WE HAVE:

Traveled 1800 Miles since we began on April 22nd in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Put 277 Hours on the engine.

Traversed 9 States: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York (almost through it).

Been stalled 15 nights due to lock closures in the Erie Canal (8 in Amsterdam, NY and 7 in Brewerton, NY). It looks like it may be anywhere from another day to another week before we are on our way. Time will tell. Rain, high water, debris and mechanical issues are the culprits.

We are roughly one third of the way through the Great Loop.

The generator is up and able to run again. The co$t was far less than we anticipated due to the kindness of the mechanics here at the Brewerton Boat Yard who had to take time to “learn” about the machine and trouble shoot with the Cummin’s diesel folks. No charge for learning time. Old school goodness lives here.

WE HAVE HAD VISITORS ALONG THE WAY:

In June, on Bald Head Island in North Carolina, David’s sisters, Kathie and Patricia spent an afternoon, evening and morning with us. It was lovely.

Earlier this month, Ronin and Leda, joined us for a portion of the Hudson River and the first 11 locks of the Erie Canal from New Baltimore, NY to Amsterdam, NY. Owen, Dakota and their puppy,, Nardo, visited us to pick the littles up and bring us fresh produce, wine, beer and cheese.

Also, while in Amsterdam, David’s brother, John, and his dear friend Barbie visited us at the marina as they were driving home to Vermont from North Carolina. It was a beautiful afternoon and it was really nice to catch up on the fourth of July family reunion festivities we missed, that were hosted by David’s sister, Kathie, at her home in Maryland and condo in DC. Of course, I forgot to take a snapshot of the four of us 🥸

When we were in Maryland, back in June, we spent four nights at Kathie’s house in St. Michaels when IRENE was having work done on her engine in Oxford, MD. It was quite an indulgent holiday that buoyed us with warmth, beauty, great food, and an in-person visit from best friends, Wendy and Jennie (also my Godchild).

Next month, David’s son Mark, will join him to take the boat from Cleveland to Detroit while I fly out to spend time with Anna, Don and Isla for the first week of Montessori School for our little (Isla) Ray of Sunshine. (Send good energy because at the rate of closure along the canal we will have to move fast and far to make it to Cleveland in time!)

VISUAL MEMORIES:

PS:

We have a few “regular” readers who share their reflections, best wishes, and love with us by offering us comments on this blog site. They include my sisters Kathy and Patty, my nephew in law, Doug (who also monitors the journey on Google Earth which is very cool), and my dear friend, Wendy. David and I appreciate reading what they have to say to us.

And, we have some regular check in “texters” too, and we are happy to reciprocate. (You know who you are). I kindly refer to all these communications as “postcards”.

PSS:

Yesterday, we polished IRENE from top to bottom and today we tackled the yellow mustache on the hull (discoloration from the water). As you can see from the first image here, we were successful.

We have both been reading a lot, though David more so than me, as I run the roads on my electric scooter doing things like laundry, grocery shopping, picking up take-out 😉 and miscellaneous little things that appeal to me because I am sovereign. I am also near day 300 in A Course in Miracles and am enjoying it immensely.

A day or two ago a few of the locks behind us opened up, as well as a couple of guard gates and locks near Rochester, NY. We are hopeful that we will be on the move again soon. David would leave today, but there is no place to anchor in the Oneida River and we would simply be stuck on a wall a bit ahead of here without electricity. So we wait. And so it is.

All good things in time.

As my spiritual warrior, friend and life accomplice Erin Galito wrote in her book “Essays of Light”: “Appreciation and gratitude are your anchor, your rock. As you think of what you appreciate, more good thoughts will come to you.” We are thinking beings, after all.

Use your thoughts wisely my friends, and focus them on appreciation.

Wishing you love and light in these light speed times. ✌🏽