From Retirement to Cruising: The Prep
- And they’re off!
After several years of plotting and planning, we (Frank and Mary Marie or “Ems”) are about to execute on our plan to cruise the US east coast and the Bahamas/Caribbean in our 41′ sailboat for the next 2 years. Since Frank retired April 1, 2013, friends and family have been inquiring about our preparations. So here is the pictorial answer to the question, “How do you prepare to go cruising and when are you leaving?” Here is OUR answer as it pertains to the last month.
- Install some more “stuff” on the boat . . .
We essentially moved onto the boat May 7th, spent a few days doing prep and provisioning and set sail on May 12th. Our “launch” will happen in three stages:
1) Spend the month of May cruising the Chesapeake. We still have a slip in Annapolis through the end of the month. In late May, we will “take the lines with us.” This is in quotes because Frank has often said that, when he has a problem going to sleep at night, his substitute for counting sheep is to picture us pulling out of our slip and “taking the lines with us,” so that will be a BIG moment.
2) We will make our way through the C&D canal to Cape May where we’ll spend some time in Frank’s old stomping grounds and birth place. Then we’ll head north and anchor outside of Atlantic City, NJ for a couple of weeks to spend some time with our families and take care of last minute details. This will also allow Mary Marie some good practice time in the ocean vs. the confines of the Bay.
3) In the second half of June we’ll look for the right weather window to make our first big journey from Atlantic City to Block Island. That will be the third and most official part of our launch. Then we’ll hop our way along the coast of New England and head to Maine.
For those who are interested, we will use this blog to chronicle our travels. We’ll try to make it somewhat fun to read and will include a bunch of pictures and stories of the good, the bad and the ugly. If you just want to come here when you’re out of ways to procrastinate working on what you really should be, bookmark us and come when you feel like it. If you want to know that we haven’t fallen off the face of the earth on a regular basis and think you’ll forget to look up our page, there is an option on this page where you can enter your email address and get an email notice each time we make a new blog entry. Your choice. Or . . . never looking at this site again is an option, too. Totally your call . . . but we hope you’ll visit us from time to time! So, here we go!
Congratulations! We are so happy for you AND RIGHT behind you!
Very Cool! Safe voyage!
i would love to follow your journey!
You guys have a great time! Be safe.
Fair winds and following seas. Livin the dream enjoy. MB
Have fun, you deserve it!
Two of the most down to earth, humble, wise, funny and great people I know. So excited for both of you.
Have fun. Savor each moment.
good on ya mate!
Sounds like the way to retire… an amazing adventure… safe travels… we should have a gathering of the class when u r in CM
Wishing you both fair winds, a following sea and at night a million stars in the sky. See you at the Soggy Dollar!
I love this!!! Be Safe xo
Can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. ENJOY…you both deserve it!
Have a wonderful time. I’m looking forward to following your adventures.
Good Luck be safe most important and enjoy.
Enjoy Frank you deserve it
Well deserved time together … to say the least. Mary Marie, make sure to pack plenty of Ketel One for Frank. That may help him sleep better instead of trying to envision “taking the lines with you.” Vodka tonic certainly sounds like more fun to me anyway! Miss you guys.
Tanqueray is his/our preferred boat beverage by day… diligently managing our supply. The evening Jameson supply is in good shape thanks to the Grantville team!
And there is more where that came from!! Be safe. Miss you both!
SO Happy for you both. go andenjoy the ride/sail.looking forward to seeing you on the net
love ya mrs. flanders/katherine
Be safe and HAVE FUN!!
This is fantastic–great job on blog #1! I will join many other friends eagerly awaiting future installments as we all get to live vicariously through you! Godspeed and be safe.
Simply……….XOXOXOXO
How wonderful!!! When do you pick us up? Love you, Jim & Ellen
Congratulations, have fun, good luck and most importantly be safe!
Let us know when Eleanor hits AC we’ll have a bon voyage party! xoxo
Have a great time. Be Safe.
ill worry about you both but you have a great captain be safe and have fun love mom
Time to sail like you always wanted. I’ll see you on the water! Be safe and have fun……
Enjoy life it’s time.
Enjoy yourselves and be safe…I can’t wait to hear more about your adventure!
How fantastic ~ safe travels – enjoy !!!
Bon voyage! I’m looking forward to the journey with you. May all your skies be red at night!
CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYTHING !!! Have a wonderful time and remember the bad/difficult times are usually the funniest stories to share….. after they are over. I enjoyed your post and look forward to my alerts to further postings.
Oh Sister Mary Marie and Father Frank… May you enjoy days of sunshine and calm seas in your journey.. I am so happy for you both. May the wind be always at your back.
Smooth sailing and mind the whales!!
All the best Frank from Hershey
Frank! Nice to hear from you! Thanks for the well wishes.
You are living what I dreamed of while sailing in the Delaware ( based in Cape May in the 70’s ), Chesapeake and the Gulf of Mexico. Kudos to you both for making it happen. May Brizo watch over your travels and provide safe harbors when needed !
I look forward to living my dream through your blog.