Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I’m going sailing! I can’t wait. In just 23 days at this time I’ll be 2/3 of the way to Fort Lauderdale! I’ll grab my rental car while I wait for my bags. Then it’s sunglasses on, windows down, crank the radio and fly down the interstate for the three hour drive. 30 miles to Miami will blur by as the salsa works its way into my brain waves. I’ll take the exit to downtown Miami so that I can stop at Latin America for a café con leche. I won’t go in, I’ll order in Spanish from the window, mingling on the sidewalk with the Cubans wandering by. With café in hand and the smell of hibiscus wafting in the air, I’ll know I’m here. A right turn at the lights and I’m on the shortcut to the turnpike.

Only 20 miles left ’til the turnpike ends, turning into a two lane ribbon of asphalt stretching through the everglades, connecting the dots of sand known as the Keys. I’ll stare out hoping to see a crocodile but I never do. If I’m lucky I might see an airboat. The marsh ends and the mangroves begin. Card Sound is on the left and there’s Pumpkin Key where we anchored for 2 days fishing. The roads swings right and here’s the drawbridge over Jewfish Creek where we saw the manatees. To the right is Gilberts Marina, with its collection of parrots and monkeys. I’ll stop at Divers World Outlet in Key Largo to pick up a diving knife I want to buy for Colin. If I’m tired I’ll stop at Denny’s Cuban Restaurant for another café con leche at the ventana. I’ll be tempted to speed now, I’m so close, but there’s always a speed trap around the next bend. The keys are smaller through here, just bits of sand and a road, surrounded by turquoise.

Two more sand dots and the road becomes the Long Key bridge. At the top I can see way out in the blueness to the channel marker where we ran aground trying to cut the corner. Here’s Upper Matecumbe Key and the Islamadora Fish House. They throw the days fish guts into the water late every night. Huge 4′ tarpon and nurse sharks come to feed, swimming up to the dock beside the tables. Fish on your fork, fish feeding on fish at your feet. Then there’s Duck key and Key colony, nothing but expensive condos. The bridge over Vaca Cut sneaks up, turn a curve and be over it before I know it. Now I’m on the home stretch. Here’s the second hand bookstore and then the airport with it’s flock of tiny planes.

Then there’s Walgreens, check the billboard to see what wine is on sale. But I’ll come back to buy it later because now I really really want to get there. There’s a traffic light here, only the third set in the whole length of the Keys. I hope it’s green. The speed limit drops to 35 and I have to obey, they patrol. Past the supermarket, Boaters World, the gun shop. Past the Conch Café and the bailbond office. Wave at Gustavo pumping gas at the QuikMart, no time to stop and practise my Spanish now. Here’s the over 55 Trailerama Park and right before Seven Mile Bridge, my turn off. As I swing left, the forest of masts pops into view. I hope no one is launching, blocking my way with the travel lift. 200 more feet turn right and there it is.

Colin will clamber down the ladder with a big grin on his already tanned face. I’m here, we’re here, with our beautiful boat, ready to sail into the sunset together.