Wild Blue is WET...

And, it isn't from driving through the rain.  Today is launch day!

We treated ourselves this morning, with no schedule.  Joan had coffee; made me hot chocolate; Izzy got to go for a nice walk.  We cleaned up, then went to work on the final details before moving Wild Blue on the trailer one last time for a while.

I told Izzy: "Enjoy the land - this will be the last you'll be on it for a while"...

"Really?"

"Yes, really."  That's OK - she seems to enjoy being on the boat, but is not a big fan of walking the docks... too many people and dogs.

We hitched up and slowly drove to the launch area.  With all but the bow strap undone, I backed the boat to the lauch area.  Joan undid the bow strap.  Ready...

Our new friend, Joe, was running the lift.  "You're new at this?  Swell!"

Joe did a fine job.  He even knew to ask if we had the plug in.  ;-)

Joe and I walked the boat back from the launch area, while Joan parked the truck and trailer.  I put up antennas.  When Joan got back, I held my breath and turned the key... Wild Blue fired right up.  She hasn't been run in the water for over 4 months.  We had carefully put her away, juiced up the little bit of fuel she had with Sta-Bil marine formula, but you never know.

Now, to see if I remember how to run a boat.  If anyone tells you, "It's like riding a bicycle," they are full of crap.  The dock situation was tight, but we managed to pull away like we knew what we were doing.  First stop: the fuel dock; time to get some of that good NON-ethanol fuel in her.  Second stop: the pump out station; time to get the holding tank pumped.

On the way to the slip, a boat in front of us was wandering all over the place... fending off from other boats on either side.  "I think he is just learning," Joan said, "Maybe we should give him plenty of room?"

"I'm guessing he will be in the slip right next to us."

Fortunately, that was not the case.

We made our way to our temporary slip on K Dock (just two down from where Herb and Wilma will be when they get here).  Time to get back to work.  We walked around the marina to get the truck and trailer and take the trailer to a storage lot.  Back to West Marine... the fuel squeeze bulb had a crack in it, and I wasn't exactly sure what size we needed.  I bought the two bigger sizes they had last night and let them know I'd be bringing one of them back today.

A sit-down lunch, then back to the boat.  Joan started in the cockpit, cleaning and arranging...

I climbed on top of the boat and started scrubbing off the 4,738,326 bugs that we had squished in the past 3,000 miles.  Paint manufacturers should make their paints from bug guts - that crap sticks like crazy!

We sanitized the fresh water tank and all the hoses; put up the camperback around the cockpit.  Wild Blue is starting to look pretty and ready for living on the water.  I carted stuff to the truck - the tide is out and that ramp is steep...

A few more household things to take care of, and we can relax for a while.

Over the next couple days, we need to take Wild Blue out and double check all her systems and electronics before heading to San Juan Island.  Oh, and top off her fuel tank with some of that good non-ethanol fuel before we head out.