Tarpon Springs, our destination when first we began this Night Music adventure. Little did we know that a journey of a month would take 4 times that in time and experience. You think that this cannot stand, you will not get through this, the other side is unimaginable and there it is, all over. You laugh, make jokes, shrug it all off as another story to write in your diary or blog on your little spot on the internet. You spend so much energy planning, deciding, is this right, am I wrong, what should I do here, should I go, should I stay, is it safe, is it within my abilities, when’s the time to call it; all the while realizing in the dim light of your primitive brain that this is living. This is barely touching the surface of the push/pull of life and death. I’ve lain beside my father’s side as he faced death and realized a hero I never knew existed - how sad it had to to be then that I could come to admire a man who was so aloof from me my whole life.
While Jack and I have been living our lives close to the bone, others have been as well. A beloved elder has left us, God speed Lilian, bonds of love have been strengthened, fences have been mended, new friends have been made. Much has been achieved by my family and friends, and I am filled with much joy and hope for the next adventure. You have all been with us, phone calls, gifts sent to cheer, chats and comments on Facebook postings, for which we are humbly grateful. You lifted our spirits, kept us laughing and smiling and safe with your love. Hope our next trips will include some of you from time to time.
After all the worries and agonies, the crossing proved somewhat uneventful. Except for the fog on the second day, the lack of wind throughout and swells on the beam, it was grand to be at sea. Dolphins came to play in our bow wave and some stayed awhile to give us joy with their perfect oneness with the sea. Leonard and Jack did 2 hour shifts during the night, while I stayed below with the cats, sleeping fitfully as the boat rocked up and down and side to side all at the same time. Only Juan and Maggie were sea sick and just at the start, settling down as they got used to the motion. They did take to protesting having to be locked below, setting up some earpiercing howls at around 3 o’clock in the freaking morning which caused some stress. Ridley and Mickey, well, they took it in stride. Mickey has become this amazing boat cat, always coming to help with any boat work, negotiating the boat even when she’s rocking and on hand for loving. We’ve come to appreciate all our cats in many ways now that we’ve spent so much time with them.
I lost my job, but feel sure something will come along. In the mean time I’ve joined the docent training at the museum and started back at the gym. We will probably stay here for a while, tweaking the boat to suit us, rebuilding the kitty. We will take small trips, sail to Cabbage Key, Sanibel Island, etc, or even down to the Dry Tortugas. Winter has finally reached Tarpon Springs, just as we arrive, mostly rain and fog and lower temps, but not like anything we’ve experienced. I find myself shrugging off 40 degrees having endured 19 degrees. Jack will work cleaning up the H-28 and getting her ready for sale.
The internet signal won’t come down inside the boat, so we have to work on that. The radio antenna we got has not done it’s job. Something to do with going to an IP address but neither Safari nor Chrome can locate it.
Time to start a new blog.
Carrabelle one morning
Carrabelle one evening
Ridley in the fog
Leonard
the Sunday we left Carrabelle
a little grilling in Carrabelle
Jeff and Rhonda sent us a picture of Yacht Harbor Marina where we stayed in Pensacola
we left just in time to avoid the freezing rain and snow
