We have a WINNER, WINNER, WINNER!!! The Gadjos knew where the Canterbury Bear was - at the Charleston Marina. Millions are on their way to the Gadjo family!!!!

Captain's Log: We have just passed the border into Virginia having spent quite a few days roaming around North Carolina in little towns like Oriental, Southport, and Bellehaven (and it wasn't very "belle") with no cell service. Travel has been unremarkable - just plugging along. We are hoping to finally find some rest in the Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown areas where we plan on soaking up some history and some rest. No engine issues - they're purring along.

We have now been at this one month and I'm going to wax a little philosphically for you.
1. Cruising is expensive! Even with one full-time job and one part time job, we're still running in the red while running on the blue. Between the few repairs we've had to make, dockage and fuel, geesh! To all those who give me work - THANK YOU!
2. I'm a city girl. Communing with nature is all well and good, but give me city lights and I'm much happier. Although the kids and Nick seem to like nature (how did that happen?). Far, far too many bugs - horseflies, houseflies, mosquitos, beetles, wasps, and seemingly millions of other flying, stinging and biting bugs that keep us up at night despite our screens and closed windows and doors. Even with our cool, electric fly-swatter (Eileen says, "I love the smell of burning bugs!"), we can't keep ahead of them.
3. We LOVE not having a schedule! We don't have to be those parents "time for bed," "time for dinner," "time for homework," nag, nag, nag. We do schoolwork when it feels good, we eat when we're hungry, we get up when we're rested, and if Eileen wants to wear her tutu all day, that's great. We have the time to take learning opportunities - the other day we heard these loud jets but couldn't see them. It was the perfect learning opportunity to explain Doppler and sound waves.
4. Basic necessities are more of a struggle. Grocery stores are always on my mind. The other day in Myrtle Beach, we lowered our bikes off the boat, peddled the mile to the grocery store with our own grocery bags in hand, bought only what we could carry, and peddled home. We're so green! Those occasions are few and far between, so we have learned to do without and stretch what we do have. In every town, we search for groceries although honestly, I did a good job provisioning, so the only things we struggle with are milk, fresh fruit and veggies.

Life is good at the end of an anchor!