St. Augustine to Marineland – November 15, 2021

What a difference 6 months make.    When we first launched Mariposa, my days, hours, and minutes were filled with a level of anxiety that I have never really felt before and I have had a rather lively, adventurous life these past 52 years.   I spent my younger years learning to drive at age 5, my teenage years driving bulldozers, and bashing through the woods at speeds that make everything look blurry. 

Then you have triathlons, which allowed me to explore the depths of human discomfort.  I was never fast, but if my younger years taught me anything it was how to out suffer the typical person.  Marathons, Ironmans, then multi day stage races all pushed me to the limit of what I could endure, yet the simple task of launching and traveling the ICW had me almost paralyzed with fear.   I was not sure what I was afraid of.  I guess it was the “What Ifs.”    Perhaps it was different since Sally was right here along for the adventure.  I felt a huge amount of responsibility to keep her safe and not to sink the boat.   I have blogged about this trip before, but thought it was important to explain the difference between the first trip and how this time around I had no anxiety whatsoever.  I had some level of confidence, and not ignorant bliss, which got me through the first trip.  

We spent two very cold nights on the hard which was made possible with our new composting toilet and the ability to produce hot water for at least a hot shower.  This was the line of discomfort we could tolerate.  What we did not have is heat.  We need to be floating for the heater to work and well, let’s just say there were two very cold days!  

We spent those days loading what would fit from the car to the boat, moved a pile of shit from one place to another and we quickly realized we still have too much stuff and I was growing tired of constantly moving things.  

Launch day came and as the boat splashed.  We felt a huge sigh of relief knowing

we will at least have heat.   We just needed to travel down the ICW to Marineland Marina where we had a dock space for the next two weeks.  This was critical since it gave us power and a place to park our car while we provisioned for the next 6 months.   I had a few last-minute boat projects that I wanted to finish as well, since I had a car.

Ever wonder what a composting toilet is? It basically removes all the unplesant issues with marine toilets.   No smell, no holding tank pump out and no maintenance.  Oh and bonus added closet space

One last dance with the launch pit from Hell