Our flags are flying!
m/v Optimystique is now proudly flying her American Great Loop Cruiser Association AGLCA burgee, along with our Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) Commodore burgee. Although we were awarded the SSCA Commodore burgee in 2016, we never got to fly it because it was awarded literally days after we sold our sailboat, s/v Winterlude.
We’ve been ready to leave Bradenton since Tuesday, but unfortunately our best weather window was last Sunday and Monday… but first, I had a more important agenda. It was finally warm enough for my 96 year old Dad to visit the boat! He’s been wanting to see it in person since we moved aboard in mid-December. But boat projects and chilly weather precluded the introduction until Monday when it was finally 79 & sunny… Suffice it to say it was a highlight of owning Optimystique – especially when he decided to climb the ladder to the top deck. Oh dear … where there’s a will, there’s a way!
After Monday, the weather turned to rain, a bit chilly and very windy. And it continues. But the delay was well worth it & we’ll head south soon.
In the meantime, we’re practicing being near-future Great Loopers by visiting local attractions, including the manatees at the Apollo Beach power plant. Manatees are warm blooded mammals and cannot survive in waters below 68 degrees … currently 57! So the super smart manatees somehow know to congregate at power plants around the state where the balmy 72 degree warm waters help them survive the winter. Go figure!
All’s right with my world! Can’t wait to see what’s next! Cheers! Jan & David, m/v Optimystique
Looking forward to following your Blog on your Loop..