Who Knew Peanut Butter Is A Liquid

After much preparation and sad goodbyes to Merv and Judy on Thorang La, we hopped on Delta for a quick trip back across the Atlantic. The shutting down of the tube 5 stops before our arrival at Heathrow added a bit of unnecessary excitement but £25 and a quick taxi managed to get us there in time.

I have gained a billion lbs thanks to our fabulous friends who wined and dined us from the minute we arrived in Tallahassee. The first things to greet us, at the apartment we were so lucky to call home (thank you Bill & Claire), was a jar of dill pickles and Gold Fish. Somebody's been reading the blog! From there, we were lavishly entertained every night, most lunches and even breakfast at our weekend sleepovers at Shell Point. Oh, how we have missed the lovely seafood. Sorry fish & chips. You don't stand a chance with stone crabs from Lynn Brothers, just to name one of the delicacies we enjoyed. We also were able to sample much of our fast food favourites...Whataburger, Lindy's wings and Leaning Tower pizza made the short list. Did I mention the champagne? Many thanks to all of you that hosted, joined in, and/or met us as we moved frantically about between Drs, Dentists, Labs and various others who poked and prodded, eventually pronounced us healthy and ready for another year of cruising.....with the minor issue of a need for additional vitamin D and a torn ligament in King's shoulder....justification to purchase that push start dinghy motor.

Monster Kitty (MK) greets us at the door.

Of course, no trip is without its hiccups . The first weekend back, we stopped by the house to pick up much needed Florida clothing, visit the kitties, MK and Ziggy, and gather the mail. While I was trying to make up with the kitties, who were not speaking either because they were so angry about being left behind or in a panic that we were there to take them back with us, ....or both, King was opening the first letter marked JURY DUTY on the envelope. Then the second announcing he was in CONTEMPT OF COURT for missing jury duty. I immediately began envisioning a great photo op for the blog. Neighbour, Lynn Thompson came to his rescue and assisted getting a new jury assignment. Next court date...the day we were scheduled to fly back to London, of course. Multiple scenarios were conceived for who, when and how each of us would return back to the boat but in the end no jury was needed and he was dismissed.....till the next time. What's life without a bit of drama.

King and I prepared a slide show of our sail across the Atlantic, "Sue & King's Summer Vacation" , to share with our many friends at the Apalachee Bay Yacht Club (ABYC). The plan was King would do the first 3 or 4 slides and I would take over from there. As all who joined us that night can attest, once King had the stage he was off and running Ed and Ivor, Ostinato's crew were the self appointed "Fact Checkers" for the evening, got more stage time than I did! It was fabulous to see so many people turn out for the talk. It is for certain that without the support and assistance of many of the members of ABYC we might still be making preparations at the dock.

We arrived in the States with 2 backpacks and the dog's suitcase Catharine left following her visit in October.... another story....We returned with the 2 backpacks and 4 suitcases, 2 of which weighed over 50lbs. The Delta agent let the first and 2nd bags slide but when the 3rd tipped the scale she squawked and King and I hit the floor to swap items about between bags and our backpacks. Hmmm, so what can we carry....the air conditioner compressor or the hose insulation?
Among other goodies, the Jiffy Peanut Butter moved to the backpack. Who knew peanut butter is a liquid. I whined as it was confiscated but got no sympathy.

Arrived back in London to sunshine .....which we enjoyed for about an hour before it suddenly began to snow. Yep, I'm home.