Sunday January 10, 2010

The Boat Marina, Fort Walton Beach Florida

We woke up about 8:00AM Bill had invited us to volunteer and help out at the pancake breakfast. We bundled up and put on long underwear for the short walk to St Mary’s Church. Immediately upon arrival we were put to work in the kitchen. I was assigned to cook the sausages. Dave was assigned to serve the food. Tug washed pots and pans.

Dave attended the 9:30AM Mass with me. He said that he enjoyed the Catholic liturgy and the hour seems to go buy quickly.

In the afternoon we turned on the NOAA weather radio. We listened carefully and took notes on the long range forecast. The weather was slowly improving. The temperatures were forecast to get warmer and the winds were beginning to diminish. We reviewed the possible routes that we could take and decided that Monday was going to be a travel day.

Tug came over in the evening. Dave, Tug and me huddled in the cabin of the Water Mark and sang sea shanties. I played the guitar. The little electric space heater kept us warm. So did the rum.

Tug gave Dave and me a parting gift. Tug’s mother had made little burlap bags. On the front of the bag is a stamped imaged of a sloop under sail. In the little bag there is a bracelet. Stamped into the metal is a saying, “Adventure, A Little Boat Goes A Long Way”. Also included in the bag was a key chain with the small sailboat charm.