Leaving Portsmouth

Leaving Portsmouth, VA
12/13/11

We hope to leave for Bermuda any day - most likely in 3 days as there is a low pressure weather system out there that we do not want to get up close and personal with - we are members of 2 radio skeds/nets where professional forecasters advise  the best time to leave and which route to take - Chris Parker will advise us along the way if another system pops up and steer us away from it - tis difficult to make this passage between hurricanes finishing for the year and the winter storms coming from north.

We have been so busy - I am exhausted - farewell parties, private farewells and presents - so much food - we moved the boat into one of two basins in the centre of town and are getting more visitors - Cliff (Fran's husband) arrived with a hot baked apple pie for us - I was amazed at his generosity and of course with the amazing apple pie - we ate it for days - wonderful  - I might just stay.   Fran gave both Don and I two very special presents, Fran is an artist and makes jewellery.  Her gifts to us touched my heart - Don received a pin depicting a tiny sail boat - Fran had made the entire piece herself - the tiny keel and sails - it is amazing, I received a beautiful heart on a chain - gifts we will treasure for the rest of our lives.