The HUCK FINN got her (boats are always "she") signage recently, and is 95% ready for the big trip. I was going to take her across the Gulf soon, but another boat delivery opportunity emerged--I'll be taking a 53' Gulfstar sailboat from St. Pete. to Fort Lauderdale leaving Aug. 19 and getting back Aug. 23. The boat will be loaded onto a freighter in Lauderdale and shipped to New Zealand. So HUCK will be jumping the Gulf to Panama City soon after the 23rd, weather permitting. Nial and I will rent a car from St. Pete. to Panama City to start our trip about Aug. 5. We will take about 3 days to Mobile, and spend a day or two at the Dog River Marina there. We'll use their courtesy car to top off food supplies and maybe do a little sightseeing in town. There's Wi-Fi at the marina, so we'll post some photos on the website. Then it will be Northbound to Bates Lake, Bobby's Fish Camp (a favorite stopping place for river cruisers) and our first lock at Demopolis.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a prospective buyer out on the Del Mar (Navy Boat). It would be a great relief to sell that boat before the trip. We're in our summer tropical pattern of afternoon showers and occasional thunderstorms. They're usually small and short lived, and provide a brief but welcome respite from the baking heat. The water temperature is up in the 80's now in Tampa Bay. Boat bottoms have to be cleaned regularly in the summer or algae and barnacles will foul the hull and the prop. The HUCK FINN will get a scrubbing just before departure.

We promise interesting photos and stories along the way. Stay Tuned! Captain Brion