Trick or Treat

Safe drive to Serenity on Monday this week.  Boat was in great shape and we moved our final gear and clothes onboard.  Finished installation of external GPS and wired in the new AIS and smart bus to MPD Chart plotter.  Operationally check good.✅

Heavy rain Wednesday and Thursday while cleaning exterior of boat and finished shopping for groceries and a few odds/ends.  Went to YMCA late yesterday and swam, worked out and got hot showers.

Yesterday I received a text from the Chasing Eighty (blog) saying they were coming to our marina.  They were completing their great loop.  We met dockside and congratulated them, while exchanging boat cards.  Thanks Wayne and Jody.

Today was final preparations and rental car return.  We had made contact with a fellow looper who has extensive cruising experience.  Tom H, graciously volunteered to pick us up at the Nashville airport rental car return and bring us back to the marina.  Tom even had Halloween treats!  Thanks so much Tom.

To Gfex who posted a comment--thank you.  I have tried to reply twice and each time my response disappears into the ether.  Blogger FAQ not helpful.

This morning was heavy rain, wind gusting and getting stronger.  Nearly 60 degrees at 0500; tonight at supper onboard it was 40 degrees outside with NW 12 G 20 mph.  Wind chill near 33.  Final preparations including filling the fresh water tank, checking all lines, inflating the big buoy fenders and starting up the diesel and check all systems.  Everything is a go so far.  Last task outside was to mount our AGLCA burgee.

cold and windy on the bow

Planned departure tomorrow at 0900.  Weather forecast for heavy frost early am, 28 deg F with calm winds and sunny skies.  We will take that forecast as good to go.  Couple of hours to our FIRST lock at Old Hickory Lock and dam.

Six days to go

We are in final preparations for untying our deck lines and heading down river on the first leg of our great loop journey.  It has been a crazy summer and the days have vanished so fast.  Our boat is berthed in Mt Juliet, TN while we have been at our country place in Southwest MO .  Kim also has a working farm she owns with her brothers in Indiana; we have made two trips there this summer too.

So after we purchased Serenity in February 2019, we left her in Mt Juliet, returning in early April.  We spent 3 weeks aboard working and cleaning.  It was quite chilly.  We generally exercised each morning and commenced work for the remainder of the day.  We ate most meals on board.  We did go to the YMCA a couple of times a week to swim and get good hot showers!

So each month this summer we would make the 500 mile drive from SW Missouri to Mt Juliet, TN.  Continuing our work on Serenity and making our modifications/upgrades to make the boat how we want it for our 6000 mile journey.  Spending 7-10 days each trip we have accomplished our goals and other than a few odds/ends and provisioning next week, we are ready to cast off.

We have put away the tractor, mowers, big truck/truck camper, farm truck and winterized all.  This weekend will secure the electricity, water and winterize the buildings.  Pack the rental car for a one-way drive to our Serenity.

1 November fire up the diesel, chart plotter, radar, AIS, GPS and VHF and cast off the lines and leave the security of the covered slip at Cedar Creek Marina.  We cruise at six knots (7mph).  Depending on lock delays/timings we anticipate about 40-50 mile cruising days.  Come aboard via our blog and experience America's Great Loop.