Friends everywhere

Saint Augustine, Florida, never been here. Took us a week to get here. Slow indeed but that’s so nice since we have so long to ease through this. Fishing and netting sealife with the kids all morning while I’m trying to kick a fairly angry head cold was good for everybody.  Quinn had a handline with the tiniest hook we had tied on trying to catch tiny triggerfish in a “fishing in an aquarium” setting at the inshore end of the dock. I was watching over him and checking out the sights when I hear “Dunleavey’s Pub! Haven’t seen that one in a while” response to my new bright green (powerfully Irish, unabashedly Irish green) T shirt drenched in head cold and shrimp bait sweat.  

Old friends in the sailing community will get a kick out of this…behold Bam Bam! A solid figure in the sailboat racing scene back when I was deep into it 10-15 years ago.  Looking healthy and happy captaining a big lovely motor yacht with his girl friend as crew. Cool stuff.  “I know you…” Awkward pause…recognition. Cool as always how this life doubles back on itself.  They had a rental car and were running for a few things. We’re planning a mid morning departure for an overnight to Ft. Pierce tomorrow so he offered to grab whatever we needed. Some 80 lb test line for the killer trolling lures uncle Dan handmade for us before we left (no interest in landing anything that test won’t handle) and some rolls for lunch and apples.  “We’re all on the same team” says Cap’n…I know this but every time it’s great to be reassured.  We can also add one more to the list of “everyone who is not headed south” wow…just us this far.

A half hour seminar pouring over the explorer chart books of the Bahamas with Bam Bam was priceless. I have nothing to prove and no experience in the Bahamas. He was gracious and essentially spelled out every pro and con to different routes and destinations.  His take is the Bahamas are better than the crouds in the Caribbean. Mine is I’ll gladly take the advice of a captain who’s been at it for years than read and assume what’s been printed is the gospel.  It continues to amaze me over the last few years how many friends we see, meet and hopefully earn as new friends as we carry on with this atypical endeavor.

An afternoon at the Castillo De San Marco fort downtown was excellent. Beautiful vistas and lots to learn. A 2 mile hike for pizza ( reasonable for good NY pizza I’d say) and a movie.  All is well here. 

Stay tuned much love!!