The Adventure Begins...

As our target departure date of September 13th rapidly approached, we stocked up on provisions, topped off the fresh water tank, hauled the bicycles onboard and secured them to the rails. We had already taken care of so called routine maintenance on the twin Ford Leman engines (not without the typical stresses associated with that endeavor) as well as the generator, plus a last minute replacement of our aging electric Princess range which decided to stop working (not for the first time), and installation of satellite TV.

Our home port for the last two years had been Charleston, SC, and although we were eager to be on our way, it was not without feelings of nostalgia that we anxiously contemplated our departure heading south down the ICW toward Hilton Head Island, the first of many destinations on our planned route. We awoke on Monday morning, Sept. 13th, to 10-15 knot winds and the first major decision of our trip --- do we head out today or put off our departure until tomorrow when the forcast is for 5 knot winds? That was really a no brainer, especially with the prospect of having breakfast at our favorite French cafe if we delayed just one more day! Plus, this gave us a chance to get our blog started.

Our intention is to slowly make our way south for the fall and winter, first to Hilton Head, then to Jekyll Island, GA, arriving at Vero Beach, FL in late November (after the hurricane season ends!), then on to south Florida and the Bahamas, until early spring when we plan to turn around and head north again. By the time we arrive back at Charleston, our six month shakedown cruise will be over, and we can decide whether the cruising life is indeed our cup of tea (or not). If so, we will continue north embarking on the Great Loop Cruise, a circumnavigation of the eastern USA. The entire Loop should take us approximately one year.

Can't wait until tomorrow!