To: cramcha@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu, woody.nero@nrlssc.navy.mil, matta@madsewer.org, char7@imaxx.net, Michael.Ernst@uni-konstanz.de, Tao_sc31@hotmail.com, lonna_temple@pleasantco.com, nonlinear@mindspring.com, danno@chorus.net, stan_smith@flad.com, mxwbr@aol.com, WHoldik@t-online.de, jcwacker@facstaff.wisc.edu, meinemi@aol.com, dianne.paul@med.va.gov,
dear friends, great time was had by all in ft. meyers. we were happy to
sleep in a heated house with the cold nites, and enjoyed several scenic
outings thanks to ted and dori. among them: the wildlife sacturary on
sanibel and the beachfront on estero islands where we watched birds and
gators at close range and met many colorful people. getting libelle's wing
and rudder out of the sand near the seawall required carefull timing with
the tides and teamwork from all 4 of us. in the process jim demonstrated a
moonlight swandive with boathook in hand into the canal while fully clothed
as libelles stern broke loose. we were back in the intracoastal raceway for
the saturday afternoon rush hour. apparently all the big motorboats were in
a hurry to get to theyr sundowners. after staging at anchor one nite near
sanibel light in a rainstorm, we enjoyed a peaceful easy feeling with light
favorable winds, as we sailed directly through one nite to the dry tortugas.
upon arrival at sunrise we sighted one of the much reported wrecked
shrimpboats against the moatwall of the fort. the salvage crew as well as
the construction project at the pier provides daily noisy entertainment, but
limited our snorkeling range. we got to put faces with names as 3
cruiseheimer netcontrollers (DIAD, SHAMAL, & DESTINY) were in the anchorage
along with WINGS, our former neighbor in sarasota. we also made new friends
with dan and aviva RUACH II and we hope they had a safe passage to havanna.
we spent on nite at the marquesas on our way to key west. as we approaches
the southwest channel we had to dial Alphy off course to avoid the finish
line of the Farr 40 s, where the leaders were just crossing. as we sailed
into the historic seaport at key west bite, we were surrounded by hundreds
of class and phrf racers. we intend to stay on our mooring bouy east of
fleming isl. for at least a week befor returning to the dry tortugas en
route to the mississippi gulf coast about mid febr. hopefully this loose
schedule meshes with dos amigos, vamp, wishing well II , and maybe even
becky or non-linear. we have limited e-mail access here in key west but
check it again befor we leave. meanwhile we check in daily with the
cruiseheimers net at 8152 mhz at 0830 est. relaxing in paradise without the
cheeseburger we send you warm greetings and wish alles gouda (for new people
on the list that means all the best from the cheezeheads in a dutch boat
and for carol proper german spelling is gute) jim and rosi.
