Home at Last!

After 16 nights in a La Quinta hotel, the entire Red Head crew was happy to have the boat splashed on Friday afternoon.

First, there was one last walking of the plank up to the salon where the crew awaited the much anticipated moment. While none of us loved being "thrown" out of our home, it was especially challenging for Dylan and Dee Dee but, as always, they handle it with much aplomb.

Mom and Dad forced them to wait in the car while the actual event took place. It was really best for all involved. Don't be fooled by the faces - it was pure drama.

Before we knew it, Red Head was afloat once more with hardly a leak in sight.

Dylan and Dee Dee quickly found their way back onboard and settled right in. And the very best part was...

Sleeping in their own bed again. Life is good!

Some More Firsts...

It's been a hectic week. Red Head was hauled for some out of the water work causing the kids to make some adjustments. We are at Hinckley Yacht Services in Stuart and the manager, Brian, kindly offered us the use of a conference room to hold the kids. But Mom wisely decided that there was too much of a chance of barking if they were left inside while we were working outside on projects. So Dad began figuring out how to get them onboard.

After various solutions were tried, we ended up with the "double ramps on yard blocks." Yeah, looks pretty intimidating...

After several false starts, Dylan ran up, turned around and ran back down. Promising. We got him up again and settled inside. Which left Miss Dee Dee. After many, many tries we got her up. Down was not much better but it worked.

Sorry, there are no pictures from the actual event but Mom and Dad were a little busy while that was going on.  So Dylan and Dee Dee are spending their days onboard Red Head while she is on the hard - a first for both of them. Only 10 or so more days to go... sigh!

Fortunately, there was a more enjoyable first Thursday evening. Dee Dee was invited to her first dinner party. Lori and Greg onboard Meander invited the whole Red Head crew to their boat for dinner. Dylan has been on several boats for dinner parties, even being invited back a second time. We feared it might be Dee Dee's first and last.

But  little Miss Dee Dee did quite well, rearranging some of the shoes and sneaking onto the salon sofa when no one was looking, but no damage was done. At least, as far as we know.

It was Dylan who had a bit of a freakout when some firecracker sounds went off in the distance. He climbed onto Mom's lap and then wiggled between Mom and Dad at the table. Lori and Greg were very kind and said they didn't mind.

But soon the excitement got the best of Dylan as he fell asleep sitting up. Poor old guy...

The whole Red Head crew had a lovely evening but were happy to get to what is home for the next couple of weeks - a room at the La Quinta.

Interior Design

We have been working steadily at improving the guts of Red Head. The focus has been on improving her systems and bringing her up to date. This week we will be hauled by Hinckley Yacht Services in Stuart to have dripless shaft seals installed, two more depth sounders added to the hull, and various other out of the water jobs completed. Up until now most of what we have done has been below deck in the engine rooms.

Since we'll be here for awhile, we decided to start work on the living areas. There's really not much to do. The previous owners turned her interior into a bright, beach house kind of look. Dad likes to call it a "Nantucket look." It suits the whole crew quite well.

Of course, we added some personal touches when we moved aboard - some of our favorite photos.

A utensil holder that was a gift from our dear friend Sue.

A few paintings to remind us of Maine. It's those little things that make it feel like home.

Today we met with a interior designer who can help us with the floors, upholstery, some additional furniture, and paint. She's mainly helping us with color choices and putting together a plan we can use into the future.

Often people will come to a meeting like this with examples of what they are looking for. It could be the blue of a pretty piece of sea-glass.

Maybe the beautiful pinks from the inside of a conch shell. Or just a favorite shade of green.

But on Red Head our main color selection is Labrador Retriever fur - I mean, those thousands of heavenly fibers of love and joy. Right now, most of the flooring and upholstery is very dark and doesn't work with the dog fur in-between Roomba launchings.

The designer left with the task of finding colors and materials that are easy to clean and will hide Dylan and Dee Dee's fur - I mean, those thousands of heavenly fibers of love and joy.  After all, it just wouldn't be home without it.

Happy New Year!

Dylan and Dee Dee had a pretty wild New Year's Eve on Red Head at Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach. Mom and Dad left them briefly for a great meal at Siam Spice but were back in time for the festivities - going to bed at 9:30...

The kids had reason to be tired. Along with the many responsibilities they have onboard, they had a long walk onshore at St. Augustine the day before. And Dee Dee put another first on her cruising resume. She rode a water taxi from the mooring field into town. It was exciting.

The excitement was a bit more subdued after the walk but for this crew a ride is a ride.

Dylan and Dee Dee were up New Year's day by 6:30 am ready to leave the dock and head for the first of 3 anchorages on the way to Stuart. It was a beautiful day on the ICW. Even Dee Dee got back into dolphin watching.

Ever since Dee Dee's unplanned swim with the dolphins, she has been more timid about going out on deck. Not a bad thing. She often stays in the pilothouse and watches out, going out only when Mom or Dad takes her.

But today she and Dylan spent most of the trip keeping watch.

The odd coincidence is that this was the exact stretch, Mosquito Lagoon, where little Miss Dee decided to join her dolphin friends for a swim in November 2014. Mom was a bit apprehensive remembering that day but happy to see Dee Dee having such fun. Maybe that was why Dee Dee was keeping the throw-ring close.

Dylan, the ultimate dolphin spotter, can always be counted on to maintain a proper watch.

There's two more nights at anchor and then Red Head and the crew pull into Hinckley Yacht Service in Stuart for some out of the water work. The whole crew on Red Head wishes everyone a happy and healthy new year. We look forward to seeing you on the water!