Thursday, April 3, 2014 – 7PM – Leg 3/Part 2/Day 4 of The Great Loop – 19.2 Miles

It's a bright and sunny day with some big puffy clouds aloft which made for an absolutely gorgeous way to greet the day. Unfortunately, it also began with quite a scare very early in the morning. An errant seagull dive-bombed the deck and crashed onto the security sensor which set alarms off and almost sent me to the hospital for heart failure. The sound of the hit and then the alarms had me concerned I was under attack from pirates or food from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

With an early start (as intended, but not as expected being targeted by rogue seagulls), at the end of the day we pulled into the Fort Pierce City Marina for a few items and then moored across the ICW close to Causeway Island. From there, a light dinner was had and everything was made ready for Preston and the family. The motor required a bit of maintenance and the deck, railings, and wood received a once over with polish and oil. This boat really is beautiful when all sparkly clean. Never in my life did I think I would be able to do this. Health, money, family, and my own idiocy did it's best to keep me from it. Yet here I am.

The channels are much wider on these legs and it feels like one is just puttering along. It seems as though a stiff headwind would stand the boat right still. Knowing that this Great Loop will offer some fierce winds across the Great Lakes, today was a good test to see how she handled as the wind did throw a good gust from time to time. The markers and measurements continue to calculate at around 5 knots and that works well. It does make for some long days, but as there is nowhere to be except exactly where I am, longer or shorter is makes no nevermind. As the old saying goes, 'No matter where you go, there you are'. And here I am.

Thank you God for this opportunity, bless those that I love with your presence and guidance in all their activities.