Day 11-12, April 17-18: Key Biscayne Yacht Club to Marco Island Yacht Club to home

Anyone notice the change in direction for today, Atlantic to Gulf???

Late yesterday the company sent an estimate of $5K to get the part we needed for the boat today, and come back to fix it tomorrow. Decisions, decisions! Options, wait and let them fix it or head for home instead? 

Well, realizing we have two of these electronic systems to start the engines which are close to 20 years old, and after talking with others who have the same, we decided we need to start home rather than going further up the coast.  Eventually both systems will be changed for mechanical ones, which will allow the engines to start every time. 

I know this is probably more FYI than was needed, but helps the ones who do know boats to understand, and others understand it’s more than ok to change your plans if needed. 

Left Key Biscayne at 8:30 in the morning. It was an eleven-hour, but beautiful calm day to Marco Island Yacht Club,  We were all three beat!  Fixed a quick dinner on the boat, showered and went to bed.  We would need more fuel to get home, so hoped and prayed the engine would start at 7:30 tomorrow morning. 

First try it did not, but Dennis prayed, waited, and I’m happy to say we were fueled and headed into the Gulf again at 8:30. Good Friday was a beautiful, sunny, and calm day to cruise toward Punta Gorda, arriving home dock 6 hours later at 1:30.

In the beginning, we said life is about flexibility and change, and boating is no exception, in fact it’s a rule if you want to cruise. Disappointing yes, but the Chesapeake will be there, if we decide to try again.

Sorry for the changes in present to past tense as I wrote these last few days blogs.  It will take a while to recover both physically and mentally from our two-day over 200 mile-trek home. 

Thankful for God’s protection and good health on our 12-day excursion on Never Say Never. Home. Unpacked. Boat clean. 

Thanks for checking in on us and be safe and healthy until our next cruising adventure.

Tomorrow, ready to celebrate a glorious Easter Sunday. May you know the peace of knowing Him.