3 weeks and counting

We're working on the website with our friend Mary,,,check out our new link to the America's Great Loop Cruiser's Association...more on this great group later....

http://www.greatloop.com



Picture used by permission from Raven Cove Publishing, all rights reserved.

We forgot Kodi

Hi all!
We forgot to tell y'all that we will be travelling with our Wheaton Terrier, Kodi...I'm sure we'll have some exploits to share re: Kodi...
We have purchased a patch of green "astro-turf" like material that we're trying to train him on for those long days on the river when we can't stop till evening...fascinating aspects of life aboard.
We are also still learning to use this site..as soon as we can upload more pictures we will. Meanwhile were frantically preparing to get the boat ready, get the house ready, and to get my work finished before Sept 18th.

"What's in a Name?"

Okay...so someone commented that the name on the picture of the boat is "Sweet Lady"...Good eye! The name game has been crazy for us. If you think naming a child is difficult try naming a boat. The boat was named "Sweet Lady" when we bought her in Florida ..we knew we'd change the name because "Sweet Lady" sounds like a Grandma...and you know me, I am not ALWAYS sweet.I was afraid I couldn't live up to the name..so here are some of the names we considered...Frechles (get it..."Frech") "Rendezvous" (because we wanted family and friends to join us..then we heard the definition of rendezvous in Portuguese is a secret place to have sex) then it was going to be "Vagabond" because that's what were doing (but too many people associated it with being bums) then "Boomerang" (cuz I'm a boomer and I thought it was cool but Tom didn't) Then "Dragonfly"(because they buzz around from place to place) but somehow it just didn't do it...then it was going to be "grateful" because that's how we feel about the boat and this awesome year (but that sounded pompous and preachy) So "cloud Nine" it is because honestly we're on Cloud nine just in anticipation of the trip...The signs are being re-painted as we speak so the decision is final...cheers

"Cloud Nine" on Lake Michigan in Kenosha

Ready,set,go....

August 14th, 2006
"Cloud Nine" is still being worked on at Winthrop Harbor as our departure date nears. Over the last year we have changed the following things:canvas on entire boat, new exterior cushions,all new interior furniture (a story in itself) new galley counters, new appliances, all new decor, new shelving,new paint and wallpaper,new window treatments, new staining, newly converted office, all new electronics,all exterior teak stripped to original(Pam's crazy, whacky, pet project)2 new transmissions (ouch) new mufflers, new batteries, and the beat goes on...now here's the thing...maybe we should have spent more money and gotten a boat that was already complete, but as Stephanie and Bob have said to us..."You two wouldn't be happy without a project!!!!
On some level they're right! Tom and I are so happy with the way "Cloud Nine" looks, and the choices are all ours. Re-habbing a boat is kind of like childbirth...you forget the pain when its all over....