Still here in Key Largo

Today we have committed to at least a couple of more weeks here in Key Largo.  It is a very comfortable spot to work on getting Martha's knees a little stronger.  It is not a great place for antsy Dan.  He has turned half the boat inside out checking stuff (stuff is an engineering term for ???).  More work to be done.  We are just learning that some of our neighbors come from all over and spend 1 to 3 months here each winter.  Seem to be great folks as anyone who rides around in a hole-in-the-water-into-which-you-throw-money has to be.  We have been invited to a Superbowl Party so we are feeling right at home.

We have had great support from lots of folks as we do this trip.  It is always dangerous to start something like this.  Jay and Pegg have been great fellow cruisers and spent a lot of time watching Brunelle as we went north for Christmas and THE KNEES.  Jay's daughter Amy is our wonderful "remote" at home taking care of Maggie, looking in on Mom, and sorting the mail...and wishing she had not agreed to go north for the winter, maybe.  Many friends and CCYC (Chesapeake Catalina Yacht Club) members have cheered us on...of course they would not know what to cheer about if it were not for our son Sam's effort on the blog site.  He has done a great job while dealing with the blog "newbies" on Brunelle.  Thanks Jay, Pegg, Amy, and Sam.

A secret weapon has been Gerry Helldorfer.  He and his wife Jeanne did this trip in 1999.  He has sent many emails coaching us on where to go and where not to go.  He is the reason we are in Key Largo.  Today he sent an email saying, "A delay in your trip to the Bahamas could be a good thing.  The Bahamas are at their best in the Spring.  About March 1 the weather fronts are much weaker and they are usually gone from the Exumas.  The winds are lighter, so the water is even clearer.  The water is warmer and just perfect for snorkeling.  The days are longer and the weather windows are frequent.  Even if you spend all of February in the Keys you could still spend two months in the Bahamas and be home in May.  In May, it ought to be a fast off-shore trip up the coast riding in the Gulf Stream."  This email was a great boost in our morale today.  And Martha and Jeanne (who also had knee replacements this year) have commiserated frequently as Martha tries to deal with this.  Thanks, Gerry and Jeanne!!

Updates may not be too frequent in the next couple of weeks.  I hope you have signed up for Sam's emails when there is a new bit of wisdom from the warm part of the country.~~~(\_~~~D&M