Heading out…

Heading out felt much more like leaving this time, even more that the last time I set out on an extended cruise.  It's is ironic because the last time I had sold my house and most of my things in New England and cast off with no intention of returning.  This time the house remains under the care of friend Diane who will hopefully enjoy and keep it well until our return eight month hence.  

This time boat preparation felt much more protracted and difficult even thought it took about the asme amount of time, one year and a half.  And in many ways Malo’s preparation went much more easily that my last boat, Gypsy.  I suspect that the difference lies with me.  My old self just doesn't have as much energy as my 9 year younger self did.  On the plus side this time is that I’m a bit smarter about setting up a boat for extended cruising thanks to the experience gained from the last time.  

The night before we left, we spent the evening on our dock neighbor’s boat sipping fine gin & brandy, swapping past tails, future dreams and of course, talking about boat projects.  The next morning our resident boat based preacher, Ernie came over before our departure and blessed and anointed Malo with a touch of oil.  He did a beautiful job with the blessing, I could feel the sprit move thorough that man.  He also gave us a bible which was very touching.  

It was fitting and good that the last person I said goodby to that morning was our wharfinger, Keith.  With that we cast off our dock lines on a beautiful, early September morning and motored our of the marina, thought the bay, under the bridge, over the bar and then out into the cerulean ocean and on to the start of rest of our lives…