21 March, 2020 Hair on the back of my neck standing up

Reversal.  49 SM; 8.5 engine hours

It is with much sadness and heartbreak, but we have decided to pause our waterway journey and return to the Ozarks.  It has not been an easy decision, lots of hand wringing and nearly bed wetting, but it was time to put the big boy pants on and decide.  Once we arrived at the anchorage last night, reviewing the latest information from scientific articles, 1st hand accounts of those on the waterway north and south of us, I personally began to question the sanity of continuing.  This morning, POC and I had a long discussion.  Our health and taking care of each other comes first.  We are healthy and feel good, but there are too many uncertainties as we attempt to move north.  Marinas are closing north and south.  Why cruise into a hot zone?  The NE USA is a hot zone.  As more shut downs loom, supply chains tighten and economic uncertainties are real we have decided to park Serenity and drive back to our little place in the country.  We have agreed, that we can tackle what lies ahead better on dirt, then on the water.  Serenity has safely and securely been our home for the past 142 days.  We have never slept anywhere else since our departure on 1 November, 2019.

Tows and barges rude today.

Combat operations or peacetime aviation, you never have perfect 100% information.  You have to go with what is available, assess the risks, apply risk mitigation and trust your gut and your instruments. For us, we have reached the point, no more second guessing.  Matthew 6:34.  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Last big bridge for a while

Last night at anchorage, we gave thanks.  We grilled hot dogs at sea.  Watched the sun set over smooth water.  Tomorrow we will tie up Serenity at the Ortega River Marina.  The dock master is a Marine and lives aboard his boat there.  He will keep a good watch over Serenity.  We will off load our personal belongings and all of our food. We have a rental van reserved.  Securing Serenity the best we can, the marina is well inland and has faired well in the past hurricanes.  We are optimistic that in a few months we may return and perhaps find a location close to get Serenity out of the water. We will resume later in 2020 our journey on America's great loop.

1514.1 hobbs; 2662 SM elapsed

Addendum: 22 March.  Serenity secured at Ortega River Marina.  We shut down our trusty and reliable Yanmar at 0800.  I did connected the raw water hose from the now closed sea cock and placed the end into a five gallon bucket.  Filled with fresh water and with the garden hose running, started back up the diesel and flushed fresh water through her systems for 10 minutes.  We have emptied and cleaned the composting head.  Removed the fuse for the 12 vdc mini fan to the head.  Shutting down most DC systems and removing what can be removed from the helm and storing.  Itemizing what to remove and what remains behind.  Will place double lines port/starboard and bow and stern before we leave.  Rental van to be available tomorrow morning.  Will begin off loading the boat and loading the van.  We should be on the road sometime Tuesday.  Temporary suspension of our at sea blog as of today.  Will continue to post once safely back in the Ozarks and from time to time if anything relates to Serenity or the Great Loop.

Everyone take care of each other, and thank anyone who is on the front lines.  Semper Fidelis