Ft. Lauderdale

Our crossing last Thursday was beautiful.  The weather was sunny, we had both sails up and saw 8 knots more than once (that's fast you realize for Snow Goose).  It took 6 1/2 hrs, so we were in Ft. Lauderdale before cocktail hour and pulled into the Las Olas Marina where we were in December.  We have been busy with boat repairs - making sure our account at West Marine was up to date - and provisioning.  We have fresh vegetables again!!!!  And the best part, we have showers and water, water, water - free from the hose!!!  Water has been like gold.  It is bitter sweet being here because it means we will be parting from our new friendship with Jackie and Chris on Higheeled.  They will be going on to cruise the Keys and then south - perhaps Cuba and beyond.  Ken and Francie and Skipper on Release will leave with us tomorrow but will leave us in Ft. Pierce, FL to drive home to Vermont for a couple of weeks.  Then they'll come back to their boat to continue their cruise.  We had Easter Dinner with all of them aboard Release.  We are back in the communication world again and it was wonderful to call our family yesterday and hear their voices!  And so we are today preparing to follow the magenta line down the ICW, with some outside sails, toward home.