The Band is Back Together Again

Fort Lauderdale – 11 kilometres walked

I was napping in the cockpit when my alarm shrieked me awake at 12:30 am. My peeps had landed! One hour later I watched as their taxi pulled up to the park and my beautiful wife stepped out. I hugged her first then kissed her. She looked amazing, even after a very long and exhausting travel day. Next was my sweet daughter who came over and gave me a hug that felt like it was never going to end. It seemed like a very long time since I’d seen her (3 months is a long time!) Magnus then bent over and gave me a strong hug, this grown man who, I am sure, was a curious little boy just moments before, holding my hand, looking up at me, and calling me Daddy. And our surrogate child Anna was next in the hug lineup, newest crew member of SeaLight and excited for what was sure to be an eventful few weeks on the boat. The band was back together again.

 

It took two trips to the dinghy to transport everything and their bags exploded inside the boat, like popped balloons filled with glitter ribbons, creating an unruly student dormitory in an instant. My clean and organized fortress of solitude was no more, but I no longer needed nor wanted it. The kids glistening with sweat, not accustomed to the heat and humidity, as they found their footing in their new base on the water.

We stayed up until after 3 visiting and it wasn’t until nearly 4 that we got to sleep. Ana and I got moving around 8am but didn’t drag the kids back into consciousness until after 11. Magnus made the gentlemanly decision to spend his nights sleeping in the cockpit, letting Anna take over the portside cabin that would be hers for the duration of her visit. We were not in a rush so after a crew meeting where we gave the kids a thorough briefing on boat protocols, we left the boat, and walked the length of Las Olas Boulevard, on a surprisingly overcast but warm and humid day. I was thrilled when Anna and Stella spotted half a dozen fat green iguanas lounging on sea walls, hopefully just the first of many wildlife sightings.

After spending a good long while browsing the shops, Magnus and I opted for an excellent sushi lunch while the ladies found gourmet sandwiches at Johnny’s Hungry Hoagies, then we walked back to the anchorage, stopping at a few more shops along the way, crossed the bridge, and entered into the Friday night party atmosphere of Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard with its mob of partygoers filling the bars and restaurants, tourists walking the darkened beach, and chachis in their fancy cars and street bikes ripping down the street, exhaust systems whining, popping, and croaking. The kids browsed a couple of the beachwear shops and the girls found new bathing suits for ten bucks. Magnus liked the festive scene, but was miffed that the US of A does not allow those under the tender age of 21 to purchase alcohol or cigars; despite having access to procure and use military grade weaponry. I assured him that the best party in south Florida was on SeaLight and all the drinks were free.

And we did have a party on the boat. Ana cooked up a delicious dinner of mushroom chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and garlic bread and our new friend Alice joined us, enthralled with Stella, Anna, and Magnus as they played games together and did some colouring. Her mom and dad joined us later and we ate, drank, visited, and laughed into and well past Mariner’s Midnight.

It was an excellent first day.