BACK ON THE BOAT……..YAY!

S.L.O. DANCER BACK TO CRUISING AFTER HOLIDAY BREAK

9 FEBRUARY 2022

Wow! The weeks have zoomed by since we last reported in over two months ago, when we’d just completed crossing the Gulf of Mexico off the western Florida Coast. Before heading back to California for the holidays, we especially enjoyed our stay on Captiva Island, west of Fort Myers. We were last there in 2009 and it is still as charming and beautiful as ever. It was fun to be part of the annual South Seas Island Resort’s “Christmas Walk” evenings right next to the Marina:

(As requested, we’ve included here a recent photo of us taken in Captiva.)

Our adventure across the Okeechobee Waterway to the east side of Florida was pretty uneventful (it can sometimes be a challenge because it’s so shallow), and it was an easy cruise up the coast to Fort Pierce, where we stored the boat for six weeks and had some maintenance and repairs done.

(ASIDE: What does B-O-A-T stand for? Break Out Another Thousand…or so…also an expected part of the adventure!)

Our California visit was busier than we anticipated, but we had such a good time—visiting family and a few friends and clients and enjoying the mild California climate. We had doctor and dental checkups and are blessed to continue to be in very good health. It also feels really good to have year-end finances and 2022 tax information sent off to our accountant already. It cut into our playtime a bit, but what a relief! We did get to enjoy our hometown beauty—the green, green hills, Morro Rock, Morro Bay and the Pacific Ocean:


Another highlight for me was participating in my sixth annual 4-day Silent Retreat in early January—an opportunity to go within, set intentions for the New Year and explore various ways to look at my life as I continue to grow, evolve and enjoy my “wisdom years” as fully as possible. Gary and I also loved being “Uber” drivers for granddaughter Maya, taking her back and forth to high school each day when Carolyn and fiancé Drew were in Atlanta for 10 days. It created many special moments and some fascinating conversations. We also had fun visits with Gary’s 3 grandkids who have turned into remarkable young beings. This younger generation is amazingly self-aware and insightful!

We flew back to Florida on February 3 and have now started north, but before we left Fort Pierce we visited the Navy Seals Museum. Wow! We now have even more respect for the amazingly brilliant, fit and courageous men who’ve chosen to serve our country in this way, on SEa, Air and Land. Bless them all!

           

As much as we loved being in California, we are delighted to get back to “doing the dance” of cruising. It’s taking us a few days to adjust to the changes in time zones and climate, re-provision, clean up the boat and settle back into the rhythm of cruising, and it’s all part of the dance! AND, we now know ourselves well enough to start off at a fairly slow pace as we begin the next segments of our America’s Great Loop adventure…S.L.O. is good!!!

We look forward to sharing more of our journey with you over the next several months, beginning with four weeks along Florida’s “Space Coast” and “Palm Coast” before we head up to Georgia and into the Carolinas, all on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Stay tuned!

Once again, thanks for continuing to cruise along with us! Welcome back aboard!

16 thoughts on “BACK ON THE BOAT……..YAY!”

    1. LOL! Message from Gary: “You are correct!” AND, it’s worth it! Still having a grand time. It’s a nice break to be cruising down a river again…the St. John’s River which runs through and south of Jacksonville. Will pick up Eldon (who will be 23!!! April 16!!) back in Jacksonville this coming Saturday and he’ll cruise with us for a week up to Savannah where Carolyn and Drew will pick him up. Great fun!
      Hugs! Love! Cheers! xoxox

