we take advantage of Danica and Family being in Europe and join them for a week each in France and Greece. And I finally get to Crete, from where my grandfather immigrated to the US.
There’s just something about a child’s belief in Santa…
Our first travel adventure since moving off the boat was a combination of work and play. It was a drive from VA to MN, a week camping with family in Minnesota, a few days ‘de- stuffing’ our storage unit back in Stillwater, Amtrak from St. Paul to Oregon, fast ferry to Victoria, BC, a stop in Seattle, fly back to MN to load up a UHaul, and a final return drive to Norfolk. Whew!
Our cruising chapter having come to an end when we arrived in Norfolk, we turned our attention to moving off the water and back onto terra firma. Transitioning was a multi-step process: getting everything off the boat, getting See Level prepped and turned over to the broker, living back on land. From there we were open to whatever came our way – and come it did.
We finish our final trip on the ICW, traveling from Wilmington NC to Norfolk VA. Most of the towns were still in winter hibernation mode, but we still enjoyed some of our favorite stop. We also added a new stop in Washington NC, where our good friends from Inconceivable hop on board for the final three days to our ultimate destination of Norfolk VA.
After a month in Jacksonville relaxing and a quick trip to California to see family, we start our eighth and final trip north on the ICW. But of course, it wouldn’t be boating if everything went smoothly…
Our month in Daytona was a weird mix of challenges and sadness, fun, weird weather, a few excursions, time with family, and plenty of ‘downtime’ to think about the future.
When your brain knows it’s inevitable but our heart gets stretched to its limit.
We take a month-long break in the Hampton Roads area to travel to Australia and get some routine boat maintenance done. Then it’s a mad dash down the Atlantic ICW by Christmas with Jack Frost nipping at our stern.