After a week anchored up, and basically loafing, in the Dry Tortugas, headed out towards Tampa Friday. That is one of the most peaceful and relaxing places I have ever been, and really hated to leave, but were running a little low on provisions, and time to at least start drifting back towards New Orleans. This trip the weather has been much kinder, and while we have gotten rained on a time or two, have not had any major blows, no big seas, and no lightning storms. Sat. night, after an excellent dinner, of very fresh Dorado filets, I had the 8 to midnight watch. Around 10 PM, before moonrise, I am sitting in the cockpit, kicked back, the auto pilot driving the boat. Seas are calm, and the sky is too beautiful to describe. The milky way is like a bright, broad racing stripe across the sky, and the stars are out by the bazillions, looking close enough to reach out and touch. The only other sign of life on earth is the occasional blinking of an aircraft strobe. I have a fresh cup of coffee, and my pipe going, and thinking that if I were to win the powerball tomorrow, I still can not think of any place I would rather be, or anything I would rather be doing. Have one more shot at this before I get back, so heres hoping that the hop from Tampa across the Fla. panhandle will be as good as this was.
