Fort Myers - December 2016

View of our marina from Firestone's rooftop bar.

We spent the month of December in the Fort Myers Yacht Basin. The goal:  work on the boat. Jeff had a few mechanical things he wanted to accomplish (getting the injectors rebuilt) and we had our eyes on that lovely shag carpet, circa 1979, glued to the walls.  I'll never understand why back in the day it was thought to be a good idea to glue carpet to the inside walls of the boat but it was way past time for it to go.  Ewe.

Even with the best of intentions, unfortunately there's a lot to distract distractible people in downtown Fort Myers. We had a great month hanging with friends, playing muckers (a ring toss game that we play on the lawn), and checking out the goings on downtown.  We, however, did NOT get much work done.

Jeff's son Mitchell flew down to join dear 'ol dad for a bit.  They enjoyed a hockey game in Fort Lauderdale, some golf and some good old fashioned father/son time.  It's always such a pleasure to have him  aboard.  We enjoyed several celebrations (seems there's always a good reason for a party in Fort Myers) including Leif's retirement (long-time Harbour Master) and Grant's (As The Crow Flies) birthday.

We drove home to Canada for a family funeral during the Christmas week and arrived back to the boat on New Years Eve just in time to enjoy a low-key celebration with our neighbours.  The next day we cast off and headed down the river.

We are presently at a lovely marina in Cape Coral, focused, and actually getting some work done on the boat.  We're enjoying a nice peaceful month, alternating between quiet recreation days and putzing/work days on the boat.  Peaceful.  Low-key.  Just what we need.

Sudden Trip Home

This December will not go down in history as a great month for us.

One of the things I love about cruising is the constant change of our tumbleweed lifestyle.  It feels a little like escapism.  Let's GO!?  SUUUURE!!!  We're outta here!!  What's around the next bend in the river?  The next one?  It's exciting.  A continuous supply of new places, people and adventures.

But life back home goes on.

This December we were blindsided. Things weren't going all that well on the boat anyway -- an injured back, taking turns with the flu, a run in with a varmint invasion (rat on board!!! Disgusting. We've moved marinas and dealt with it. All good now) -- just a run of bad luck that life hurls sometimes.  Unsettling.

Which is the state of mind we were in when we received the call.  Jeff's sweet mom had suddenly passed.

It's a reality for cruisers. Far away, events can unfold which will bring you to your knees, making you wish you could morph yourself home in an instant. The worst case scenario.

In our case we fired random clothes into a garbage bag (seemed like a good idea at the time), grabbed our passports, made arrangements with the marina, got a friend to watch the boat... and we were driving within the half hour. Twenty-four hours of adrenaline-driven road time.

The silver lining was, if you search hard enough for one, that we got to spend some time at Christmas around both sides of the family, which we haven't been able to do before. Nice.

So I'd like to borrow this forum for a bit to pay tribute to Jeff's mom and my good friend, Wilma. Anyone who knows Jeff is very acquainted with the mom stories.  Wilma.  Sharp witted, feisty, strong headed, willing to try almost anything, always full of laughter.  I'll miss our lunch dates, long afternoon drives and heartfelt girl talks.  Jeff's grief is on a whole other level.  His Mom.  His root. She was still living in his childhood home.

Watch over us Wilma as we navigate our way through and/or support your four adult children working together to take care of your business; through family bumps, shifts, changes and growth; all the while learning the new reality of finding our way without our Heron matriarch.  We already miss your guidance.