Log 2: Go with the Flow

As we continue motoring down the ICW, we’ve been getting back into the swing of things. (Having a moving home that is). Of course, motoring down was not the intended plan, and sailing offshore would’ve been ideal, for now we’re just having to go with the flow.

It’s my first time going this way, so it is interesting to do it at least once I guess. I was excited to see a flock of while pelicans (not to be confused with the much more common brown pelicans here), and several pods of dolphin along the way. We also were able to roll the jib out and get a little sailing in. One night we anchored out nearby the Kennedy Space Center and we were able to catch SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket blasting off! The sound they make is a deep bone shaking rumble that lingers in a delayed haunting manner.

When we sailed from our old stomping grounds in the South Florida Keys north to Saint Augustine, Florida (top east side if you’re not familiar), we sailed offshore for several days. In that trip, that was the first time I’d ever witnesses a rocket launch, and we were in the middle of the ocean right across from the Kennedy Space Center when NASA launched a satellite. That was incredible. The light shined so bright and lit up the entire sky that it struck me as a “sunrise in fast-forward.” It was so bright, fast, and then after awhile that deep rumble shows up, and hearing it while suspended over hundreds of feet of dark ocean under you and a starry black sky above you, is a gut piercing a sensation. (I’ll put a video up on our SM!)

We were so excited to make it to Fort Peirce and visit dear friends of ours, Donald and Cindy, who I like to tease were the “Keys parents.” I worked with Donald at my last job as a Park Ranger in Florida. All of the Rangers who worked there were a big family. We all lived next to each other on park property, we worked together, and being on a relatively secluded Key, we hung out all together too. It’s been great to spend time with them, catch up, and slow down for a second. In fact, timing worked out as we were also able to get a hand fixing some issues with our outboard motor for the dingy, and get some extra stocking done.

As we plan our next moves, we’re trying not to think of the time we’ve lost from starting the trip much later than planned. Instead, think about the time we’re gaining by lingering a tad bit. Though late from departing St. Aug, it was nice to spend the extra time visiting with loved ones there before departure. Though to be cautious of stillness for too long, it works to go with the flow, especially when on the ICW flow.

~ Day 7