May 21. "I thought you were gone"

I saw Mary this morning,walking her dog, and she said, "I thought you were gone!"  We did almost leave today, but decided the weather was too uncertain. Cruising is all about tne weather and making decisions based on forecasts that may be wrong. In other words, it's gambling.  We decided to wait until this period of showers and thunderstorms is over and get started this weekend when clearing and sunshine is promised.

The cruise begins with 3 long days in the Intercoastal Waterway.  We've done it many times and know where the few  anchorages are. They are out in the middle of nowhere, like stopping for the night on the edge of  the highway. Barges go by in the dark, shining their search lights at you. If we had set off today, we might have had to spend Thursday and possibly Friday in one of those marshy  roadside anchorages waitimg for a stormy front to pass through.

When I say "Cruising" what I mean is we sail and/or motor from place A to place B, maybe 10 miles, maybe as much as 60 miles and then we anchor for the night. We just about never stay at a marina or on a mooring.  We might keep going the next day, but we prefer to stay a few days and go ashore and walk around.  Some people are happy anchored in a scenic spot where they can't go ashore, but we don't enjoy that at all. That means the Waterway is a convenient way to get as far as Norfolk VA, but not the kind of cruising we enjoy.  At least we'd like to have nice weather.  We'll see what happens this weekend!