April 25 - The Pearl Comes Home

Our first night on the boat wasn’t bad; there are a few things we still need to do to make it feel a little more like home. It was fun waking up and having our coffee on the deck watching the birds, boats and sunrise.

Our morning visitor (Great Blue Heron)

We left the harbor around 8:15. The wind was a little stronger than predicted, which made crossing Aransas Bay a little rough. Once we got into the ICW it was much better. We saw a lot of dolphins, pelicans and barges along the way. I tried unsuccessfully to get a good shot of the dolphins….maybe next time. We traveled 75 mile today in just over eight hours…not bad. We arrived at Nautical Landings in Port Lavaca around 4:30. Eric, Courtney and Thomas were there to help us dock. It was a great feeling to finally have The Pearl home.

Sites along the ICW

 

Nautical Landings and The Pearl

April 24 - Back in the Water

We finally got The Pearl back in the water. Eric came down to help Stan make the last adjustments to the engine and then we took her out for a test run. Everything seemed to work great. It was a beautiful day to be on the water.

The Pearl being lowered into the water.

Sites on our first run

After the test run we moved the boat over to Rockport Harbor. What a great place for our first night. The weather was just right…blue skies, perfect temperature and a light breeze. We had a nice lunch with Eric, then walked through an art show that was just across the street from the dock. I ran home to get the things we needed to spend the night and Stan finished up a few things on the boat.

Moving the boat to Rockport Harbor

Our first dockage

Judy and Stanley Marek drove me back to Rockport; it was fun to have them as our first guests on the boat. We sat on the fly bridge and enjoyed our first happy hour. After Judy and Stanley left we watched the sunset and visited with our boating neighbors. We joined them at Panjo’s for pizza and great conversation. What a wonderful first day on the boat.

View from the flybridge

April 19 - Still on Land

The boat is still in Rockport…we are getting tired of the two hour round trip, but it is easier to get the maintenance work down while she is still out of the water. Stan checked and cleaned all the sea cocks, put ctol on the rub rail, and did more maintenance on the engine. We put up the antenna and bimini, cleaned out and painted the lockers and put her new name on the boat this weekend. We're hoping to have her back in the water by next weekend.

April 8 - Arrival in Rockport, Texas

The boat arrived in Rockport on Thursday April 8….now the work begins. We had her set up in the yard at House of Boats. I removed the old name before she was taken off the truck. Sweet Melissa is gone and The Pearl has arrived.

It only took Rick at the boatyard three hours to remove the old bottom paint and get her ready for new paint. We spent most of Thursday just watching them do the work on the bottom and haul.

Friday we started our work. Stan stayed busy in the engine room while I cleaned the cabin. It took three days of hard cleaning to get it to the point where I could say it was clean and ready to live in. I couldn’t believe how dirty it was. I used Murphy’s Oil Soap to remove all the dirt and grime from the wood, then I had to come back and oil all the teak. She is beginning to feel like home.

Stan is doing routine maintenance work on the engine and other jobs that are easier to do while she is on land. The yard has finished painting the bottom and is working on waxing the haul. The Pearl will be in great shape by the time we bring her home to Port Lavaca.

Backing into the boat yard.

Taking her off the truck.

Getting her in her place.

Ready for the work to begin.

Old paint is gone.

The new paint...looks great!

April 6 - On Her Way Home

She was finally loaded on the transport Tuesday afternoon. Exactly one month after we looked at her for the first time. I can't wait to see her in her new home. She should arrive in Rockport sometime on Thursday. Not quite home...but getting closer.

Loaded and ready for her long trip home.