Rain, rain and then lots of rain

Well, we’ve been hanging out in the Marathon Marina mooring field for a few days and plan to stay here for the rest of the week. Captain Ken bought a new dinghy today, so we spent the day getting that straightened out, picking the dinghy up at the marina, getting it towed back to the boat, putting a motor on it, then riding it back to shore to get lunch with a buddy boater we met along our way. We walked to Keys Fisheries to eat there again, and just towards the end of our meal it started pouring…. and I mean pouring, wind howling, lakes forming around us. We were stuck in the partially-covered restaurant for about two hours and eventually decided to take a taxi back. We then waited at the marina for the rain to stop and headed back to the boat. The forecast calls for rain the next two days. I’m just thankful we’re in a safe harbor. Last night a storm that could have flooded Central Park came through too. 

Captain Ken keeps talking about day trips out on the dinghy, but considering the perpetual eminence of storms like those of last night and today I’d be just as content inside the boat with all the hatches locked. Let the crazies take on those unforgiving waters. Once upon a time I might have said bring on those five-foot waves of treachery, but it seems the fine edges of the salt crystals in the water have weathered my spirit down to a more prudent mariner -- if I could yet claim to be one at all.