TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

For the next two weeks we checked into a slip at Riviera Marina (Salty Goose was here) and effectively became part of the “first world” once again. We rented a car and made trips to Costco, Home Depot, West Palm Mall and various boating supply stores. We ate breakfasts at Dennys, lunch at McDonalds and dinner at various local restaurants. And at nights when the rock bands descended upon the marina belting out tunes for the throngs of party people packing the bars and stomping on the dance floor, WE joined in too—becoming “lost” once more in “civilized” America.

Vince used this time to do maintenance on the boat, install an auto-tiller and build belaying pins for our docking lines. I bought a ticket to Michigan and flew to Traverse City to get a sorely needed “granny fix”—enjoying a delightful visit with Julie, Dan and their two “little ones”. At the end of two weeks however we were bored, fed up with life ashore and desperate to move on once again. We had hoped to sail offshore to Fernandina Beach. But withy strong winds from the north and high seas, this was ill-advised. Anxious to get away ASAP and reluctant to wait indefinitely for a weather window any longer, we decided to head north up the ICW and retrace the route we had taken southward so many months before. On Saturday April 26th we bade a sad farewell to Salty Goose and left Lake Worth behind. But it felt SO good to be back on the water and moving one again!