Countdown to departure

Another busy day starting to make preparations for departure. Seems like there is so much to do. Tomorrow we are going to make a shopping run which hopefully will get us everything we need. Then more boat work.  But of course it is also St Patrick's Day and nearly everyone here will be down on Duval Street and maybe we will be too. Just so much to do.

This marina has many folks who live here year round except when they're cruising and some folks who are only here several months a year. But most folks have been here for years and have formed a very tight community. Last night at the Pot Luck dinner we met a couple who have an IP 380 Sandcastle, a boat very near and dear to us and they invited us over to their dock this evening for sundowners.

One of the features of their dock party is blowing the traditional conch horn just about sunset.

The lagoons here are teaming with wildlife. At night when I sit in the cockpit I can hear critters of different sorts breaking the surface of the water and during the day lots of things can be seen. We frequently see large tarpon breach.

About 60 or 70 years ago the marina lagoon was dredged from a mangrove swamp for fuel barges to come in to support the airfield. Today this could never be done because Florida has a law protecting the mangroves. But, the excavation created a labyrinth of honeycombed roots that provide shelter fo critters and especially fish who come in there and spawn. Down by the end of our dock there is a school of baby barracuda that have been there. Have no idea what baby barracuda eat.

Now that the winds have calmed the water is once again clearing up and more things are visible

At this point our plans are to leave late Wednesday afternoon but there is much to do before then.