CHAPTER TWO: STILL WAITING

Here we are under a sky that's dropping buckets (nay, dumptrucks) of water on us -- homeless, boatless, down but not out in Ft. Lauderdale. Two fellows were checking out the steering wheel on Slow Motion this morning -- always good to be able to steer a multiple ton 50 foot behemoth in the water. The plan to "wash down" the boat was usurped by a higher Being. No Issy (boat repair place owner) in sight to pester about moving on to the boat tomorrow. So we got an extension of the 90 day grace period that Florida gives us to be in this taxing State and not pay the boat sales tax --"just in case" we are still in Gov. Scott's bailiwick past June 28. Our schedule is "fluid", as you may have guessed, subject to the whims of boat repairers and to the extraordinary pull that the Florida Keys have on Art.

But our insurance carrier is clear -- get out of Florida before July 15 and don't come back until November 1. That is supposed to be the period for tropical storms. However, with what some believe is "the myth of global warming", we are already having our first tropical storm of the season, Alberto. I don't need to see polar bears drowning in the arctic to know it's not a myth. As a new boat person, I simply hope that we will indeed have some fair weather for cruising. 

Yesterday as we drove to Key Largo to dine at Mrs. Mac's (again), it rained much of the trip. But when we arrived, the sun broke out near the time we reached the giant spiny lobster sculpture. We will send photos as soon as we figure out how to do that. We aren't doing it now, because the techie of this duad, Art, is on another shopping excursion. (And women get the rap for being inveterate shoppers -- can't keep that guy out of West Marine, Outdoor World, Bass Pro, Home Depot, any place with tools or fishing gear.) Wait until you see the sky and bridge photo, as we're leaving the Keys. I wanted to capture the wording "Don't Forget Your Keys" on top of the bridge toll arch, but I got something quite different. You''ll see -- soon, I promise.


The Giants are in town (Miami, 30 miles away) for four games. The first one is supposed to be tonight, but I think we're looking at a double header with the Fish. Hmm, load boxes on to the boat or go to Giants double header -- a toughie. 


The shopper just returned and reports that the sun is out. If you don't like Ft. Lauderdale weather, wait a little bit -- that's what they always said about New Haven, Connecticut weather when I lived there. A sunny sky could turn this whole day around. See you later (with photos).