The Plan

All boaters have a saying that the plan is written in sand at low tide, obviously pointing out the necessity of flexibility in doing any type of cruising.  By it’s very nature, a rigid plan can only bring frustration at a minimum or disaster at it’s worse.  We are first at the whim of the weather – meaning we will only go when we have a certain degree of certainty that they weather we encounter will be no worse than uncomfortable.  Rule number 1 is that usually all efforts are made to keep the “pleasure” in pleasure boating.  Additionally, we don’t leave the dock with a known problem mechanically.  See Rule number 1.

That said, our loose plan this summer is to leave in time to have Gratitude North of the Florida/Georgia border by June 1, 2018.  We plan to head up the coast with a planned rendezvous with family in the Outer Banks of the Carolina’s in June.   Another meet up is planned with Alec’s brother’s family in Massachusetts in early July for Jack’s birthday.  We hope to head off from Maine with a group of Nordhavn’s to Nova Scotia in mid-July and then to Newfoundland after that.    Beyond that…. we aren’t sure.  The only thing we know is that we musn’t return to Florida until November 1.    This works very well with our desire to get a very good feel  for how this lifestyle works for us.  We are going to attempt to “home-school” Jack with the oversight and help from his current school at home and the entire trip should take 5 months.  It is our longer range plan and goal if all goes well this summer to return to Florida in November to complete some long-term maintenance and then head for Europe next May.    But the tide is out and the sand is soft – so we shall see where we end up….