Drifters, Drunks & Derelicts

Kluane's drifter...giving the WRW jersey a run for its money!

Cliff (Buccaneer)

The universe has a sense of humor. Proof positive comes in the form of the high-visibility yellow drifter (a parachute like sail for light winds) pictured above. The Pearl and I ordered this sail, custom, to compliment the Fighting Lady Yellow color that graces Kluane's hull. It would appear that we just showed up to the Presidential Inauguration with spinach in our teeth and an escapee nose hair. So much for the subtle use of gentle pastels.

There is a saying that all who wander are not lost. I would add that all who drift are not drunks living on derelicts. Allowing the wind to provide direction is a lost art, an art that I will attempt to master in the coming year. Simply put, motoring in a sailboat sucks. A three cylinder diesel engine is noisy, stinky, and just slightly less complicated than a Rubik Cube painted by Picasso. Motoring in a sailboat also lacks imagination, motivation and for too many, the true desire to work in harmony with nature, rather than subdue, tame and eventually, defeat nature.

With rain setting in, it's time to wander back to the boat (The Pearl and I have been slamming margaritas at Pirates Cover since 10:30 am), put off any and all boat chores, and fire up the motor as we seek to find paradise, just upwind of our current heading.

Lost In Thoughts of You,

Cliff (The Buccaneer) 

Jennifer (The Pearl)

Flora, Fauna & Family

Without our usual form of exercise at our fingertips, Buccaneer & I have been walking most mornings around Port Salerno and have learned a lot about the South Florida flora and fauna.  From wild parakeets, to lizards, to ospreys, to hawks, to cactus (yes, cactus), to bright flowers, to plants with exposed roots, to a yellow and orange grasshopper- simply put we are in awe like kids in a candy store.  As a desert rat who walked 10 feet to work, 20 feet to the car, 200 feet to the mailbox- I rarely performed one of the most basic forms of exercise since the beginning of time. Times are a changing! Today we walked about 5 miles and did our errands to boot!  I am excited to become an endurance walker, be green and “see” more of the places I visit.

A few days ago my parents & I went to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center.  Here we took a guided tour through a Florida swamp, watched the lagoon fish & sea turtles have lunch and touched rays, conch and other sea creatures!  If you are ever in the area, it is a must see!  Above is a photo of a nurse shark (the docent says they are friendly, but they do have teeth) and a photo of a cluster of red mangroves.  Interesting enough, the mangroves leaves are like tea leaves- they stain the water!  As the mangrove grows a branch upward, it shoots a shoot downward from the branch to support its growth. And, they germinate their seeds before they are dropped to the ground- very cool! Do you know why? Plant nerd alert! 

Buccaneer and I had a great visit with Mom and Dad.  We love to show off our “baby” Kluane!  Thanks for the visit!

Much Love, 

The Pearl

PS Stop and smell the flowers