Category Archives: Diary
Pensioner’s paradise
I’ve now discovered why there are no old people to be seen on the streets in Fort Lauderdale – they’re all in Wal-Mart! On Monday I went along to said emporium as I’d been reliably informed that it was the … Continue reading
The LAST last weekend?
OK, so that was definitely my final weekend in Florida. Probably. I spent Saturday playing around with the anchor and sorting out a few other little things, then my father arrived after a marathon drive all the way from Atlanta … Continue reading
Touching bottom
Today I took Odyssey out for another spin and it was even better than last time, not that I thought that was possible. The weather was gorgeous with a pleasant easterly breeze and a flat calm sea reflecting the blue … Continue reading
A complete boat at last!
First of all, I should come clean and say that my ‘last’ weekend in Florida was so enjoyable that I’ve decided to stay another week. As predicted, the lure of the Coliseum proved too great to resist and much drunken … Continue reading
The first voyage
Woohoo! I’ve just got back from my first ever solo sail on Odyssey and it was fantastic 🙂 The day started a little less perfectly when I arrived at the boatyard to be presented with my final bill which was … Continue reading
Could this be it?
This afternoon Tony made the final adjustments to the rigging, stepped back and looked aloft for a minute or two, and finally declared that I’m all set to go. I can’t quite believe it after all these weeks of effort, … Continue reading
Bring back the feeling
Apologies for the cryptic title, but I’m sitting here in my living room listening to one of my favourite mix CDs at the moment and a tune with the afore-mentioned title is playing. It’s on a CD given out last … Continue reading
Departure day – not!
A couple of weeks ago I decided that today was the day I’d leave Florida, come hell or high water. Well, we’ve had the high water in a sense thanks to hurricane Dennis, but hell never came so I’m still … Continue reading
Storms a’brewing!
Well, I’ve just experienced my first hurricane. Dennis came sweeping up out of the Caribbean over the last couple of days, charging straight over Cuba and then heading up into the Gulf Of Mexico, missing Key West by about 40 … Continue reading
One mast is better than none
Today (Thursday) dawned bright and clear. I would like to say crisp too, but it’s more a kind of hot sogginess in the air around these parts in the summer so my smartly pressed white linen suit crumples into a … Continue reading