      Like

      Reply

    1. Oh YAY right back to you, dear Sister Karyl! We may have lost touch for awhile, but please know that no matter how long it is between our touching bases, you are often in our thoughts and you will always be my “Spirchull Sister!!” 🙂
      I heard that you and Paul had bought a house and I hope you’re beginning to get settled in….sometimes that can take awhile, but I’m right there “with you” as you once again create the sacred spaces for your wonderful life together.
      So good to hear about your first grandchild and have Paul’s twin toddlers to love on. Could I have access to your blog so I can catch up via photos etc. It’s probably best to email me directly (as I don’t check these Comments as often as I’d hoped) at
      annie@consciousorder.com. And, by the way, my cell phone is still the same for texting, etc. 415-517-2127.
      I love the idea of “reconnecting properly” and it may take a little doing to schedule a phone conversation, but let’s try for it. We do not always have cell service and our schedule is a little unpredictable for the next few weeks, but I’m sure we can work something out.
      First of all, we are on Eastern time, so how many hours ahead of us are you? As I look ahead, it might be best to wait till we have planted ourselves for more than a week in Norfolk, VA, but that’s not until May 1-6. Hmmmmmm…..sooner? We have a couple of 4-day stays in South Carolina in a few weeks…maybe we can work something out for then.
      Meanwhile, grandson Eldon (who turns 23!!! on April 16!!!!) is joining us this coming weekend in Jacksonville during his Spring Break (senior at Northern Arizona U) and Carolyn and Drew will pick him up in Savannah a week later. He helped Gary bring our boat from Grafton, IL (where we bought it) up the Illinois River and across Lake Michigan to Grand Haven last May/June, which is where we started our America’s Great Loop adventure mid-August. We are now in north central Florida on the sweet, serene, backwater St. John’s River and have met up with fellow Loopers whom we first met in Peoria, IL in September. We’ve been “Loop Frogging” with them ever since. Great fun!
      We are both doing great and seem to be each other’s “dream come true,” just as you predicted (vs. worst nightmare!). 🙂
      Can’t wait to catch up more, but in the meantime, you continue to be loved, appreciated and adored by us!!!
      AND, like I said, it’s probably best to be in touch via my regular email which I check almost daily. This…not so much!!!
      Loving you deeply and soooooooo grateful we’re back in touch. Love it! Love you!
      xoxox
      P.S. Our NEXT adventure is planned for Spring of 2023 to the British Isles so we will see you then for sure!! Yippee!!!

      Like

      Reply

    2. Glad to have you aboard, sweet friends! Thinking of you often, especially when reading weekly AWSC emails! Keep ’em coming!!!
      Love and hugs by the boatload to you both!!! xoxoxo

      Like

      Reply

    3. Yikes! Did I just send a reply that started On YAY right back to you dear Sister Karyl?!?!? That was supposed to go to our former minister at Golden Gate Center for Spritual Living who just found us after several years. Looks like it might have gone to you instead. Oh well!
      Sorry if that’s so, but you’ll probably get that Gary and I both had a very special connection to her and all her family for many, many years! Apologies!!

      Like

      Reply

  3. YAY!!! I have finally found you! I suppose I could have read the small print on your card at any time instead of trying to get to you via facebook, or your actual (415) PHONE, Annie! I love this blog and have read the most recent post – will work my way through all of them. But today we are getting ready to move TOMORROW! We have loved living in a rental bungalow right on a canal in Mid-Devon, but it is being sold out from under us. We are buying a 1910 house in a neighboring village and are very excited about having our own place. I write (essentially) a blog daily – a letter to my kids and have lots of pictures of our three years here. (My “kids” now include 7-month old William Elliott Sakir – pretty amazing – my first grandchild. I do have Paul’s twin 15 month-olds over here) I would love to reconnect properly and would love a phone conversation if we can arrange that. How is the best way to re-establish our friendship? Your room will be ready in Cullompton after a little while of us getting settled. Much love, Karyl and Paul

    Like

    Reply

    1. Oh YAY right back to you, dear Sister Karyl! We may have lost touch for awhile, but please know that no matter how long it is between our touching bases, you are often in our thoughts and you will always be my “Spirchull Sister!!” 🙂
      I heard that you and Paul had bought a house and I hope you’re beginning to get settled in….sometimes that can take awhile, but I’m right there “with you” as you once again create the sacred spaces for your wonderful life together.
      So good to hear about your first grandchild and have Paul’s twin toddlers to love on. Could I have access to your blog so I can catch up via photos etc. It’s probably best to email me directly (as I don’t check these Comments as often as I’d hoped) at
      annie@consciousorder.com. And, by the way, my cell phone is still the same for texting, etc. 415-517-2127.
      I love the idea of “reconnecting properly” and it may take a little doing to schedule a phone conversation, but let’s try for it. We do not always have cell service and our schedule is a little unpredictable for the next few weeks, but I’m sure we can work something out.
      First of all, we are on Eastern time, so how many hours ahead of us are you? As I look ahead, it might be best to wait till we have planted ourselves for more than a week in Norfolk, VA, but that’s not until May 1-6. Hmmmmmm…..sooner? We have a couple of 4-day stays in South Carolina in a few weeks…maybe we can work something out for then.
      Meanwhile, grandson Eldon (who turns 23!!! on April 16!!!!) is joining us this coming weekend in Jacksonville during his Spring Break (senior at Northern Arizona U) and Carolyn and Drew will pick him up in Savannah a week later. He helped Gary bring our boat from Grafton, IL (where we bought it) up the Illinois River and across Lake Michigan to Grand Haven last May/June, which is where we started our America’s Great Loop adventure mid-August. We are now in north central Florida on the sweet, serene, backwater St. John’s River and have met up with fellow Loopers whom we first met in Peoria, IL in September. We’ve been “Loop Frogging” with them ever since. Great fun!
      We are both doing great and seem to be each other’s “dream come true,” just as you predicted (vs. worst nightmare!). 🙂
      Can’t wait to catch up more, but in the meantime, you continue to be loved, appreciated and adored by us!!!
      AND, like I said, it’s probably best to be in touch via my regular email which I check almost daily. This…not so much!!!
      Loving you deeply and soooooooo grateful we’re back in touch. Love it! Love you!
      xoxox
      P.S. Our NEXT adventure is planned for Spring of 2023 to the British Isles so we will see you then for sure!! Yippee!!!

