Back on our way again; back to Vero Beach; back to familiar faces. We have come all of 271 miles since we started out. Not much progress if miles are what we are counting; lots of events if we are counting days worth of experiences.

I had a good trip back to Nova Scotia with a chance to check in on all the family except the Ottawa crowd. Jim made good use of his time in Melbourne - changing the water filter, checking all lines, replacing worn fittings and bits and pieces that needed attention, and spending quite a few hours on conference calls and what I have come to call "work-work", i.e. "remunerative work"!

We ate at El Ambio Cubano - a fabulous little Cuban restaurant in Melbourne after he picked me up at the airport (Orlando) on Saturday. The sign says, "Cuban food, Cuban coffee, Cuban energy" and it delivered on all three! It's just a short walk from the marina too. On Sunday morning, we pulled out of our slip and headed down the ICW once more. It rained off and on, but by three o'clock the sun had come out and we were rafted to another boat on mooring #10 at Vero Beach Marina. Our neighbours are Phil, Lorraine and Katie on Changes from Cleveland Ohio - and nice neighbours they are too.

Jim and I took a little tour around the harbour when we went to register, and found many familiar boats, and some with good friends aboard. Karin and Ed (Passages), Cindy and Jeff (Salty Dog) and even Peter and Gail (Jabiru V). We haven't seen these two since the spring of 2008 so it was a real treat to find them here. Solitaire was tied up at the dock although Nancy and Jim were at their "land home". Once the sun went down, it was time to snuggle down in the cabin for a pasta dinner and our books. The temperature changes dramatically depending on whether the sun is out.

This morning (Monday) it was 10 C (approx 46 F) so we lit our little fireplace to take off the morning chill. With coffee and granola to fortify us, we headed ashore to walk to the beach. I was happy to have a fleecy on, but we did warm up as we travelled. I think many cruisers are taking the bus to town or hanging out in the warm laundry room or lounge because of the crowded dock. This pic shows the great crowd of dinghies aka "cruiser's family cars". Please notice our nice new AB dinghy in the foreground! Nancy and Jim arrived to do some work on Solitaire and kindly gave us a lift to the library for internet (there is none here at the marina this year - we heard that Yacht Spots closed up shop so there are probably several marinas without service).

Because the weather outlook is no good for a crossing until the end of the week, and then only a maybe, we are starting to resign ourselves to the idea of leaving Madcap in Florida until after Christmas. It is such a disappointment, but we keep telling ourselves that it's OK. We are not on a schedule! It's sure hard to shake that strong desire to be across the Gulf Stream and into Bahamian waters though!