Okay, I admit it. I was nervous about sailing in the predicted 25 kt winds the following day. We took all the precautions: reefed the sails and discussed bailout options. And like most things we fear the most, it never happened. There was NO wind and we ended up motoring the 50+ miles up to Pennekamp.
Pennekamp is a park and huge underwater sanctuary on Key Largo. As a child, my family would camp there in our 8-man Sears tent. It was here that I learned the life lesson to never touch wet canvas - because it will leak. Years later, when I was pregnant with E, Pat & I took my nephew John there on New Years Day to enjoy the protected beaches. Over the years, Pennekamp has not changed much - miraculously. It is also probably the best deal in the Keys for getting a slip - only $30/night. You just have to have a shallow draft to get in and out.
As soon as we docked, we met new "old" friends. Seeing Bennetts Creek, Va on our transom, a family in their dinghy motored over and the dad enthusiastically yelled he used to live down the street from our creek. Of course, we invited the family aboard and had a lovely evening sharing P-town and sailing stories. Like several boaters we've met, this couple is home-schooling their two children aged 5 and 7 and traveling the islands. They set out from NC in December in a large catamaran and are experiencing much of the same excitement and frustrations as we have. We became such quick friends that the following evening, they let P & I entertain the kids on our boat while they went out to celebrate Sheila's b-day. P & I had a blast relearning how to play UNO and teaching them our kid's old favorite card games. We look forward to sailing with our own grandchildren one day (not too soon, girls!). We so enjoy our fellow sailors - and future sailors.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment