Doing a count of all the boxes, I stopped at six hundred and ten thousand five hundred and twenty nine Only kidding but it’s amazing how much stuff we still seem to have even after all the kids are long gone and we’ve steadily been cleaning out over the last few months. I guess we were not as ruthless as we should have been.

After this, we stay over with friends, Trudi and Michael – fellow boaties,  collect our cat from the cattery tomorrow and fly her down to really good friends, Graham and Moira, who live in the South Island and have very kindly offered to have her.

Then, on Thursday we fly out

A – BALTIMORE
This is where we will collect Amanzi and then head down the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk (about 120 miles) where we enter the IntraCoastal Waterway or ICW or simply the Ditch for a 1000 mile (statute) journey to Miami. The ICW consists of a series of natural waterways, sounds, inlets and canals which provide a safe passage down the east coast without ever needing to enter the Atlantic Ocean.

While many cruisers simply race down the ICW there are as many who only cruise up and down enjoying the sights and history etc. We plan to spend about 4 weeks travelling down and enjoying the trip. We will also use this time to work out what else we will need or want for our trip to the Bahamas. This will be our “shakedown cruise” which is usually a shortish cruise to iron out issues and problems. Of course, in our case, the shakedown cruise will be much longer (in mileage) than the Bahamas portion. But, we will always be closer to assistance and marinas/yards for necessary repairs/changes!

We will stop over at Fernandina Beach on the border between Florida and Georgia where we will carry out any repairs and/or additions/alterations. Why here? Because that’s where my broker has his business and can assist with sourcing supplies and assistance.

B – MIAMI
This will be our jumping off point across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. We plan to stop at Bimini where we will check in to the Bahamas before entering the Great Bahama Banks on our way to Nassau

C – NASSAU
Capital of the Bahamas and this is where we will probably collect Leanne and the boys as the first of our visitors.

D – GEORGE TOWN
From Nassau we will slowly wend our way down the Exuma chain of islands, ending up in George Town where we will sort of be based before returning north.

E – PLAN B
Of course, when cruising all plans are set in jelly, subject to the weather and our whim of the moment . So of course there is always a plan B – which at this stage is simply no plan at all