Landfall in Charleston

Sailor-boy Derek, with his 44" Mahi-Mahi, when skies were still blue and photos were still being taken.

Hey all! Bob is back, safe and sound, along with all three of his sailing buddies, and from what I've heard of the trip, we should all be grateful for many things, not least of which is the fact that I wasn't along. I have heard one part of the trip described as "terrifying" (not by Bob, though, who, despite the fact that he was alternately seasick and afflicted by vertigo the entire time, seems to look back on this trip as merely a fascinating adventure. I just asked him to give me a number from 1-10, to tell me how scared he was, ever, on the voyage. He gave me a long analytical answer that added up to zero.)

So-- long story short, the four men left Biscayne Bay Saturday afternoon, planning to put in towards the North part of Florida Sunday night, in order to avoid a predicted "vigorous" front. They were unable to get to land, however; the wind coming out of the West was too strong, so they had to stay out, in the midst of 40 knot winds (approximately 48 mph.) and 20 foot seas (no conversion needed!) for several days. By the time they were able to bring the boat in at Charleston, the three sailor boys, who had all been unable to eat or sleep for over 48 hours, said "Happy Easter and Sayonara." So Bob got them all to their respective jumping-off places, then came back to the condo in Charlotte, where he is spending Easter weekend with Kai (home from NC State, but out doing a 100-mile ride on his bike today) and me. He and I will head back to Charleston Monday to bring Kalliope the rest of the way to Holden Beach via the ICW, which will be fun, I think, for this short stretch. It's interesting to realize that I feel that way now, at least about the ICW. I know how to drive the boat, I know how to anchor. I know how to call TOWBOAT US if we run aground.

We've both learned so much in these past two months. And we've had a blast, for the most part. So the saga will continue. We'll go back to Holden Beach, continue the work on Trio, sell either Trio or Kalliope, and take off again next winter. At least that's the plan. For now. Because we're still....

Not Sure Yet!