MIDORI ADVENTURES

Waiting for the engine repair has been frustrating, but as of yesterday morning, the engine has been returned, installed, and is functioning as it should! The first mechanic screwed up, the second mechanic had to clean up after the first mechanic, but finally things are resolved. The problem turned out to be fairly simple: the shift rod adjustment.

Although we have been very comfortable on MIDORI in a slip with shore power, groceries and hardware stores are three miles away. Our new dock neighbour, Chuck, has been very generous in giving rides to the grocery store and the hardware store. Cruising friends, Vernon and Rose have stopped by twice en route between Marathon and Fort Myers and made sure to take us to the grocery store. Two boats from our boatyard, TWOCAN (Gene and Charlene), NAUTILIS (Rosie and Al) anchored off of Goodland one Sunday, en route to Marathon, and we got together for drinks and supper at a local restaurant. And, old cruising buddies, Steve and Mary Ann surprised us this past Saturday. Their boat is still on the hard at Charlotte Harbour Boat Storage, it was a cool, cloudy day, and they decided to take a drive down to Goodland. It was great to “get out of Dodge” drive around and catch up on news and have a nice lunch out.

We are studying the weather and looks like we may have a good weather window to head to Marathon. The winds are fairly light out of the N, NNE, and E for about three days before they start clocking around to the south again.

The trip to Marathon across Florida Bay should take only two days, but, depending on the wind, we may take the Yachtsman Channel to Islamorada and that would add another half day’s travel to Marathon.

We will be travelling along the coast of the Everglades National Park and will not have cell service until we reach the Keys.

Can’t tell you how happy we are to finally being able to get underway.

Stay tuned,

First Mate

Lynn