Tick, tick, tick...........

Wow- it's almost August. Kirstin's last day of work is August 8; then she becomes a student at Kanvas State (she's taking canvas sewing lessons). Our bimini, cushions, and other Sunbrella flourishes are looking their age so this is not a moment too soon.

Yesterday we did a complete inventory of every spare part on L'ORIENT, which if you know us is a major undertaking. We have almost enough parts to build another Amel (it seems).

Our route back to the Caribbean has been a point of contention- with our insurance company. Apparently the "no Haiti" rule is quite firm. We had planned on going through the Windward Passage (between Cuba and Hait), stopping on Haiti's relatively safe West Coast......then heading east in a convenient wind shadow that resides under the Dominican Republic.

Our insurance agent has nixed this idea, so we have to go to Plan-B. Anway, it's all very exciting............getting the boat ready, buying new gadgets, making sure old ones still work, etc.

The only major project remaining (other than the things that break constantly) is the water maker membrane switch-out. Oh, and we have to get through Hurricane Season in one piece.

At the time we leave Miami Beach, we'll have been here a bit less than 2 years, yet most of our former sailing friends have left sailing; very sad- but we're looking forward to making new friends. Speaking of new besties, we are visiting our Italian friends in Sardinia in 3 weeks............should be amazing. More to come.