HOME port!

Completely exhausted from our journey, we fell asleep HARD Monday morning upon our arrival behind Anclote Key. We were in a calm, quiet cove – well-deserved after the pounding we just took.

We were so tired and weathered, that we just didn’t want to mess with getting either of the generators started. Instead, we just fell immediately asleep. Within a couple of hours, the Florida sun was up and baking us alive. It was only about five hours worth of sleep, but it was enough to recharge us (a bit.) Motivated by a FULL night’s sleep in Clearwater – just a few more miles ahead, we started the motors and ventured onward. No breakfast this morning. No showers. No starting of the generators. Etc. Heck, I didn’t even check the oil or water levels on the motors. Nope. Just turn the keys, fire-up those kittens, pull the hook, and get movin’.

Motoring along the calm and safety of the intercoastal waterway, in our “home” waters was pure delight. Now THIS is what boating is SUPPOSED to be like!

Prior to crossing the Gulf, I had visions of laying out on the deck for HOURS at a time in Kelly’s makeshift pool. Maybe even reading one of the books she brought along. Or, maybe even finishing-up one of the many books that I had started in the past few years? I had visions of trolling for fish as we cruised – hoping to catch our first Mahi or Yellow-Fin. Then, having our first fresh-caught lunch or dinner. I had visions of bar-b-queuing on the back deck noon and nights. I had SUCH visions – all of which were instead ILLUSIONS!

As we returned to Clearwater, we drove the boat straight to one of our favorite local bars/pubs (Frenchy’s.) We showered on the boat as we approached, and put on some “nice” clothes (for going ashore.) We went inside, and had our first decent, sit-down meal in days. We felt almost human.

Kelly then contacted our friends (Paul & Lisa) to make arrangements to pickup our car, and to borrow their condo for a spell. Meanwhile, I went on a hunt for some longer-term dockage.

I had called some friends and such over the past month or so, trying to find/secure something. But, the “deals’ usually come and go pretty quickly – you need to BE THERE to capitalize on them. So, now that I was there, I needed to hunt for a deal.

I found a few deals, but one stood out from the rest. I found a vacant waterfront lot on the back side of Clearwater Beach. But, it DOES have a dock that is perfectly set-up for a 40-50 foot boat. It also has JUST ENOUGH water depth for our boat. I did some wheeling and dealing with the owner/agent, and we agreed to a favorable monthly rental price.

Kelly returned with the car, just as I was relocating the boat from the restaurant to its new dock home.

We are landlubbers again (at least for the next 30 days or so.)

I will be making visits to the local boat junkyards and such, to replace the few items that didn’t survive the storm – VHF radios, relay for the generator, etc.

Crossing the Gulf again: During and afterwards, I said NEVER again! But, as we drove past a NICE 50-foot sportfishing boat, even KELLY said, “well, maybe in a bigger and FASTER boat?!” One that has enough speed to truly out-run a storm. One that has the ability to ride up/over the waves – as opposed to driving/diving up/down each of them.

I would NOT do it in a sailboat. As a matter of fact, this little crossing has COMPLETELY changed my dreams/desires about becoming a coastal sailboat cruiser.

Open water cruising, just isn’t for us (anymore.) Nor is long-distance cruising. I have ZERO DESIRE to finish/complete “The Great Loop” up the Eastern seashore, into the Great Lakes, and back to St. Louis (not that I was ever planning to do so.)

Living aboard is still an option. Week-long or weekend cruising is still 100% enjoyable. I might even be willing to cruise this boat to the Keys, and then up to Miami, and then out to the Bahamas. But, that’s about it. NO MORE DREAMS about circumnavigation.

I would indeed still like to buy/liveaboard a catamaran sailboat in the future. I would love to cruise it for a few years (a BUNCH of little short-hops) through the Caribbean. I also think it would be kewl to liveaboard in the Mediterranean for a few years. But, I would NOT sail our boat across the Atlantic. Instead, I would either hire someone else to make the passage in our boat for us; or pay to have it dry-shipped over there; or sell it here in the States, and buy another boat over there (for the duration.) Then, resell it to return back to the States.

This is probably my last “posting” to the Venture Out II blog. This journey is over – for now. I won’t delete the blog, so others can read and learn from our comments. I might edit some of the previous posts, to add a few photos.

We would like to thank all of our friends and family for supporting us throughout this adventure/ordeal. First and foremost Rob & Pat Stewart, without whom this trip would never have occurred. The Rasch Family, for your much-needed hospitality in Gulf Shores. Paul & Lisa (our Florida Family) for welcoming us home and opening your doors to us again -- we wish you had been here when we arrived to see how truly grateful we were to be back in your beautiful home. Clem & Joyce Roeder for loaning us your van when our VW wagon died. Scott Pfitzinger, for loaning us his car and helping us sell the VW postmortem. And, of course, to all of our family & friends in STL who came out to Alton to visit us and cheer us on our way. You have ALL ALWAYS been there for us -- no matter what adventure we have undertaken. We are truly blessed and happy to have you all in our lives. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Farewell, for now…

Nick & Kelly.