Things are improving....

Things are beginning to fall into place for us, much less stressful than a few days ago. We are making progress.

We successfully moved the boat to her new temporary home, Badger Island Marina. Take a look at the webpage---- see the 2 long piers with boats on both sides and the 2 short piers? We are on the short pier between the 2 long ones, closest to the outside. Great location, relatively sheltered. We had a little help getting here from our friends, Eric & Dave.

They made getting into our new slip a lot easier, additional help with the lines, etc. The current is swift here, the fastest current in any river in the US, so I'm told. It can flow up to 6 knots, going up and down the river as it ebbs and flows. At any time other than slack current, there are eddies, swirls, and standing waves that make the boat look like she's moving through the water even though we are secure in our slip. Badger Island is about 2 houses wide and not much longer. The marina is between the Memorial Bridge and the Sarah Long Bridge. Here is the Memorial Bridge, opening, as we are ready to go through it. The bridge tender opened it to 71 feet to let our 63 ft highth go through it -- takes faith because it sure doesn't look high enough.

Everyone one here is extremely nice and accommodating. It's a great place to be. There are laundry facilities in the facility, a nice communial area, and great folks we're meeting. We can walk from the marina, across the bridge, and into Portsmouth in about 10 minutes. There are good restaurants, fresh seafood markets, and fresh produce places just around the corners.

We have a crew member lined up for the trip home. A neighbor's brother-in-law has volunteered for crew duty with us. A long time sailor, he's a welcome addition. He will join us Oct. 1. Luke's last post-op is scheduled for Oct. 1, so we hope to leave within a day or so after that.

Today we spent touring downtown Portsmouth. It's a nice town, many old quaint and grand New England houses. It was not a fishing villiage, but apparently a prosperous commercial center in the 1800s, rivaling Boston in international trade, with many large houses of the successful merchants. It also reminds us of Europe. Maybe it's the street layouts, head-in parking, central market area, busy town center.

There are lots of beautiful old restored homes (Portsmouth was founded in the late 1600's).

We are immediately across the river from Portsmouth - here's our view. That includes a spectacular sunset, too!