After two weeks of recuperating at the Swamp House in Louisiana Logan has healed and with a green light from her doctor we were Florida bound. We always enjoy our time at the Swamp House but we were eager to get back to St. Petersburg and continue where we left off.

We had a long list of items to be completed before we could move the Defever out of its slip in the boat yard and into a marina to make living aboard more comfortable.

Conrad in the engine room (aka man cave) checking fluid levels.

Hanging out after a long day of boat projects.

After several days checking systems, running the engines with sea foam, scrubbing off years of dirt and grime and unpacking, it was time to make the move.

Captain Conrad at the helm. The teak herring-bone ceiling is beautiful.

We chose a day with light winds to make docking easy for our first time landing this beast. We went about 10 miles across Tamp Bay to Little Harbor Resort. This gave us a chance to really run the engines and ensure the sea foam had done its job.

Leaving Salt Creek and entering Tampa Bay.

To our pleasure all systems ran fine and the engines performed well for our short crossing. We even docked without any mishaps. We will continue to knock out some boat projects and take her out for short excursions to work out any kinks. We also plan to squeeze in a little fun while we’re here and take advantage of the private beach, tiki bar and swimming pool. A baby manatee swam up to welcome us to the dock so we treated him to some fresh water from the hose. Skeeter LOVES manatees!

Skeeter watching the manatee.

Sunset on Tampa Bay

Roxanne Cooking

We still haven’t settled on a new name for the boat. We have narrowed it down to a couple of options. Time is running short so we may just let Skeeter decide for us by writing each name on individual sheets of paper. Then we will put a different dog treat on each sheet of paper. Whichever paper he eats off of first will be the winner. I know how ridiculous this sounds but it’s the best we’ve got. Speaking of whimsical and memorable choices, our thoughts have already drifted toward our next adventure. Airlie Beach in Queensland, Australia, has captured our imagination, and it’s at the top of our travel wish list. The allure of Airlie Beach QLD, with its stunning beaches, vibrant marine life, and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, beckons us for our next escapade. We can’t wait to explore this coastal paradise and make even more unforgettable memories.

On a different note, Conrad has finished the book and the big release date is June 20th.

Conrad with the “Proof” version of his book and a victory beer.