Delilah's Meanderings

The "world" has changed since we started season 5 on Delilah as you all well know. The COVID-19 related restrictions in SW Florida made the decision for us to head back to the boat yard 4 weeks earlier than normal. Also we were feeling the need to get back home to be near family. We are back home now and sheltering in place like most. It is very difficult to be home and not visiting with our children and grandchildren.

Our season started a little later than normal as we flew to London, England for the birth of Sloane our 12th grandchild on January 2nd! Then the COVID-19 virus caused us to leave early. Although it was a shortened season we still did a lot, had some new experiences, spent some time with friends and family, and even squeezed in some great sailing. Our confidence aboard Delilah increases every year and now we seem to be at the point where we don't hesitate to try new things.

Here are some of the highlights of this season ...
* enjoying quiet time in Pelican Bay, Cayo Costa State Park
* crossing Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway and spending time in Stuart Florida, Peck Lake, and Jupiter Island beach
* hosting game night with friends from the boatyard while moored at Fort Myers Beach (game we hadn't played before called Tenzi)
* getting to know two couples aboard Links and Sea Quest, Delilah's sister ships (taught them 6 card golf card game)
* spending quality time with family at Marco Island
* a close encounter with a loggerhead turtle who didn't hear Delilah approaching under sail
* watching two dolphins playfully swimming around Delilah moored at Naples City Dock
* spending time in the 10,000 Islands south of Marco Island, especially White Horse Key
* several days of perfect weather for our return sail to the boat yard

It was little scary and sad to see our close friend's season aboard Osprey shortened due to serious health issues. Hopefully next year will be better for Osprey. It was also sad to say goodbye to several "seasoned" couples this year in the boatyard deciding it was time to sell their boats. At the same time I witnessed a younger man's excitement as he purchased an older model of our boat that has been sitting unused for over 5 years two boats down from Delilah. The boat will take a lot of TLC to get back to cruising shape. He asked if I thought he could sail it to the Bahamas and I said definitely! :)

best wishes to everyone during this difficult time ... until next season,
Mark & Kim