Lemming Migration
September 30, 2011

If at sea, this would be the middle of my watch (0430) and the coffee would be hitting the spot as it is now sitting at the desk. We are definitely missing the boat and being on the water but that will come. There is much happening in the lives of the crew of Why Knot and the memories of the water world bring much comfort to us as we anticipate adding more. We have scrapped an idea that would have taken us into the warm waters of the Keys and close to old friends from our home port. We regret having to make that decision but there will be other times if we are lucky. As it stands, we will winter in a not-so-warm place then head north in the spring. The annual southward migration is started and boats are making their way to points south with some planning to head to the islands later in the winter. Some are anticipating that one particular harbor where old friends will gather, as they have for years, and renew the ties of the cruising world. What tales they will tell. The key is to pace ones self and not deplete the tales locker too soon. One must spread out the stories of the summer so as to last. Some eagerly anticipate the return to such places as Marsh Harbor and Great Guana Cay and might find a slightly different place due to Irene. Others will simply glide into a slip somewhere along the Atlantic ICW an renew the bridge club or coffee club at the corner café that convenes year after year. In many ways it is like the RV world with the Winter Texans of the Rio Grande Valley. As is always the case, the initial muster will reveal some not making the formation. There may be some missing and with luck some new faces. The point is that the cruisers world is people refusing to sit in the corner. The younger members have no time limit. The older members, such as the crew of Why Knot, want to get in a few more years before having to go sit in the corner.
Mom may have reconfigured the waterway with Irene and that may be the only changes to the annual migration. In any event, those planning on having a warm winter are loading up and getting ready to point the bow south. We will go aboard as soon as we are fit and will do winter in Wilmington.
Bear report:
My life mate is healing nicely and it appears that the terrible lower back pain is gone except for the surgery part. We can see Why Knot out there and look forward to powering her up once again.

The picture is from the deck at Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay