Four Months in the States

"Is it so nice as all that?
Nice?...Believe me my young friend. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
from The Wind in the Willows

I guess we agree because after only four months we're heading back to Isla Mujeres and Wahoo on Thursday (Nov 21, 2013). We've been in Houston staying with John Edward and Laura so that Roy could help get John Edward's music studio built. A disastrous contractor who was also probably financially distressed (or a monster out for John Edward's soul, hard to tell) had mucked things up very, very badly. Roy, John Edward and Walter, a Honduran carpenter spent a month or more on remedial work, including the need for a new roof, but eventually started moving the project forward.

It's Looking So Good!

The building is finally closed up and sheetrock is in. Going forward John Edward still has all the finishing left but he is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and we're all hoping it isn't a train! We're happy to have been able to help and pleased with the unexpected pleasure of living and working so closely with our adult son and his girlfriend. Not something that happens too often in these times.

The patio in Maine

As Roy did most of our work I found time for other things, including a trip to visit with Louana and Ted at their island retreat on the coast of Maine.  Of course, we also found time for several trips to New Orleans. Great memories of cocktails in the courtyard on Pauger Street with Sammye and Grouper, birthday parties and Saints games at Greg and Teresa's and lots of raw oysters and poboys with Andrew, Cynthia, Armand and Patty. We even got to spend time with Austin and his girlfriend, Amanda. Congratulations were in order as he had completed EMT training during his summer break from college. But so many friends and family we didn't see and know we will miss everyone.  However, I did get to spend a few days with Nancy in Pass Christian, it was sad but a good way to say goodby.

Oh What a Birthday!

It surely wasn't enough time to be home but with Roy working so hard in Houston and no hurricanes this year we decided to let 7th St keep feeding the cruising kitty and head back South.

Austin & Amanda

Plans are being made for 10 months of cruising. Belize for the winter then across the Yucatan Channel to island hop along 660 miles of Cuba's southern coast. We'll then sail to Jamaica, the Southern coast of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and decide where to leave the boat in August. More on all of that later. Now we're just looking forward to Roy being able to sleep-in most mornings.