It has been a while since I updated this blog. This is mostly because nothing much was happening fast. It has taken a lot longer than we ever thought possible to get our house ready to sell or rent. Lots of maintenance items to be taken care of, like re-shingling, a new fence, painting the interior, etc, etc, etc. Sue has been working pretty steady throughout this time in an effort to build up the cruising kitty (or at least try to keep up with expenses).
We have finally managed to sort through and get rid of a lot of junk but it became obvious that we cannot part with it all. So, we are now the proud owners of a 20' sea container, which our good friends have generously allowed us to place on their property for an indefinite period of time.
We have started the task of transporting boxes of stuff to the container, which has only reinforced the feeling that we are never going to be able to see the end of it all - the amount of stuff two people can collect in the span of 25 years is staggering.
Last week, we paid a visit to the boat for the first time in two months. This was part of a brief driving holiday with Sue's mother, who had not as yet seen the boat or, as it turns out, been to the island for many years. We spent 5 nights in Nanaimo, showing her around our favorite spots and managing to get in one short day sail (with no wind to speak of).
Then we drove to Victoria where we did all of those touristy things that we never usually get around to, staying in a fancy hotel overlooking the harbour, taking a city tour and visiting Butchart gardens.
We had actually been to the gardens once before, on our honeymoon 26 years ago, and it was quite amazing to see it all again.
Now, we are back in Edmonton to try and wrap up this house stuff once and for all. Still no idea of how long this is all going to take...