Life Aboard Persephone: SPOT link URL

It was a nice but short visit with Brian, and Deb and Laurie in Pennellville before leaving NY for FL (their front yards is where we spend our summers aboard on the Erie Canal). Thanks AGAIN Dates family!!

Jerry, Dale and Roni were waiting at the West Palm Beach airport on Groundhog’s Day when I flew in from Syracuse. It was a long time ago (Dec. 8^th to be exact) when Roni brought me to the airport on a chilly day to fly to NY! Today the sun was out and the temperature in the 70s as we zipped north to Stuart. On the way back Dale treated us to dinner at Twisted Tuna where we all enjoyed local fish, good conversation, and a pleasant evening.

That first night back on the boat was so still. It felt as if I were still on land. Jerry had the boat all ship shape. That would change the next day as we filled the main salon with groceries and supplies. Aunt Susan and Ken (our friend Bob Church’s Aunt) loaned us their car and we spent the day at the stores deciding what we’d need for a couple of months in the Bahamas. What a relaxing end of our shopping day when we returned the car and sat on Susan and Ken’s porch overlooking the water. Aunt Susan spoils us rotten and we stuffed ourselves with a scrumptious spaghetti dinner with salad. Brownie sundaes for dessert! The spaghetti sauce came from NY – Ken and Susan grow the tomatoes, make the sauce, can the sauce and enjoy it in FL all winter. After our visit we walked back to the park, hopped in the dinghy and returned to the boat. The wind had picked up some and I enjoyed the gentle motion being lulled to sleep.

Our plan to head to Lake Worth on the ICW was slightly delayed the next morning when we realized we needed to top off the water tanks. Our 6 five gallon folding water jugs were tossed in the dinghy, back to the park where we filled them up, back to the boat where we lifted the jugs onboard and dumped then into the fill on deck.

The current was against us, the winds gusting to 25 on the nose as we motored our way south to Lake Worth waiting for all of the bridge openings along the way. We hurried to arrive at Lake Worth to take advantage of west winds predicted for Monday/Tuesday. Perfect for sailing to the Bahamas.

When we arrived at Lake Worth and listened to Chris Parkers’ weather forecast for boaters on the SSB we started doubting our supposed weather window. The west winds were expected to be 25 gusting to 35. That would make a rough trip, especially across the gulf stream. Reluctantly, we decided we’d have to wait for a better weather window.

Meanwhile we reunited with our friend Bob who spends his summers in NY and winters in Lake Worth (North Palm Beach) sailing back and forth every spring and fall. Not many 80 year old single-handers choosing this challenging way of life! Jerry and I went aboard Bob’s boat to visit when Bob returned from his morning run. Jerry repaired a few things on Bob’s boat. That evening we walked 1.5 miles to the mall and had dinner. It rained on us the entire 1.5 miles back to the dinghy and boat and we were soaked. No problem. It was a warm enjoyable evening despite the rain. When we came home Jerry fired up the diesel powered furnace and we dried out in luxury.

Our plan is to stay here in Lake Worth for a few more days awaiting a weather window and visiting with Bob – hopefully this weekend. It sounds promising for a crossing to the Bahamas leaving Friday. I’ll try to push the button on the SPOT at times so you can see our location as we travel.