Still In Demopolis

Day 89, October 29th, 2009

The day started well with French toast and bacon. (Using the last bit of a cinnamon, raisin loaf that John had made in the bread maker.) Quite yummy!

My sister and I have been dealing with our Dad's estate with the lawyers in England for the last couple of years. There were some more papers that needed our signature, so Jen signed with the lawyer in Collingwood and then we arranged for her to send them on to the Post Office in Demopolis where I would pick them up. We had expected them to be here when we arrived on Tuesday - they weren't here. Checked again on Wednesday, still hadn't arrived. Phoned on Thursday morning, still nothing but the girl suggested I try again around 11:00 as they still hadn't sorted through the parcels. I was beginning to fret! I had suggested to Jen she send them Express Mail from Canada Post but when I looked up the tracking number it stopped on the Sunday just stating that the item had arrived in the U.S. Keeping my fingers crossed, I called again at 11:15 and this time I was lucky, they'd found it! Oh, I was so relieved. It would have been a huge nuisance if the envelope had got lost!! Anyway, John and I walked up to the Post Office and picked it up and then walked into a lawyers office we had noticed halfway up the road. When we explained we were visiting the town and needed the help of a Notary Public, the very kind lady showed us straight through to the conference room, we sat with her and signed all the papers and I asked for her invoice. "Oh, that isn't necessary. I'm pleased to be able to help and we're happy just to have you visit our little town!" Wasn't that something. Yet another example of Southern Hospitality. So we came out of there, walked straight back to the Post Office and FedExed the papers back to the lawyer in England. What a relief!!!

When we got back to the marina we celebrated with fried cheesecake and ice cream at the restaurant for lunch! (Damn that southern cooking!)

Then we got back to work. John finished his job of changing the oil in the engine and the transmission and I got busy and started scrubbing the poor dirty old boat. Got the transom clean and all down the starboard side but then we had a lovely surprise when our friends Pat and Diane Sharpe arrived on "Sharpie's Dream". Diane and I had taken the CPS Basic Boating Course together back in Thunder Bay, when we both lived there. They moved away that year. We met again in Covered Portage in the North Channel this summer and knew they were behind us on the Loop. We have kept in touch by e-mail and were hoping to get together and it finally happened. We will cruise together for a while now, which is going to be lots of fun. Work had to stop for celebratory Margaritas!!

The pictures above are of the restaurant at the marina. The alligators aren't real! There's a big "No Swimming" sign on the fuel dock, but I'm assured they don't have alligators around here!

And just to let you know - I'm drinking a large glass of water with that fried cheesecake!!