February 6, 2007

I cannot believe where the day has gone. I got up this morning and all the other Loop boats had already pulled out and away on their next leg of the trip. Shorty and I are holding up the point, nobody comes to attach without getting caught. I have this little black duck with a red patch between his eyes and kind of up on his forehead. I think he has fallen in love with Shorty because he just kind of swims around the boat does a little diving for food and just sits next to us. It is hard to get a close up picture of him.

This morning I had a tour of an 82 ft steel yacht built by a master craftsmen. It came in late last night and I could just tell from the throaty roar that only comes from Caterpillar diesels. I am going to give you the boats website and let you go read about the boat. I was just floored at the work accomplished by this one man. The link to the boat is www.achievementsaga.blogspot.com. I think you will enjoy reading about the boat that I was so fortunate to tour this morning. I wish to thank the owners for asking me aboard to view what this one man had crafted. I hope you enjoy it.

The sun came out today and the breeze was very strong early on this morning, kind of died off and now is coming back and with it more clouds. Tomorrow is moving day and it is time to start studying the charts. With any luck I will be in Indiantown or anchored out somewhere. I just got back from another of those: oh it’s just around the corner grocery store trips. This one was again at least five blocks from where I am each way. My walking shoes are getting a workout. I will be going through the Port Mayaca lock on the eastern side of Lake Okeechobee and when that is done I will have dropped thirteen feet down to the level of the Atlantic side and be in the St. Lucie River and canal that goes to Stuart, FL. When I get to Stuart I would like to go as far south as the Florida Keys and then start north but it depends on traffic and whether I can get space to dock anywhere near Miami because the closer it gets to boat show time there the tighter it is to get space. I hoping I can at least stay one night in Indiantown.

Oh, my god, the most beautiful lobster yacht made by Pearson is coming in to tie up here.
The hull was so smooth that it did not even leave a ripple in the water at idle speed and you could not even hear the engine. I am smitten for the day. Shorty says , “Get off it buddy, we are in this together.” It is now three o’clock so I imagine the next group will be here in a little while for the night.

The trip to the grocery store was to get the three B’s, bananas, bread and bacon. The latter was because I was finally able to find some of the turkey bacon that I eat. This is going to be a little short because being out here on the point and part of the welcoming committee takes a little work. I just have to get cooking on the charts or I may end up somewhere I don’t want to be.