As I write this, it’s May 18th, and we are getting ready to leave the Bahamas. We had planned to stay until the end of May, but life is what happens when you’re making other plans. There are obligations calling us north, it is time to leave. So here I sit in a secluded anchorage on the north end of Manjack Cay in the northern Sea of Abaco. It’s 6:52 PM, I’ve watched sharks and rays come right up to my feet as we walked along the beach here today. Foolish Heart was shadowed by a large dolphin on our sail here from Green Turtle Cay. I’m happy. It has truly been the event of my life.

There is a lot to do to make a safe crossing of the Atlantic back to Florida where we will begin the long slog up the Intracoastal Waterway to get home in the northern Chesapeake Bay. Today I replaced the zinc on the propeller shaft and scrubbed some of the “sea life” off the hull of the boat. We have to file a Float Plan with my sister Becky on the mainland, so if we don’t show up in a reasonable amount of time, the Coast Guard will know to come looking for us. Things need to be put away and secured on the boat so if weather gets rough, we don’t end up with a cabin strewn with debris from our life aboard. The engine on the dingy needs to be secured on the aft railing, and the dingy needs to be lifted and secured on the foredeck. The plan is to make the crossing in two days if the weather holds. We don’t want to leave now, but it is time. Few people ever get to experience something like this, and we consider ourselves very lucky. It’s just hard to let go. There is still so much to see and do.

Sorry this was posted a bit late, but better late than never!