OUR FEET FIRMLY PLANTED ON GROUND

We have been home in Metcalfe for two weeks and reality hit hard! Day two our Pacifica broke down in a parking lot while I was driving it... brand new transmission was necessary, ka-ching! We hosted family at Easter and enjoyed a great time with them. I actually got a hair appointment and colouring done, first time in months. Paul got all our tax information ready and to the accountant. Boys consulted us on their schooling as they both are switching courses in the Fall. Paul and I went to the dentist to get cleanings and x-rays. I went to a fundraiser auction in support of Cancer after I helped decorate for it at a community hall. Of course, it goes without saying that Paul and I did a major clean-up in the house (okay I said it). I've weeded the garden and sprayed for ants outside. Yes, reality here at a house is much different than on a catamaran. Yet, we are happy to be home and see our family and friends. We've missed everyone! My mom arrives next week from Vancouver Island, so a nice week's visit with her will be fantastic as I can be a "tourist" in Ottawa.

We head back to Stuart, FL next month to "summerize" our catamaran. We will travel up the ICW to St. Augustine, FL. We take the boat out of the water and get it ready to sit out summer. We take the boat out of the water because June 1 to Nov 1 is hurricane season. Most Canadians take their boats out because we are far away to travel to move the boat if a hurricane is approaching. Paul will be down later in the summer to do some work on it.... ie: painting over the teak. This trip will take about 4 nights of traveling time up the ICW. We will make it a mini holiday.

We are not swimming or snorkeling, but we are having showers without having to turn off the tap while lathering. We do not have to start the generator to bake something in the oven. We do not have to hose down anything to get rid of the salt. We are using the dishwasher. I am listening to the radio every day and am back watching "The View" now and again. I am walking on our treadmill and walking with friends. I am wearing jewelry and a watch. Paul has shoes on, even in the house. Paul does not have to put sunscreen on his bald head. Yes, we live in two different worlds, but how interesting!

HOME FOR EASTER

Homeward bound Wednesday! We have cleaned and put things away for our journey home. We will not be coming back until early May so things have to put away. We saw a nice sunset again as we are in Sunset Bay and Marina. So I took a beautiful picture again.

I am on our catamaran and this is the sunset with another
catamaran in the picture.

Happy Easter to all and God Bless You

Don't eat too much chocolate!

HELLO FLORIDA

We have arrived in Stuart, FL! We left bright and early Friday morning and traveled the Gulf Stream to the cut at Lake Worth (West Palm Beach). Going into this cut was much better than going out last January. The Gulf Stream was just fine and worth the wait to travel. It is hard to see nothing for hours, no land, no boats! Yes we saw an odd boat about 10 miles away but nothing!!

We anchored at Lake Worth and did not go ashore. We called into Customs and Border Protection to say we arrived and they said it was fine to check-in in person at St Lucie Airport up at Ft. Pierce within 24 hours. We arrived in Stuart yesterday, quickly rented a car and drove up there, about 40min drive. They are so nice up there and seem to know what they are doing.

First things we did in the United States:

bought a fountain drink, yep my diet pepsi

listened to a radio station with hit music

drove a car

bought a case of diet pepsi and some groceries at the Winn Dixie, a real “grocery store”!!

saw a motorcycle accident (no helmets here in Florida)

hear the highway instead of roosters

doing laundry now in the laundromat at the Marina

booking flights home for Wednesday

and I'm wearing jewelry again

Slowly getting accustomed to the life of another country.

Internet is slow so no pictures here in Stuart. I feel like we are home with our Xplornet internet connection. I even have to phone to book flights because the screens time out, it is so slow!

Paul and I are Great Uncle and Great Aunt, our niece gave birth to a boy! His name is also James like our son (19 years apart).

We will be home for Easter and upload some more pictures and give an update. We will be back in Stuart second week in May to move it to St. Augustine, FL.