      Like

      Reply

  4. It is so hard to believe that Maya is now as tall, or taller than Carolyn!!!
    How wonderful it must have been to have them join you on part of your cruise! And to have time with them back in California. I so admire you both for your courage and sense of adventure in doing this LONG cruise. How fun and enlightening it all sounds! Thank you for sending the reports and the pictures! Looking forward to continuing the adventure with you.
    Love you and miss you!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hello dear Joycieeeeee! I have thought of you so very often through all our adventures….especially when we see horses (just a few, one drinking from the river at water’s edge) and pelicans!!! We’ve seen white, brown or grey pelicans almost everywhere we’ve gone, together with a bajillion herons and egrets and seagulls, plus bald eagles and ospreys and lots of other birds–even saw a pair of sandhill cranes flying over us the other day. So yummy, not to mention all the dolphins who have escorted us through the waters of the Gulf and now on the Atlantic ICW. Now on the St. John’s River (a highly-recommended side-trip through and south of/beyond Jacksonville). Eldon joins us next Saturday for a week (during his spring break) and cruised up to Savannah with us (where Carolyn & Drew will pick him up). All good!
      Hope you are doing well, my dear friend. Thanks for cruising along with us on this amazing adventure! xoxoxox

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Hi Annie, I saw, then lost this message for a few days. So glad to find it again.
        I think of you often too and MISS YOU! But am so happy for you and Gary to be on this wonderful adventure, except of course for the bugs! How peaceful it must be on the quiet rivers with all the wildlife. It makes me think of a river in Kenya, where we did see alligators!
        Yes, pelicans and horses are special to me too. I wonder if you will see the wild horses further north along the coastal islands.
        Much love to you both, Joyce

        Like

      2. Hi JOYcieeeeee! Thanks for your sweet messages…I can “feel” your love and joy! There are so many times, when I see something special in these beautiful settings that I think of you and how much you would enjoy what we are seeing. It sure is “nourishing” and we continue to have a wondrous time. Now in Beaufort, SC (Bewfort) which is really a sweet and charming town…actually it’s made up of 68 islands (learned that from a tour we took this morning)…and the historical center is right next to our Marina. Heading to Charleston on Friday (hunkering down the next 2 days due to storms–not good for cruising) and then on up the SC coast to North Carolina. We’re doing great and have gotten really good at pacing ourselves…cruising…exploring…chilling…socializing…art journaling…simply being.
        It’s quite the life and we feel very blessed to be doing this.
        Hope things are cruising along in YOUR life, dear Joycieeeee….love, love, love, hugs, hugs, hugs by the boatload!!! xoxoxo
        Annie

        Like

  5. You both look great! Laurie told me about your adventure so I am now “onboard”. Thank you for sharing in so much glowing detail. You are living the dream!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi B.T. It is so good to hear from you..for lots of reasons, including the fact that our “Christmas Letter in July” was returned from your Lake Tahoe address. Gary will be in touch with you separately….and I see we don’t have a phone number for you in our iPhones. You could send it to Gary’s email address (gary@abornproperties.com) or to me (annie@consciousorder.com). It would be great to catch up.
      Meanwhile, thanks for coming “onboard” with us. We’re having such a good time. Cheers! Hugs! Annie

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hello there! It’s so fun to know you continue to cruise along with us! We think of you often and continue to be grateful for our sweet and continuing connection. And it’s so nice to know we’ll see you when we’re done and bring the boat back for Dan Sherburn to sell!
      We’ve taken a much-recommended side trip down the St. John’s River through and south of/beyond Jacksonville. Really loving the serenity of the river and the small towns every once in awhile along the way. Now in Sanford (end of cruiser-navigable river) meeting up with friends we first me in Peoria, IL with whom we’ve been “Loop Frogging” ever since. Great fun! Hope you’re staying warm up there….some friends of other Loop Froggers we met in St. Augustine flew in from Flint where it was 25 degrees! It’s 75 here today. 🙂
      Hugs to you both! xoxoxo

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to joycethomson Cancel reply