It is Wednesday and the last leg of our journey has begun. Perfect weather and a great disposition both, the admiral and mate display. Good bases for a smooth boating day on the ICW of Florida.
Eventhough mileage wise we are so close to home but boating wise yet so far. It is a densely populated area and the speed restrictions are a constant companion but the views are pleasing to the eye and the homes along Jensen Beach are simply breath taking.
As we cross under the Indiantown bridge we think of our dear friends, Dr.Bruce and lovely lady BettyAnn. This is their hometown and stumping ground which we have visited often lately too.
Just as we passed the lighthouse and turned the corner something troubling emerges on the horizon. Is it a fire or just some smoke of no great importance?

The closer we get and the sooner we have come around the bend in our channel, the more evident it is. It is some serious fire and the alerts through the VHF are clarifying it being a forest fire that is under control and well tended to by the Fire Department of Jupiter. Does not seem to be as much under control to us as we have to pass through some serious smoke and our visibility has been cut to zero. As we alert other vessels approaching our location from any direction so are they alerting us to their presence as well. All eyes on deck and peeled to the windshield! Engines going at a creeping speed! No chances taken here, that is for sure!

Finally after a short period of time, seemingly endless, we emerge out of the smoke and alert others to be aware and vigilant. Thank God that is over and we can safely continue our journey going home!
It takes us a couple more hours and a fueling up of the boat before we reached our home base for the Contessa, Delray Yacht Club Marina, now owned by the Seagate Corp.
The new owners plan to reconstruct the whole property and construction is to begin within weeks. Ah well, ist time to move the Contessa to better and safer grounds before all of that starts.

Our journey of Contessa going North and back home has finally come to an end.
What is to follow time will tell. Stay tuned and enjoy our blog as our adventures continue.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself!
There is nothing to experience unless one takes the leap of faith and steps over the threshold into uncertainty and great possibility!
Bon voyage mon amie!