Day 209 —Back on the Boat!

Saturday January 17, 2026

Pelican Perch Marins, Pensacola FL

We wrapped up our holiday trip home just as the colder weather was rolling in—perfect timing to head back. This final leg of our journey should take about 2 to 2½ months, and it feels good to be settling back into boat life.

While we were away, the boat got some much-needed attention: she was hauled out, the bottom was freshly painted, fiberglass repairs were completed on part of the swim platform, and the port engine received a new injector, thermostat, and turbocharger. A productive stretch while we were gone.

We’ll spend the next couple of days giving everything a deep clean, installing the new isinglass, and stocking up on provisions before we start moving again. When we arrived at the marina, the weather was drizzly and cold. We stepped aboard to assess what we needed for the store run—and remembered to power the fridge and freezer back on. Despite the chill outside, the boat felt cozy and welcoming.

Dinner was simple and comforting: pork tenderloin roasted in the air fryer, jasmine rice, and green beans. Not bad for our first night back. Tomorrow, once things warm up a bit, we’ll dive into cleaning and finish up the isinglass.

Tomorrow evening, we’re planning to have dinner with Karen and Eddie from Windsor Rose to talk about possibly making our next crossing together. The weather has been—and continues to be—unsafe for our planned Gulf crossing from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee, but there may be a small window opening up next weekend. For now, we’ll watch the forecasts and see what unfolds. The adventure begins again!