It’s Now or Later?

In a matter of nine days from “first view” to “she’s ours,” we owned a Kadey Krogen 39, the boat of Al’s dreams. That presented a new dilemma that we had been discussing since this acquisition was only an idea. It was mid-October and The Edge was in Virginia, just north of the Rappahannock River on the Chesapeake Bay. Thinking that the process of purchasing the boat would take longer, the first option was to leave her in Virginia for the winter and bring her north in the early spring, or bring her farther north in the Chesapeake so that the drive and later delivery would be shorter. But everything fell into place so quickly, the options soon became, ok, let’s bring The Edge to her new home in Connecticut as soon as we can. I wasn’t crazy about making this trip in late October so we also considered finding one or two volunteers to make the delivery with Al. That gets complicated, coordinating all parties and potential locations. After a sleepless night, I announced that I was going to go. It’s my boat, too. 

We left home at 4:30 am, thinking that we would avoid traffic around New York City. The city that never sleeps, never sleeps, evidently. There were so many trucks on the highway that it felt like mid-morning rush hour. 

I have issues with Facebook and would drop it in an instant if it were not for staying connected with cruising friends, my weaving groups, and lymphedema groups. But on this long drive we learned through Facebook that Sally and Ted, who also live in Connecticut, were on the New Jersey Turnpike heading to Virginia for their return to Amici. We were only about 10 minutes ahead of them so we all met at the Molly Pitcher rest stop for a quick hello!

We arrived in Kilmarnock about 2 pm and stopped for ice cream at The Front Porch which has become our favorite coffee and ice cream shop in the town. We needed quick energy for unloading the boat!

Although we really tried to only bring things that were needed for this trip home, it’s a lot more “stuff” than you think.

After all of that and a couple hours spent trying to put things away, we headed to the grocery store for perishable items to add to the frozen meals that I had already, ending the looooong day with a well-deserved dinner at a local bar, The Dub Shack.

I reread the blog posts from five years ago when we first brought the Mariner Orient home to Connecticut. Similarity — Both boats are trawlers from the Chesapeake Bay region. Differences – we are 5 years older and the temperatures are going to be a bit cooler than in August.

Today was another busy day spent here at Chesapeake Boat Basin. After last minute errands, returning the rental car, we turned the boat around with lines so that she faces outward for an easier departure in the morning. A few hours were spent testing each system and starting to familiarize ourselves with them.

I must say this – Billy and Becky are the nicest people! This is the first time we have ever bought a boat and met the owners, let alone be able to call them new friends. Not only have the been gracious and helpful, but they sent these goodies along to us.

So it’s finally NOW, not LATER. Tomorrow is departure day. We are as ready as we can be and only ask that Mother Nature looks kindly upon us.