Day 1 of the Journey home

I left on the Spring equinox & now am returning just after the Summer Solstice.
Sunday I readied the boat, she's in better shape then when I started down.
Monday I had intended on leaving but a rookie mistake delayed me a day, I didn't check the tides. This is pretty important when you have to drive a 525 pound scooter onto the back of your boat ;D
Nonetheless, I stayed at Poncho's Fuel Dock. Cap't Jack, the proprietor, was very gracious. He filled SunRunner up with ice and water for free & let me stay tied to his dock overnight since a storm was rolling in. I showered after dark with his garden hose (he said too.. lol) went to dinner at a nice restaurant (Castaways) and slept in a cool boat mosquito free..
Today I casted off at 7:30AM and sailed at around 5.2 knots with no motor running.
Then at around 11:30 a storm kicked up with 3' waves & 25 mph winds, I dropped the sails, lit the fire in the engine & motored thru it. I stopped at "Shell Key" for the night- just South of Islamorada @ 3:53 after doing 40 miles.

Killing Birds

..That's a reference to the movie Wedding Crashers.
Anyway, I'm getting a lot done. Monday I'll get my Dad's old Sears outboard tuned up at a local shop. We'll need it for the trip down and once we anchor at Marathon Marina.
I've torn apart my wrecked Jeep & sold off many parts to fund the trip down.
Next week I need to renew my towing insurance, better safe than sorry!!
Oh yeah, I also have to make a floor for my 9' Zodiac inflatable out of marine plywood.
So, yeah, I've been killing birds but I'm really no closer to departure since it has been moved back a bit to the 1st week of March (for several reasons) but that's ok, I'm more psyched then ever & can't wait!!!!!