Tomorrow's finally the day!  Setting sail a hundred fifty miles across the Gulf for the Dry Tortugas with 6 other fellow Mariners of Punta Gorda Isles.  When I look out our lanai and see the scene to the right I wonder why we ever want to leave this almost perfect place.  Are we crazy???  I know, I know, you're thinking "yes, maybe" to even want to make this trip.

Closely following the weather forecasts for the next few days the captains have agreed that the trip is a go, although there may be some wet weather late Thursday and Friday our overnight trip on Wednesday should be calm seas and fair winds.  Without much moonlight the stars should brilliantly guide us to our destination. Here's a couple of our weather and sailing sites we've been checking in with to make decisions:

http://www.passageweather.com/

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Dry+Tortugas+Park+FL+3704:19:US

Our departure time is Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. from Ponce Channel in Punta Gorda Isles and our heading is southwest. Winds are predicted to be light and variable changing directions throughout the daytime.  Continuing through the night our arrival time is early on Thursday hopefully around daylight. To give you an idea of what's there here's a website for the Dry Tortugas National Park. 

http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/index.htm 

Really don't know for sure when we will have the next opportunity to post because there is no service until we get back to Key West, which will be, weather permitting, on Sunday. 
By then we should have some fun stuff to tell.  Thanks so much for your interest in our adventure!

One of our upcoming stops on our return trip, Boot Key Harbor at Marathon, now requires running lights on the dinghys so we lowered ours down today, installed the lights and modified the dinghy chaps to fit.  Also made a drawstring bag for the two lights to keep them out of the sunlight when not in use.  Added several items to the provisioning " to buy list" like more batteries for the lights.

Dennis defrosted the refrigerator and turned on the freezer today to get them good and cold before adding provisions on Sunday.  Wanted to thoroughly clean the cabin today, but ran out of time working on other sewing and house projects that needs to be completed before leaving.  Guess we'll try to fit the cleaning in tomorrow.

And as always we're checking the weather forecasts for Punta Gorda, Dry Tortugas and Key West and seeing a variety of predictions...time will tell.

 http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/drytortugasweather.htm

Although the sunrise was amazing today, we're following the weather for our departure next week very carefully.

Latest Adventure

Well, we're finally at it again, making preparations and provisioning lists for another trip. This time to the Dry Tortugas, 70 miles West of Key West.

Today after using 20 yards of fabric, 2,000 yards of thread, and many, many hours out of the last 17 days our 35 cabin cushions are recovered.  Notice the before and after pictures at the right.  Now for my recovery!!! 

Dennis took on fuel today for the 24 hour, 152 mile overnight trip which will commence next Wednesday, February 25, weather permitting, from Charlotte Harbor.  Accompanying us will be 6 other boats, that is of course, barring no other unforeseen cancellations between now and then.

Needless to say we are excited to again be cruising to a new, and we are told, beautiful destination and hope you will accompany us as we traverse the blue waters of the Gulf.