For the past few weeks we have been working hard to get the boat ready for departure. Most of our time is taken up with the "battery project"; replacing the old AGM batteries with new lithium batteries. With combined forces, everything eventually goes very well but it is still quite a lot of work. Toine of course does most of the work, but I help well with lifting the heavy batteries, connecting the cables and especially with pointing out all kinds of tools. After 5 days of hard work, it is completed to our full satisfaction 💪😎. We are going to enjoy this very much 😊.

I also spend a lot of time stocking the boat. With decent amounts of keepables in crates and cupboards, and various kinds of meat and fish neatly vacuumed in the freezer. Finally with some food in the fridge for the first few days.

Yesterday was "moving day" with moving the last of our stuff (mostly clothes) from our apartment to the boat. It is good to notice that we have a lot of storage space and not everything is in use yet 😃. Also, all the beds have been made up so we can sleep the six of us there next Saturday night. After two weeks of jobs, it feels like a cozy "living" boat and our "home" again.

What else can we cross off our list?

• USA visa in our passports.
• Technical inspection of the boat for insurance purposes.
• Refurbished hydraulic motor is back in the mast and the mainsail is set. We will put in the sail battens Sunday morning with calm weather.
• Dental visit.

The boat is ready to go! We also had nice meetings with family and friends and beautiful walks (Pieterpad with Inge and Mark, Loonse dunes with Lian and Quirinus 🥰).
'The schedule has been neatly met' 😎 (we are not 'project managers' for nothing 😉 ). Now we are left with leaving the apartment neat and tidy, and next weekend the final goodbye to our family, some family and friends. Then we will also be ready 💪👍😊😍.