April is ended, May is half gone
Time for the crew of Cayenne to move on
We have been overwhelmed by your hospitality
Because being with Dad is the best place to be
You have driven us places we wanted to go
Celebrated (and treated!) at Cinco de Mayo
Fixed a nice comfy bed with a big fluffy pillow
And a view of your “neighbors,” the ducks, through the window
When our boat had a boo-boo, you gave us the keys
And we drove up to Charleston with AC and ease
We ate special Dad dishes, like pasta with pesto
We wolfed down shrimp salad and crab with great gusto
There was homemade sangria with sweet Triple Sec
Which we sipped with contentment on Janet’s front deck
Turning forty was easy, with Dad standing by
Armed with mountains of presents and coconut pie
In addition to all of the fabulous grub
There were nice long hot showers and a soak in the tub!
Then you packed up your seabag and jumped on the boat
For two sun-filled days of adventure, afloat
And we talked and we chatted and looked at the scenery
Took pix of each other and wildlife and greenery
Yes, being with Dad is the best place to be
Whether I am with him, or he is with me
And I’m not sure which role is the one I love best:
Being his host, or being his guest!

We’re tanned and our feet are like leather
We’ve seen lots of glorious weather
After 2000 miles
We’ve run out of smiles
We can sail, but we can’t live together.

So Margaret and Barry are blue
And Brian is looking for crew
When we reach our next port
Its time to abort
And figure out what else to do.

The cleanup is kind of a chore
Our kitty has barfed on the floor
Her seasickness is chronic
But it’s kind of ironic:
Her hairballs, at least, are no more!

There once was a place like no other
Much loved by my dear deceased mother
With beaches of white sand
It’s called Harbor Island
We went there with Dad and big brother

(in honor of our 2004 visit with Dad and Stevie, at Janet Hubbell’s place on the beach)

My father just happened to know
Some miracle workers in Vero
They made magic repairs
To both of our chairs
We owe HUGE thanks to Anna and Joe*!

*Of Miracle Upholstery, Vero Beach, Florida

From Roy, of Naples, Florida, in honor of Meps’ birthday celebration with her Dad:

So the boat is afloat in the IC moat
The birthday coming and you can dote
On the daughter dear who has no fear
Of waters wild or the Skipper’s beer.
So hoist one for us and sow the wild oat!

From Tom, of Olympia, Washington, in honor of our first passage:
The crew of Cayenne did compete
To complete a passage quite fleet
Downwind they flew
On a course straight and true
Arriving on time in St. Pete

Another one from Tom, about the ICW:
Tis true water shallow and murky
Makes a sailor feel just like a turkey
When the keel way down
Contacts the ground
And progress becomes really jerky

Tuesday afternoon, 3 pm:
The boat up ahead is bright yellow
And the driver is cool, calm and mellow
To our right is Key West
But our skipper is stressed
Being towed in by a Sea Tow fellow

Thursday morning, 2 am:
On a sailboat that’s lovely and red
A lady, asleep in her bed
Awoke to a thunk,
Leaped out of her bunk,
And cried, “That guy just hit us! Call Fred*!”

* Brian’s attorney and “charge d’affaires”

Out in the cockpit I laze
And nothing but blue meets my gaze
I’m wondering why
The Tortugas are dry
And will find out, in just a few days

So Barry did it first today
And Brian did too, I must say
This running aground
Is normal, we’ve found
For the Intracoastal Waterway

We drove and we drove and we drove
On towards Seattle we strove
We visited friends
With our cat, made amends
Then flew back to Cayenne’s cozy cove