Countdown

Arrived in Tampa yesterday tired from the nine hour drive.  The strange thing about that is the fact that when we are aboard Why Knot underway sometimes we are underway for much longer periods.  Doing so aboard is much easier, if the weather is not a factor, than driving nine hours.  Aboard, one can stand up, move around, eat and observe more.  There are fewer fools to attempt to run one over.  Granted, said fools on the water tend to have bigger vehicles but they also usually do not pass withing two feet head on. 

We are on short final to the event that we have anticipated for over 5 months.  What happens Monday will determine the nature of our future cruising but we don't think it will end it even if it does not turn out the way we hope.  Certainly, good health is most important to any such endeavor and I have watched Bear make the best of a bad situation for so long.  Growing up together as we have has given both of us the ability to know the others feelings without even asking.  There is a certain look in her eyes that lets me know when there is pain, sorrow, happiness and joy.  When all is well, there is a wonderful sparkle.   Haven't seen much of that sparkle lately.  Been seeing a lot of that pain thing lately and yet she wants to stay underway stating it is better to endure whilst aboard than sitting at home.  It is sort of a take on "If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there".  We have met many folks that have back pain and have had "procedures" to correct same.  Some have worked and some have not.  Few we have met know of the "procedure" Bear will undergo.  We have researched this place and know of actual cases of success.  So, we charted the course and will loose the dock lines Monday, so to speak.

The last time we saw this area was in late April.  Much water has passed under Why Knot's keel since then.  We did not sail into Tampa Bay but did anchor at Egmont Key at the entrance.  This is a huge bay and we missed some remarkable ports and anchorages here.  Perhaps we might return to this place aboard Why Knot some day. 

I canvassed our sailing friends while we were still in the Gulf: "Where to next?".  We got many suggestions and have taken some of them with no disappointments,  Walking the docks we have spoken to sailors going everywhere.  All have "this one particular harbor"  that is a must see. I would say to those contemplating cruising that they all are must see.  All the miles of possible anchorages between here and Port A hold great possibilities.  All have some type of reward and all need sailors to climb aboard and come out here.  As we said originally, we shall sail until we cannot.  Don't wait too long.  We almost did.