Jan. 21

We had driven all the way to Daytona Beach before checking into a wonderful hotel right on the beach that was, remarkably, the cheapest hotel we have stayed in.  We were determined to close the gap that wind had prevented us from doing before we had to go to the Sales Meeting. When I looked out the window after waking up it appeared to be calm. We were packed and ready to roll quickly. On the way to the launch site we noticed the Thrift Store operated by the Habitat affiliate in New Smyrna beach so I turned in to see if their office was also located there. After walking around the store for a while I asked for Mary Pascavage whom I had talked to earlier.  I was directed to the office in the back where I found Mary as well as three others. They all wanted to come and see the boat and get some pictures taken. Bill Maul made notes for an article in the local papers. Matt offered to come to the WSEG boat ramp to pick Heather up when we got there.

We arrived at the now familiar Menard Park by 9:30.  The wind was light and from the Northwest. This meant we’d be protected by the shore. We were on the water again for the first time in over a week!  The light wind was behind us but there was a tidal current against us. It turned out that they seemed to be perfectly balanced.  Every mile that went by seemed to go a little faster as we proceeded down Mosquito Lagoon. Many dolphins and lots of loons entertained us. Heather has become an accomplished loon mimic and was able to carry on a conversation with them.  Who knows what lake in New England they would return to this summer.  We would pretend that we would see them again at the lake in Deering where we spend some weekends in the summer. Maybe they will recognize our boat!

After 16 miles we reached our starting point last year and the GPS faithfully led us right to it and the distance to go went to zero as we pulled in. Matt arrived shortly after and took Heather to get the car. As soon as they were gone two men drove in while I was waiting for Heather to get back. We were involved in discussions of all sorts of things when Heather returned. As we were packing up a large Armadillo appeared in the brush nearby. Heather jumped to get the camera but it was difficult to get a good picture. It ran under the car and out the other side making lots of noise in the Palmettos on the other side. I gave my visitors, whose names I am sorry I do not remember, cards so that they could follow our progress.  They left and we were soon packed and leaving the WSEG boat ramp for the last time. We had closed our gap!

We started our drive toward Jacksonville and, as soon as we could get service, I called Bob Morales, my friend in Jacksonville who wanted us to come and stay with his family while we attempted to row from Fernandina Beach southward toward Daytona. He said they would be home by 9:00.  We stopped for a good dinner and arrived at the Morales’s just before they pulled in.  What a happy family we have met.