Setting Sail- Mexico

November 2004 was an adventure. We set sail from Fort Lauderdale on a sunny day, a day later than we had *planned.* One of the first things we learned about cruising is that plans are always subject to change, mostly due to the weather.

We sailed down the Florida Keys, stopping each night- we're cruisers now and in no particular hurry! Jeff's parents met us in Key West and treated us to a few days RnR, taking showers in their hotel room and dinners out. When we were ready to go we pulled up our anchor and went into the marina to fill our water tanks one last time. Little did we know that this would be the worst water we'd have for the next 2 years, thanks Key West!

Jeff with our MUMM Champagne, left over from our wedding! We toasted our first anchorage after setting sail, and saved one bottle for our first anniversary.

Our first stop was Isla Mujeres, Mexico which is an island just off of the Yucatan Peninsula across from Cancun.

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Before we left the US, I had gone to Costco and provisioned the boat like a madwoman. I borrowed a friend's freezer and I spent a whole day cutting, seasoning and vacuum sealing a lot of meat. When we arrived in Mexico we *almost* lost all of our meat due to quarantine regulations! Luckily we somehow managed to talk the officials into keeping it, and now we know. If we had it to do all over again we'd provision in Cancun- there is a well stocked WalMart!

My Galley, where the magic happens!

We spent a few weeks sailing the coast of Mexico, experiencing unmarked reef passes, high fees and corruption of officials. We also experienced Mayan ruins, the best Cevieche we've ever tasted, and cheap beer. You take the good with the bad!



Jeff and I in Tulum, Mexico