Staging

     We’ve spent an entire week in Sunset Cove, Key Largo.  Dolphins and manatees have come to play around our boat.  Dan says they love the blue hull, but I think the ultrasonic bottom cleaner he installed recently is also attracting them.  Dolphins especially are curious animals, and they have been spending a lot of time swimming all around and under us, sometimes even just leaping out of the water despite the fact there is no wake to play in while we are at anchor. 

Sunset Cove

We’ve done our last minute provisioning and supplying, our last minute mailings and garbage runs, and Dan made the long trek to the marine salvage store with a new friend Mike, who is anchored near us, just to see what they might have that he can’t live without.  One of the things Dan bought was an animal life jacket.  Our Tommie has never been too interested in wearing one, before, and this time was no different.  She sat not-so-patiently while Dan clipped her into it, swatted at him when he snugged it up, and then sat on the floor, tail swishing while we watched.  She wore it for about a minute, got up and easily pulled it off and walked away for a bath, glaring at us.  Dan will find another use for the jacket.

The abandoned lifejacket

Today - New Year’s Eve - we will go to Angel Fish Creek where we will gather with Rick and Debbie on Raison D’Etre and Mike on Gilkey as Charged for the night.  We’ve all been conferring and consulting to come up with the best route and the best plan that suits all our needs.  We will make the crossing to the Bahamas together tomorrow, on New Year’s Day.  Coincidentally, we made this same crossing on this same day seven years ago, the first time we ventured to the Bahamas.  Last time we ended up being alone for most of the journey.  It’ll be good to have company this time.   

Conferring by text

Happy New Year’s - hope 2023 brings nothing but joy.