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.  

Home for now…

Well rested after having a relaxed day at Pelican Bay and compared to last year’s homecoming which was an overnighter from Marathon to PGI in the July heat, physically we were ready and able on Saturday when we got home to dig in and get as much done as possible.     

When cruising you begin planning, thinking, and talking six months ahead and then provisioning/loading the boat the month before leaving.  Our post trip disembark this time seemed so easy compared to those six months of preparations. Once home we worked for about 3 hours to get everything off the boat, cleaned, sorted and stored (maybe not in that order, but you know what I mean.) Dennis began immediately to dismember the electronics for further attention by the experts, and to order some needed parts.  Although making it home without any more lightning related issues it seems little gremlins are sometimes left behind to cause havoc when least expected so we will not sign off with Progressive Ins. for now.

As we reflect on our 595 mile three-week cruise there are a few things that are quite obvious; like expect the unexpected.  There’s never a bad day on the water, well maybe one.  Each day is totally new, and totally different than the last.  Be content with where you are, and it’s never about the destination…it’s about the journey and the people you meet along the way.    

Final reflections: Cruising is a lot like life, there are many disappointments, you pick yourself up, figure out what to do, and make the best of it.  My dad and I loved horses and rode together.  His only rule was if you fall off the horse, you must get back on immediately and ride again to overcome your fear.  Not a bad rule for living the cruising life.

Yes Daddy, Dennis and I will, in spite of the lightning strike, climb aboard Aurora, grateful to cruise another day.   

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We may have some short cruises that I will blog on over the next few months, so check in on the website at the first of the month for updates.  Out next long cruise will probably be to the Dry Tortugas in November, definitely blogable.

Fair winds and may God bless.   Arrivederci

      

Pelican Bay to PGI Paradise—April 27

Out away from the city lights a rising full moon becomes a huge focal point in the dark night.  Bright orange, sending a path of shining diamonds on the water, it rose about 20 degrees on the horizon and then vanished behind a cloud layer.  Our first night in Pelican Bay was our last night on the water, peaceful with temperatures conducive to sleeping comfortably.  

Three hours to home we were anxious to catch the steady easterly 10 knot wind which would give us our final sailing fix for a while.

If you don’t get to go on a trip you have planned for six months and must return instead to home, what better place than to Charlotte Harbor.  In fact, as we glided through its water, we asked ourselves, “Why did we want to leave this place at all?”  A place where the sailing is amazing, the beauty of the harbor unspoiled and unmatched, maintained canals edged with immaculate landscapes and vessels of all shapes and sizes docked amidst a quiet harbor of like-minded boaters. It was good to be home, to our chosen family of Mariners and friends, to this PGI paradise. 

Didn’t mean to make this sound like an advertisement, but gosh it’s great here!!!

Coming soon a follow up…reflections…wrap up of our three week non-Bahamian cruise.  

 

 

 

Useppa Island anchorage to Pelican Bay—April 26, 2013

Last night the full moon peeped first in one hatch opening and then another creating its own light show in our berth as Aurora swayed in the gentle breeze.    

In no haste to enter the Pelican Bay anchorage until tide was in our favor and knowing this would be the shortest travel day of the whole trip, made it our most relaxed morning of the three weeks.  We’d heard tales that the anchorage was tricky to get into and last night had heard a call for Seatow to assist someone aground.  Our own chartplotter indicated it was extremely shallow which added to our trepidation, but using the way points and depth meter to guide us we found our way in with plenty of water and avoided bumping Aurora's keel on the bottom. 

Easily anchored by ten, we donned our tennis shoes and lowered the dinghy, anxious after 3 days aboard to stretch our legs and explore Cayo Costa State Park.  There are kayaks and bikes to rent or a free tram to take you to the beach a mile away, but we needed a walk, so walk we did.  First, we headed west to the white sand beach looking out on the Gulf, then northward to the tip of the island which overlooks Boca Grande Pass.  Meandering along the way we saw many plants in bloom, shore birds and live sand dollars at the water’s edge.  The winding trail back took us through hardwood forests, mangrove swamps, past an old cemetery, and eventually to the Ranger’s station for a total of 5 beautiful miles roundtrip on this unspoiled barrier island. 

Over the last two years we had often talked of crossing Charlotte Harbor to explore this island, and just never made it.  Now we feel blessed, that ironically missing the Bahamas trip gave us this opportunity to come here to this amazing place.  That’s so the way it is when cruising, when one door unexpectedly closes, often another totally unplanned opens.  Just expect the unexpected.