Pre-para-tion-s

 Fixin’ ta commence ta begin ta get ready ta GO!

Departure date in now less than 15 days away.  (WHAT??!!)  And we are fully engaged in preparing for our journey.  Here are some updates:

Land Cruising

We are rented a Chevy Suburban (“or equivalent” in rent-a-car-speak) SUV from faithful Budget Rental Car.  To be known as COVID Adventurer, our (hopefully) robust and reliable steed awaits us at the Spokane Airport.  Pickup is set for April 29^th.  We prepaid this rental in January to save some $$ and to avoid the dreaded “All we have left is a mini-van” syndrome.

Our route this time will take us to Bozeman MT, Wheatland WY, Loveland CO, Topeka KS, Louisville KY, Morgantown WV, and Deal MD.  At Loveland, we will pause for a gathering of the CO tribe of the clan McLaughlin (cousins of Commadore Kathleen).  Then its eastbound and down on I-70 (mostly).  All we lack is some global crisis to drop the retail price of gasoline.

Out Fleet Grows

We have two new additions to our fleet this year.  We have acquired  two Aquaglide inflatable kayaks to allow us to explore the more remote anchorages we anticipate on our journey .   The larger  (aka The Admiral’s Barge) is  a Deschutes 130 that has  the length and capacity to transport Fur-Admiral Maggie  along with her designated galley slave so that she can join in our adventures.    The second kayak is a smaller Deschutes 110 for solo paddling.

Away All Boats!

Another flotilla enhancement is the addition of a Dingy Caddy davit to Irish Lass.   This device mounts on the swim platform and will allow us to transport our 10’ Zodiac dinghy in a ready-to-deploy state, complete with mounted outboard.  Beats the heck out of strapping the boat upside down on the swim step and wrestling  the outboard on and off with each use.  A product of Canada crafted in stainless steel, ours is current awaiting installation at Phipps Boatworks At Herrington Harbor North Marina near Deale, MD

 

Tools.....

.......Are Like Firewood

 

Engineer and Assistant Bottle Washer Wade has been packing (and unpacking and repacking) his tools for the voyage for several weeks.   Largely, it seems to be a process of 1) trying  to cram every tool he owns into two tool bags, 2) discovering that he can’t close either bag, 3) buying a larger tool bag, 4) repacking the bags, 5)  discovering that he can’t lift the resulting packed weight, 5) culling back the selected tools (“How many drill batteries?”  “A butane torch? Really?”) until the load becomes manageable,  and 6) wondering what has been forgotten.    Tools truly  are like firewood.  One simply can not have too many…….     

Return of St Brendan

The legendary St Brendan’s Isle has made a new appearance to once again take on the handling of our mail  (see May 19, 2020 blog entry).   This is the go-to mail forwarding service for Loopers and other long-term travelers.   Worked like a charm last year.  We have every reason to expect the same this time around.

Lists and lists and more lists

Well, sort of.  It seems we tossed all the lists we made in preparation for last year’s voyage.  So, we have been busy reconstructing them and gathering stuff as we go.   Arrangements for the house and yard  seem to be well in hand.   The pile of gear in the garage is taking shape.  The tool bags are zipped (for now 😊).  Wardrobe selection is set for next week.  We’re hopeful  that last year’s experience and our combined memories will join forces to the prevent any material “You know what we forget?” conversations.

Departure day is April 30.  Stay tuned.