COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE

Oh my, so much to do and what is getting to be so little time!  We took the bimini in to have it fixed and reinforced, removed the radar dome and the TV antenna from the back stay to get a jump on pulling the mast once we get down lake.  John built a makeshift post for the antenna and it will do double duty serving as a way for us to display a "mast" headlight when at anchor during the trip.  He has been giving the US Postal Service a lot of business too as he has been ordering extra parts and other items we may need for the trip. Thanks to our mail lady Jenny who has been making many an extra trip down ClarLin Road these days.

We took our beloved Molly to the boat on Friday and spent the night on board trying to help her get acclimated.  We've got a way to go there but are hopeful she will adjust and turn into a stellar boat kitty.  Doing all we can to make her feel comfortable and at home.

While on the dock late Friday afternoon we had our first true "Looper" encounter and we haven't even left our home port yet!  A 14' Expedition Skerry (a cross between a sailboat and a row boat) with TN registration was going by and I yelled "Are you doing the Great Loop?"  The man replied yes.  Oh my, he was doing it in this little open bowed boat!  And he was pulling into our marina!  We immediately thought we had to go and meet him so that's exactly what we did.  

The man's name is John Guider and his story is quite something.  He has paddled and sailed his boat more than 6,000 miles to date.  His story and the photographs he has taken are amazing.  Here is a link to his website, check it out.  http://johnguider.com/riverinside/  

We invited him aboard for dinner and offered to help him however we could with a grocery run or ride somewhere, local information or whatever.  What a treat to actually meet someone who has taken to the Loop in such a way.  It was good to hear all his stories of how wonderful people have been to him as he has undertaken his journey.  Right now he is trying to decide if it is time to end this year's segment and pull his boat out here in Sturgeon Bay.  Stay tuned and we'll let you know what's up with John G. 

This week we plan to get in some final sailing with friends in Green Bay and then it's back home to tie up all the lose ends.