I doesn't get any better than this

Thursday, April 23, 2009, Pensacola, Florida (Home Port)

Yesterday was a near perfect sailing day. Winds 110 to 90 degrees off the port blowing about 10 knots most of the day. Skies were cloudless, temperature in the mid 70’s, a gentle 4’ swell in the Gulf; it just doesn’t get any better than that. I guess if had been like that the whole time we had been gone we might still be gone. It was Paul’s first time for a long sea passage. Of course, by now Michael is an old salt.

It is about 85 miles sea buoy to sea buoy. We left the marina in Panama City about 7:00 and cleared the sea buoy about 7:45. The winds were light and out of the north and as the day progressed; they swung around behind us and moved forward. The majority of the day the conditions were about perfect. Late in the afternoon they winds moved to the southwest and built up to about 15 for about an hour, before shifting back south. We came in the pass at Pensacola just before sunset and arrived (in the dark again) at the marina about 8:30. We slid into the slip with all our dock lines in the correct place tied to the perfect length, all we have to do is loop them on and we are secure. After we attached the power cables, we head to the “Oar House” for the “Forklift” and cold beer. If you are ever this way it is highly recommended. We actually got there a few minutes after they closed the kitchen. We must have looked rough and hungry because they opened the kitchen back up to cook our supper. Thanks Oar House.

Today has been cleaning and getting ready go home. There was a lot of salt on the boat that had to get cleaned off or you get little rust spots on everything.

Tonight we had dinner at Sam’s. The Po-Boy would put the stuff in south Florida to shame. If they only knew how good we have it here. I guess home is always the best place.