This is the real first mate of Cosmos Captain Joe. After spending several days in Ft. Lauderdale, witnessing the unrelenting and intense preparations for departure first-hand, and suffering a mild form of heat-related dementia (not to speak of departure induced stress and anxiety), yours truly was more than ready to turn north via I-95, and find cooler locales and a less frenetic pace!! I arrived home late last night, following several days' transition time in Charleston (temps somewhat better than in Lauderdale). The crew of Cosmos were, while I was there, engaged in filling every moment with errands, tasks and projects; they were also cajoling contractors to finish what they'd promised to do, all the while dealing with the intense heat and humidity. Not only was departure day rescheduled daily, even if they had been fully ready to go, an inoperative drawbridge would have prevented their going. However, now things are ready, including the drawbridge.

Quite frankly, I don't know how they all survived last week-- actually, the last two weeks both mentally and physically. Among other things, they were climbing the mast with the new topclimber in mid 90 degree heat. That's more stamina than I have to vacuum my house in a year's time. Just loading and stashing provisions took enormous energy, time, and patience. I think they made at least three runs to Cosco (that I'm aware of), and that was primarily for non-perishable stuff. And I think one run to the Safeway is no fun to put away!!

Additionally, they visited a place called Brownie's Third Lung -- what a name!!! - numerous times to get everything they required for diving and snorkeling. Cupboards had to be entirely cleaned out, inventoried, and repacked, of course. The water maker/de-salinator was tested, as were the electronics. A global positioning device Joe had ordered, one of the most reliable and accurate on the market, was stolen before the crew actually received it from the delivery folks. It was left by the delivery man without signature. The sail riggers made several trips to get the new sails right. The new mainsail had to be taken down and adjusted, a simple procedure to describe, but much more complicated in reality. It seemed the new dodger was never going to be installed. The fabricator kept postponing installation all week. At long last he arrived and it turned out to be a great job. He was also the guy responsible for installing the solar panels. That task, too, was repeatedly promised, and finally, at the eleventh hour, the guy came through.

I don't know what is left undone. Probably scrubbing the very dirty deck (from all the contractor visits). But that can be done once they're underway. And they are more than ready to be off. Joe tells me that to leave even a week later than planned is pretty good. While the weather isn't perfect, it's not storming, so that's good. the wind this morning wasn't ideal -- actually, there wasn't much of a wind at all. But they'll be off. Remind me to tell you about the ceremony Joe conducted last Sunday, (Father's Day, as it turned out), dedicating his father's St. Chistopher's medallion in its new location on Cosmos. I filmed it, but the film is with Joe on his video camera.

Anyway, here I am, back in MD. and glad for the cooler weather, but not glad for the long stretch of time to travel through before welcoming Captain Joe back home.