Sunday, June 2
We are back in Jacksonville. Just can't seem to stay away from JULI-IV!! This leg will last a little over 2 weeks, and where we end up is unknown. We only know we need to be away from hurricane alley.
While we were back in KC we were able to spend a couple of weekends at Lake Perry visiting with good friends we hadn't seen in awhile.  Great to see everyone!! Even took Elisha for his first boat ride, at 5 weeks old! He stayed in the salon with Grandma while Jeremiah and Papa drove the boat, from the flybridge. Jeremiah's biggest thrill was being able to honk the horn at Joe, who was sitting on the end of D-dock.

Elisha's first boat ride on Calypso II

Six weeks old and smiling.

Jeremy, Jeremiah and Pam the night before we left.

Some airport advice:
Tim wanted to book the 05:15 flight. I frowned. We ended up booking an 11:50 flight. Tim and I drove Joe's new van (which he purchased from Grandma June) and another car to his house, so we didn't have to bother Jeremy on Sunday.  Joe's son, Jeremiah, drove us to the airport and will pick us up when we return.  Thanks Jeremiah!  Off we go with a layover in Atlanta.  Due to bad weather down south, not only was our arrival in Atlanta delayed, our departure even longer.  We had to fly down to AL to avoid a storm, on the way into Atlanta.  What was to be a 2 hour layover turned into a 6 hour layover. It wasn't really a big deal for us, but poor Aletha, who agreed to pick us up and deliver us to the marina, had to wait, and wait, and wait.  So, what does one do while waiting to depart.  Self-entertain.  Tim's version of this was to criticize WHERE people were standing and HOW they chose to place their bags on the seat next to them, eliminating a place for another person to sit. Something about using a cattle prod or tazer...You get the picture.... Joe's version of self-entertainment was to people watch.  My version was watching the two of them.  In the picture below, Joe is imitating what his daughter, Alahora, used to do when she was 2 years old. It has now become something that we all do :(  Apparently when she was little and her parents were telling her something she didn't want to hear, she would point her elbow at them.  Funny.

"I'm not listening to either one of you."

We finally landed in Jacksonville at about 10:25 and arrived at the boat around 11:30.  THANK YOU ALETHA!!
Once we turned the AC on, it cooled off enough to go to bed.  Must have been 12:30 or so.

Monday, June 3
We slept in until 0700.  Nothing on the agenda that required us to arise any sooner.  We needed to get the barnacles scraped off the boat, install a new thermostat, take Aletha to lunch and beg her to take us to the grocery store.  While we were back in KC, my brother Dave told me about a couple of folding bikes that were for sale in North Fort Myers, his winter home.  Someone who lived in his community had sold his sail boat and still had the bikes.  Joe and Tim and I had previously talked about the pros and cons of having a couple of bikes. Long story short, Bob, Dave's FL neighbor went over and checked out the boats, stored them in Dave's garage and ultimately took them to the FL UPS store to ship them to Aletha.  When she picked us up at the airport, the 2 boxes were in the back of the car for us. Since they were purchased sight-unseen I was all excited about getting them out and taking one for a test drive.  The guys helped me get one put together and off I went.  Really nice bikes and we got them for a great price!!  They will come in handy for sure.  Thanks to Bob and Dave! 

We have 2 of these! Really nice bikes!

When I got back from my bike ride, Joe was in the water scraping barnacles off the boat.  Since I was hot and sweaty from my ride, I decided to put on my suit and join him.  We were both working on the back of the boat when he hollers "Whoa! A jellyfish!".  Well, all of the sudden I was cool enough and out of the water I went.  Tim joined Joe and they not only debarnacled the boat, but also removed/washed off the mustache that was on the bow hull.  Tim and I rode the bikes a few blocks to a Fresh Market and picked up a few items.  Most importantly was ice for the cooler.  I don't remember if I mentioned last time that the place we're staying is not really a public marina, so facilities are nil.

Off we go to the Fresh Market.

Aletha agreed to join us for lunch, as well as Jesse, a friend of Tim's/Aletha's.  We had a great lunch a couple blocks from South Beach. Joe and I had grilled salmon. Delicious!  After lunch, Aletha gratiously took us by Winn Dixie to get the groceries that we couldn't haul back on the bikes.  Thanks again.

Our buddy, Aletha. I asked her how to spell chauffeur and she said "D-R-I-V-E-R". Funny girl!!

Tomorrow we head north for parts unknown.  I think the plan now is to go 'outside' for 30+ miles.  We're not really sure where JULI-IV will end up this trip, but needs to be out of harms way.
Thanks for tagging along. :)