This year was dedicated to two projects; going on the road to visit potential builders of our next, still unnamed boat, and getting Merluza ready for sale. She spent months at Zimmerman Boatyard in Deltaville MD undergoing a complete refit. The engine was removed to rebore and sleeve the cylinders, the transmission was rebuilt, new engine mounts, new water heater, helm door and many other items. Merluza was officially put up for sale in December, survived a cold winter in Annapolis, and sold in May 2015.
The cruising season began at Thomaston ME where Merluza had been stored for the winter. We cruised up the Bay of Fundy to the Saint John's River in New Brunswick, Canada and then back to Annapolis MD. It was a compact trip between June and October so no maps have been included.
It was our intent this year to complete the Great Loop but the BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast caused us to make other plans. Instead we completed the "Little Loop" up the Rideau Canal to Ottawa ON, Canada. Then, down the Ottawa River to the Saint Lawrence Seaway to Montreal, to Sorel, then down the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain. This connects to the Hudson River via the Champlain Canal.
We put Merluza on a truck in Marina del Rey CA and sent her to Warwick, RI. Our plan was to spend two years resuming our travels where we left them ten years prior. It turned out there was much more to do and see than we anticipated.
