September, 2019
The paint work has proceeded slowly. An interesting process, we have learned a lot
watching the transition. The boat is
under a covered shed, covered by plastic around a scaffolding framework. Workers use this scissor lift to work on the
areas being prepped and painted.
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| Painting underway, Saunders Yacht Works, Gulf Shores AL |
And here we are, almost finished.
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| Painting almost finished, Saunders Yacht Works |
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Finally – on the way back to the water. We move back on board and start cleaning –
lots of dust after almost 2 months in a boat yard.
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| Moving to the water, Saunders Yacht Works |
Since it is almost the end of the month, we have arranged to
stay at Saunders docks a few days, moving to the Wharf Marina on the 1st. We are still adjusting to the new color – a
big change from the original green. One
of these days I need to get a good photo for the blog but we are not in a very
scenic location so that will have to wait.
I am at last able to quit using the boot as my fractured
ankle is healing nicely. I will be
treading cautiously for some time to come.
While visiting this area, we keep seeing the term “jubilee”
used in business names, restaurant dishes, sports teams, etc. We finally learn that a jubilee is a local
phenomenon, known to occur only in Mobile Bay on a regular basis; nowhere else
in the world! Jubilees occur only in the
summer when unique environmental conditions cause low-oxygen water to upwell,
pushing fish and shellfish ashore in search of oxygen. When jubilees happen, locals rush to the
shore and scoop up ice chests full of shrimp, crab and fish. Jubilee!
Here’s a link to a more complete description: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/coastal-programs/the-jubilee-phenomenon/ Sadly, we did not get to observe a jubilee while here.
October 1, 2019
On the 1st, we cast off and head just 3 miles
east to The Wharf in Orange Beach AL.
This will be our home for the month as we wait for hurricane threats to
taper off. We can easily weather a small
storm here, with floating docks and protection from a high-rise condo at the
water’s edge along this protected stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. If threatened by a major storm, we would move
up the Mobile River to any of several sheltered creeks with deep water, a local
“hurricane hole”.
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| The Wharf, Orange Beach AL |
The Wharf is a nice, upscale development with a high-rise
condo, hotel, several restaurants, bars, shops.
The marina is the centerpiece and is popular with loopers. We are meeting quite a few couples who stop
for a few days or weeks.
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| The Wharf, Orange Beach AL |
October 2, 2019
We are settling in for the month, working on boat projects
and more detailed planning for our Bahamas cruise. Robert’s phone rings and it is the owner of
the quail hunting operation where we got our beloved Boka, our Boykin spaniel
gone now more than 2 years. He has 4
female Boykins, 5 months old, that need a home.
We had considered getting a puppy in the past year, but had decided to
wait until we returned from the Bahamas as dogs need to be at least 6 months
old before they can get approval to enter that country.
October 3, 2019
Long story short, today we drove 4 hours to see the
pups. One dog made a bee line to me
while the other 3 held back, barking. So
we now have a new family member!
Meet Dory. She’s 5
months old, 22 lbs, and very outgoing, a good thing for a boat dog. At this time it looks like she will adapt
well to life on board. We’ve had our
hands full this month, house (boat?) breaking and beginning obedience
training. Oh my, what have we
done??? Well, at least she is adorable!
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| Dory |
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| Dory |
October 29, 2019
Our time here grows short.
This month has flown with puppy training, ongoing boat projects, and
loopers moving through so frequent docktails to attend. We will cast off, heading east, this weekend,
weather permitting. Current plans are to
move to Ft. Myers over the next 2 weeks, staying put there until the end of the
year. Early 2020 we hope to move to the
Bahamas; details to be posted later.
Hooray! Happy to see you back in the canine world. We're sure Dory will keep you both occupied. Never a dull moment with a puppy.
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