Spring 1994.  The spring became a busy time as we prepared for our trip north.  Plans were to get up to Maine and experience everything in between.  After a year-and-a-half, there was lots to do to get Bijou ready for the journey.  Trips to hardware and marine supply stores made a dent in our wallet, but the anticipation of moving again was exciting.  Neither of us had been to the northeast, so this was going to be an adventure.  

Another big job was to put on new bottom paint and to inspect all the thru-hull fittings.  That means hauling Bijou out of the water.  Port Annapolis Marina had great haul-out facilities and boatyard, so it was very convenient in that we were still able to use all of our marina amenities.   

Preparations took all of April and May and then on June 11, we said good bye to Annapolis and the Port Annapolis Marina.  We had a great two-and-a-half years here, but we were ready to move on.   In these last few weeks, my mother suffered her fourth stroke and was severely damaged by it.  Over the winter I had spent five weeks in CA. with my sister Anne getting mom situated in a new home.  Then this fourth stroke hit and she was now in a board and care with very few lucid moments.  Over the summer, I made lots of calls, and sometimes she seemed to recognize that I was there, other times not.  

Our summer ahead was going to be an adventure as we worked our way north.  Some memorable times were spent in and around New York City and Long Island Sound.  

August 1993.  While in Annapolis, we wanted to take advantage of being on the East Coast and our proximity to some historical sites.  One place on that list was Gettysburg.  Only a couple of hours away by car, we made a short get-away to see this famous battleground.  Impressive, but a stark reminder of what happened here.  What differences led to the war and the cost of it in human lives.  The beauty of the landscape all these years later hid the nightmare that must have been lived by the men who fought and the families whose loved ones were lost.