The Beginning

April 1, 2008 - We buy our 1979 Tartan 37. She needs some tlc after years of being in Schroeder's Boatyard in Deltaville, Va.

June 2 - 9, 2008 - She is launched but has engine problems so we spend the first evening in the water, but still at the yard. It was exciting to see her in the travel lift heading to the water. If a boat had feelings, I think she would have been real happy. We are able to leave the next day so we head out to Tangier Island. Beautiful day and good wind. Enjoyable stay at Tangier's, dock master took us on a tour of the island in his golf cart. Back across the Chesapeake to anchor for the night at Deltaville before heading south. The next night we stayed at the public dock in Hampton, Va. Next stop will be the visitor center in the Dismal Swamp Canal. We see a kayaker who tells us he is paddling the ICW all the way to Baltimore. It is hot and buggy. Things on the boat are starting not to work, but thankfully the refrigeration is keeping us in cold drinks. The hot water heater blew up, but there isn't much need for hot water on this trip. On to Elizabeth City where we can't get through the bridge because of a power boat race. We tie up to a bulkhead near the bridge. We are able to sail the next day once we are on the Albemarle Sound, but towards the end of the day smoke from a fire in the Pocosin Wildlife Refuge takes away our visibility. We stop in at the Alligator River Marina for the night. Still smokey the next day, we head for Jordan Creek and get there just before dark. We are met by friendly River Rats and so glad to see them. Ceibo is at her new home, but doesn't have her new name yet.