Christmas Reunion - Day 85 - Sarasota, FL

85 days and 1792 miles for us and 91 days and 2,600 miles for Scott and Brittany, we reunited Christmas Day at the Stephen's house on Anna Maria Island.    Wonderful!   Fabulous!  Fantastic! hardly describes it.   Scott and Brittany and her parents Jim and Susan are our boat neighbors at Belmont Harbor in Chicago.

All summer Scott and Brittany have been getting the mighty Rasmus (a 35' Hallberg Rassy) ready for a cruising adventure that will take them around the world.   Meanwhile, we were preparing for doing the Loop.   We got together many (many) evenings talking "boat" and sharing good wine (Mount Veeder 2005 Cabernet Savignon).  What was until then a concept, a dream, then became the moment of reality when they left 9/28 and we left 10/3.    Before leaving we made a plan to meet 3 months later on Christmas Day.

Brittany waving as Rasmus departs her Belmont Harbor slip for a worldwide cruise on September 28

Guided Discovery departing Belmont Harbor on October 3

Well, much water has passed under our keels and many experiences have passed since then and here we were -- all of us and our boats intact.   Isn't it nice when a plan comes together!   We were thrilled to see everybody.

Loop travelers on the left, world travelers on the right

Jim and Sue Stephen are such wonderful hosts -- along with their children Chelsea, Kevin, Eric and their family members.     We laughed, ate and spontaneously stayed overnight so we could talk some more the next morning.    Today (Sunday) it turned out to be COLD (with gale force winds).. no walking on the sandy beach today.  So beyond having lunch with Scott and Brit at Marina Jack we mostly stayed warm and inside.


Eric, Jim, Chelsea, Kevin, Skylar, Susan, Brit, Kodi, Faith, Scott, Les & Diana

Little Kodi, by the way, had the best time ever.   So many people to pay attention to her -- so many turkey and sweet potato handouts -- so many new sofas and chairs to sleep on -- and there was even another little dog friend.

We hope to see Brittany and Scott and Jim and Sue again before we leave, but hope that 2011 brings them and all of you exciting and fun new adventures.

Written by Diana and Les.
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Post Script:   I spelled Les' good friend Ron Markovits' name wrong.   Sorry Ron!

Post Post Script: You can experience Scott and Brittany's journey and exceptional writing at their blog.  http://www.windtraveler.blogspot.com/