ARE WE LEAVING?

Coconut Grove, Miami, FL 25º43.532N | 80º14.193W

Tomorrow is the day. That's what everyone says. All the boats are gathering at No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne to make the passage to the Bahamas tomorrow.

Are we ready? Yes. No. Yes. No.

Are we going? Yes.

Our plan, like everyone else's, was to cross Biscayne Bay and spend the night at No Name, prepared to make an early start of it tomorrow.

What we didn't expect was a little storm to kick up in the Gulf. I had been listening to the marine weather on the VHF while Chip was out shopping for a wetsuit, appropriately in the pouring rain.

When he returned, I told him we might not want to go across the bay.

"Why not?"

He switched on the VHF. 

"Severe thunderstorm watch. Chance of water spouts. Small craft advisory. Tornado watch. WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!"

Well, at least I could get some chores done. I walked a mile and a half to mail some letters at the post office and another mile to get a pack of ones from the bank. 

As fugitives from our own culture, we were completely unaware that today was a national holiday (Martin Luther King Day), so, no mailed letters. No ones. No problem. Not mission critical.

I made one last dash to the supermarket and came out with two bags more than I could carry comfortably. I walked uncomfortably -- and in pouring rain -- back to Coconut Grove with my last hard-earned treasures.

A trek across the Bay today seemed ill advised, so instead we went to the Coconut Grove dock to pump out and wash Cara Mia, hopefully now free of bird poop for the season. 

With minutes to spare before a 5 o'clock closing, we took the boat next door to fuel up, 

So, instead of leaving from No Name, we'll leave from Coconut Grove at 4:30 a.m.

Ready or not, Bimini here we come!

But Miami took one last shot at us. When we pulled up to the dock to pump out this morning, I unhooked the starboard gate and the $50 pelican clip we replaced a few months ago hopped right off and into the water.

Ah, one more thing to leave behind.

Bye, bye Miami!

Coconut Grove, Miami, FL 25º43.532N | 80º14.193W