The to do list grows as we sit in Tiburon, California eagerly awaiting each trip back to The Independence, now in a hurricane hold in Jupiter, Florida. But slowly each of the items is getting tended to and crossed off that list. The arch has had a hinge installed so we can pass underneath the Chicago Bridge in the Intracoastal Waterway. The tender has been purchased and installed on the fly bridge’s aft deck. Bottom paint, zincs, line-cutters, water-makers, stabilizers, converters, yacht-controllers; each checked, the list is getting smaller. The boat is getting lower in the water as we jam must-haves and can’t-live-with-outs into free checked bags and purchase galley items and bed linens, NO, I have not purchased throw-pillows as I believe our boat came with no less then twenty. The name has been placed on the stern. Boat calling cards were made and printed…yes, this is ‘a thing’. One of the most satisfying items completed was having our first dinner party and overnight guests. Nothing says welcome aboard like a couple of chilled Don Lorenzo’s and some hot chicken curry. Next up on the list…getting out of the harbor!!!

Hauled out in Cracker Boy Boat Yard. July in Florida…90 degrees plus on the blacktop.

Hinge installation in the fly bridge arch

Our first overnight guests help us celebrate naming the boat.