by. But in the end we have heat, a robust 24V electrical system charged up with an alternator that doesn’t squeal like a pig and spray belt dust  everywhere.

So, with October fast approaching, we filled the lockers with food, said goodbye to family and friends (always the hardest part) and returned our trusty rental car. We prepared the boat, had one last minute item delivered by a friend at 6 am, dropped the mooring lines and went.