We woke up yesterday after our first night on this vessel, which I (Katya) decided just now I will be calling a motor-yacht. It describes plainly the type of vessel she is, without fully entering into the snobbish territory associated with just “yacht”. (One of Urban Dictionary’s definitions: “A furnished yet elegant ship/vessel, used for private parties or pleasure.” A bit too hoity toity, right?)
After a hearty and nutritional breakfast of fast food and fast coffee, while making endless lists, we commenced running all around Gulf Breeze and Pensacola yesterday on provisioning errands, buying all manner of things from extra lines (ropes) to toilet paper. It was exhausting, sometimes to the point of tears. Partially because our sleep was way too short, partially because we were shopping at one of the places we typically avoid for political reasons, therefore it will not be named (but kind of sounds like another antagonist, that shall not be named). Never again!
At 10 this morning we left a friend’s dock where VK stayed while getting fixed up for the journey, stopped at a marina for fuel, water, loads of ice and a visiting crew member, who flew in from the west coast to join us for a few days.
We’ve now been under way for most of the day, using the Inter Coastal Way (ICW) to get from Pensacola to Mobile, AL, going through the Mobile Bay and Mobile/Tensaw River Delta to Gravine Island, where we will anchor for the night. This means that we will be in a middle of a body of water with an anchor holding VK in place, as opposed to pulling into a dock. Also, this little island is lovingly referred to as the Redneck Riviera. Sweet?!!
We saw a few dolphins but they were too shy to show themselves again when all the cameras came out; went by Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s bar – a cute “little” place Warren Buffett got for his sister; had a queer Titanic moment; safely passed a big tanker; got lots of sun with occasional reprieves inside the cabin to cool off; non-stop visual and mental stimulation for land dwellers!
Check out this little video from out first day: