we eat calamari and sip on Bud’s listening to Xmas music played by a brass band enjoying the 80 degree temps of Florida. Traffic on the highway of water today as we had to slow down multiple times for passing boats. BUGS arrived in swarms as well calling into action screen protection guru Steve St. Jean and myself assisting as best I could whilst Jordi made sure we did not hit anything topside. For the birders (Rodger aka Dad and others) out there here is a brief photo album of the plethora of vultures, pelicans and what not we see during our days here on the ICW

Monday
1257 –Strong winds and LARGE swells as we make our way out of St Augustine inlet. Decision time as we approaching whistle buoy #25, turn back, go forward????? We go forth in a large quarter swell, boat lurching all which ways, waves breaking, sweet!!! Managed to keep the tuna fish sandwich down as we work the weather fax and Stevey at the helm works the swells. Weather says diminishing seas but we shall see. Tied a preventer on the boom so our main doesn’t blow out, wearing winter weather cloths again, what the christ!!!

Tuesday
0300 – Let there be light. Beams of light cascading away from the ROCKET SHIP off our starboard bow! (the picture really does not do it justice ) We hopefully await a countdown and blast off from the best seats in the house and all I can think about is their electricity bill! Jolting this way, then that under sail only (no motor finally) as we cruise 6 miles off shore on a broad reach with average speeds of 5-6 knots. Philosophical conversations, rice and dal fry, diet cokes, cliff bars, fruits and more. Keep on rockin in the free world.

2022 –Cape Canaveral came, Cape Canaveral went. For lack of dockage and anchorage the Audax and rocketships decided not to tango and we continued down to our current anchorage at mile 925 on the ICW in the Indian River just past Melbourne. A quick stealth mission (got bless all you fellow Navy seals) into Cocoa for pick up of supplies at the local West Marine and now we all go about our own endeavours…tired, but with solid spirits and much looking forward to the nights rest.

Wednesday
0830 – Weighed anchor off Cape Malabar in the ICW. The standard morning routine: Steve and John wake up, percolator turned on, beds are made, cigarette for Steve, reading for John, 30 minutes prior to departure, Jordi awakens, (being older men, Steve and I take a bit longer to get going) some cereal/yogurt/fruit eaten, engine turned on 15 minutes prior to go time, final straigtening up of the cabin, computer and course checked, anchor is weighed, steam to speed, log it!

1123 Hot and sunny, shades and lotion our weapons, steaming at 5 knots towards Fort Pierce inlet

A photo tour of our home (and a couple pics of us cleaning it) for those interested in seeing the fine accommodations (aft cabin, v-berth, main saloon, 2 heads, galley, etc etc.) and I recommend you also check out Steves site for the extremely touching photo and verbal tribute to Rico

Thanks again to everybody who is reading this as it is really awesome to know others are enjoying (hopefully) our exploits.