Marathon, Boot Key Harbor to Rodriguez Key

Yesterday was R & R & R in Boot Key Harbor.  A different kind of rest; Showered in a real shower in the marina:  Time ashore off the boat.  Recreation; Yoga in the park for me: Dennis biked to West Marine, yes, guys, that’s 2 WMs visits in 3 ports:  Then later some dolphin entertainment off the bow of the boat.  Repairs; New brackets for the chart plotter:  Remounted the boat hook in a different location after it was yanked from its Velcro straps on the rails by the head sail spinnaker:  Replaced screws in the passageway hatch for the second time in a week. 

Noon rains washed the salt off Aurora lowering both humidity and temperatures, but when a hatch wasn’t closed all the way, that refreshing rain also left a wet spot on the bedding and pillows in our berth.  You know that free and cheap dryer we used to have…sun and wind…it still works pretty darn good.  This extra day in the harbor was a nice change of pace and as refreshing as the rains.  

As we turned into the Atlantic with the early morning sun on Hawk’s Channel around 7:30 a.m. today I reflected on how much easier this trip has been than last year’s east coast venture.  Where there was great apprehension, there’s great anticipation.  Instead of fear of the unknown there’s knowledge and confidence that we can handle the unexpected, which invariable will come.  Multiple times on the 2012 cruise I literally wanted to pack my bag and hop the next flight home to PGI.  Fear would have won out though, while tenacity, self-confidence and courage would have forever been my loss.  My advice if you think you want to try cruising, don’t let the overwhelming feeling of fear and unwillingness to venture into the unknown keep you home.  Instead let it build your courage, confidence and character.     

Another enjoyable aspect of this trip is we’re doing much more sailing and much less motoring.  Again today we were blessed with 8-10 knot SE winds, allowing us to average 5.5 knots with little motoring.  Cha-ching!  A mile sailed is a dollar saved.  Safely anchored at Rodriguez Key tonight and pushing on to Ft. Lauderdale in the morning.