Far Away From Home

This blog finds us on the tail end of our stay in Key West as we plan to head back to more northern latitudes tomorrow. The sun has been shining, the winds fair and the water relatively calm.  AHHH.   

We’ve been doing things like visiting our favorite spots, taking care of some business and seeing the last things there are to see here.  We had an appointment with Customs and Border Patrol to get our Local Boaters Option card that gives reentry into Florida ports with just a phone call instead of checking in with immigration every time.  Fingerprinted and photographed . . . we are officially recorded.

We spent some time on the beach, watching the last of the sailboat races that have been going on all week.  What a  great sight with hundreds of sailboats on the horizon making their way in packs through the courses, not to mention just enjoying the beach and the sun.

Rob enjoyed another sandwich from the Old Town Bakery while I tried a caramelized onion baguette (you would not believe how really amazing this was!) from the Caribbean place across the street called Paseo.  With some kind of tapenade, big slices of caramelized onions and pickled jalapenos on a most deliciously fresh baguette – this thing was magical!  

Then, after going on two months away from home, we had the only two couples we’ve met here aboard for a BBQ last night.  Anyone who knows me understands that I love to cook and entertain and this was the first real occasion in a while.  I was so excited!  So I puttered happily in the galley doing what I do and prepared for the evening which turned out to be nothing like what I’m used to.  There’s no way to describe delicately the nuances of the evening, suffice it to say I’m now even more than ready to move on.

To finish the evening, we headed to the showers onshore about 11pm to find them closed and then were stopped by the Coast Guard for a “safety check” on the way back being given a citation for having no flares aboard – something not required in our home port.   Who’d have guessed?! 

So I’m feeling the absence of family and friends more than ever but just can’t seem to find the driving desire to return to “life as usual”.  So we head out tomorrow to see what else is in store for us on this crazy adventure.  Here’s to what’s ahead!