we're ready to go!

We are plodding along and have our plan for leaving.  The enclosure is back up, allowing Smokey a new extension of her world.  She's a little hesitant, but likes the idea of "outdoors".  A little catnip mousie thrown in the cockpit floor helped... Luke likes the warm, sunny enclosure, too.

 AND!  Smokey's earning her keep as a boat hand.  We've had a small fly in the boat for a couple of days. This morning, she spotted it flying by, make a cat leap, snagged it in mid-air, and knocked it down, dead.  Good girl!!

The initial provisioning is done.  Wal-Mart loves us.  3 grocery carts full, but these groceries will last a long time, with the exception of fresh fruit, bread, etc.  Here's the damage, starting at our starboard side, around the stern of the boat, and then back around to the port side.  That big dark thing in the middle is the cover around our steering station.

but, it's all stowed away now!

It rained, hard, all Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  We did a lot of inside chores.  Today, Thursday, we have checked the engines, the anchor windless, heat system, etc, etc. 

Little Smokey has several scabby, bleeding places in one ear.  So, a trip to the not-so-local vet fora check up before we head south tomorrow morning.  It's not fleas (thank God!!!) not an infection or inflamation, not a yeast ear infection.  One tube of treats-all ear salve and we're ready to go.

We left the car at the usual lot, have done last minute chores, and are ready to do the Chesapeake tomorrow.  Not sure yet if we will go part way or all of the way to Norfolk.  Luke installed an updated auto pilot last spring and it needs to be calibrated when we first get out into open water.  If it goes as it should, 5 minutes.  If not...sigh...