It has been one full year since we left our Alberg 35,
Mystic, on the hard in St. Augustine, Florida. The last 12 months have not been kind to us, with both of us facing health challenges. We have been working hard at getting back to our cruising adventure. We are eager to resume our journey.
After two road trips south this year, we have decided to wait for hurricane season to pass before heading south again. We visited Mobile, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Coast this spring and Mobile in July. Each visit we experienced rainy conditions with overwhelmingly oppressive heat. It has become apparent to us that this is not the time to be in the south aboard our boat. It makes sense to wait until fall to resume cruising.
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| Preparing Mystic for a year on the hard |
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| Mystic at St. Augustine Marine Center |
We decided to wait patiently for hurricane season to pass. It's the smart thing to do! There are projects here at home to keep us busy over the summer months. Minnesota has wonderful weather during the summer. Being home has allowed for boat projects including designing a wind scoop and rail covers to protect our teak. We are working on dinghy chaps for the inflatable.
In August we plan to visit Connecticut. We'll be there for at least a month, visiting family and friends as well as attending my 40th high school reunion in September. In October, Dave has to work at a trade show in Santa Monica. He works hard but we enjoy staying at the Inn at Playa del Ray, close to the beach where he can unwind after a long day on his feet. Happy hour is held each evening at 5:00. Wine and appetizers are served. We sit on the deck and look out over the bird sanctuary, relaxing and planning the upcoming cruising season.
Soon after we get back home, we'll head for St. Augustine where we will finally splash Mystic again. We have a reservation at Titusville Marina in November. Our plan includes staging her for a cruise to the Keys and Bahamas over the next winter. We are excited to begin this new adventure!
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| Titusville Sunset over Mystic in 2017 |
As always, plans don't always work out because the minute we set them in place, something changes. We got a surprise call from our Looper friends, Susan Beabes and David Taylor. They asked us to join them aboard their Island Packet 40,
Veritas, for the last 500 miles of their own Great Loop adventure. We first met Susan and David along the inland waterway at Cumberland Towhead anchorage. We spent months at Turner Marine in Mobile with them. They will cross their wake in Hampton, Virginia. The plan is to go offshore for the first part of the journey from Beaufort, South Carolina to Beaufort, North Carolina. It will be good experience for us. It's been a while since we've sailed on open water.
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| With Susan & David on Lake Erie |
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| Dave, Beth, Susan & David |
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S/V Veritas
Photo by Susan Beabes |
4 comments:
Hope to see you when you are in Titusville!
Lila, that would be wonderful. We missed seeing you on our last visit to St. Augustine. It's always so nice to spend time with you and Steve!
Waiting out hurricane season sounds like a great plan. We are doing the same (even as we also await improved health on my part, which hasn't changed much). Haven't made any plans ourselves beyond the waiting, but it sounds like you have a wonderful plan in place. Then, when you get back to Looping yourselves, I suggest you stay inland for the Beaufort to Norfolk stretch. Some lovely ports.
@ Life's Travails, Dave and I cruised the ICW from Norfolk to Cocoa Beach back in the 80's together. We have fond memories of the lovely ports. We may have trouble on parts of ICW due to our deep draft but we'll figure that out when the time comes. I continue to keep you in my thoughts Paula.
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