Second Wind on the Great Loop and Beyond

Monday, March 8.
The first photo is of Joe Mama, our favorite performer at Sombrero Dockside Marina, where we have lived for the past five weeks. The second photo is another shot of "One Palm Court," which now sports a Christmas wreath. Various "lovely" furnishings (all scavenged to reflect the laid-back, easy Keys life) have been added to the decor after we arrived: a dolphin wall hanging, a second table, a name plate, a potted plant, and the wreath among them. You really have to be there to "get it."

To say that it was hard to bid farewell to our terrific Gold Looper friends--and all the camaraderie, dinners, morning walks, cocktails, and fun--is an understatement. But as we pulled away, they were there to say "farewell for now." The pictures I took of them didn't turn out too well, but this group included Bella Luna (Diane and Louis, who are also warm and wonderful friends whose company we also enjoy in Emerald Isle, NC, and are known far and wide for their fabulous cooking. They introduced us to the rest of the group.), C-Life (Robert and Kay from Southport, NC, good-natured, friendly folks who shared recipes and told tales from home), Our Turn (Roy and Ellen, friendly, fun Loopers from Ft. Lauderdale, who filled up their boat with orchids and set the morning walking pace), Wandering L & M (Larry and Margie, generous, warm New Yorkers who have helped Bob tremendously in doing boat maintenance), and Wonderland (Phil and Alice, dear friends who we Looped with in 2007. Alice had a root canal and appendectomy while we were there). Other great boater friends came and went, but this group was there the whole time we were. We already miss them.

As we left Boot Key harbor, I had to snap one more shot of mangroves filled with birds, the Seven-Mile Bridge, (hard to see in the distance) -- and of course, the minefield of crabpots that we dodged. We would love to spend another winter there, hopefully one with warmer weather.