2eme partie - 31 Oct - 4 Nov 2005

Driving to the South, we could see Wilma's damages, and people starting to repair. Gas stations were getting refueled , broken branches making big heaps on roadsides ...

Departure a 7am from Sarasota, driving along the Everglades Natl Park One hour to cross Miami and surburb , and 3 hours from key to key . Arrival a Key West a 3pm. Hot and humid, superb weather ! Waouh !! It look big but streets are narrow and houses rather old Thus is ours for 5 days! It did not suffer at all during Wilma . On the other side, near the beaches, houses have been badly hit Palm trees have suffered too. but in one week time, cleaning was efficient After a hurricane, the weather is nice, the air is cleaner Very few tourists also ! Dwellers are busy cleaning, repairing. Even birds are participating !!! We went to sees Ernest Hemingway, but the old man was at sea ! So we went to sea as well to say Hello to our friends dolphins and to play Hide & Seek ! The old Harbour is THE place to visit absolutely ! Old wooden docks ... ... and old master mariners ! Yep ! And old Sail Boats . magic,... ... romantics .... ... nostalgics... .... magnificents !! Manoeuvering to get out of the harbour ! That's a Show ! Schooner " America" won the Cup and many other tropies . Everything is beautiful on this boat.. inluding the handling which requires highly qualified personel , of course ! Mast, stays, ropes, immense sails ! .... powerful... ... yet elegant.... ... superb purity of lines and shapes And all this wood, simple and yet noble mareial A superb schooner, as elegant as a seagull ! Water and wind propel her effortlessly Simple, efiicient, and beautiful ! Sorry ! VERY BEAUTIFUL !!! The crew as well ! Isn't It ? That was a nice trip, Florida is a very nice place ! Bon anniversaire Gh...