Holy Cow! We Really Did It!

June 16, 2022

"South Bay Cove, South Bay Cove, South Bay Cove, this is Holy Cow, Holy Cow, over"

"Holy Cow, this is South Bay Cove" "Good afternoon, we are just approaching the No Wake markers and are wondering if we could get some assistance into our slip."

"Welcome home, Holy Cow! We have crew already on their way."

We didn't need to ask if it was a port or starboard side tie or whether we needed to stern or bow in. We didn't need to ask for our slip assignment or if the docks were pilings or floating, or even what the water depth was at the dock. As we cruised into the marina along the familiar path in our familiar surroundings, we were home and we knew the answers to these questions. When we reached our slip, we were greeted by our new marina manager, Jay, and our good friend, Steve V, both ready to catch our lines. When we were tied and secured, there were some overdue hugs all around. How could this be? Did we really come all the way from Marco Island? How could we be home? How could this be over?

When we were settled in, we took a moment and meandered over to stand where we had stood last fall looking at this particular vacant slip with Unabridged still in the water to our right. We imagined what Holy Cow would look like docked there if this crazy idea that Gord had actually materialized. Now, approximately eight months later, after a whirlwind of months and seasons, there she was, in slip A24, just as we had pictured last October. It's mind boggling actually. Our adventure of a lifetime, 14 weeks and 3 days, had brought us even closer as a family, had challenged our boating skills, and filled our memory banks with unforgettable moments. And just like that, we were home, like it was all just a dream.

Thanks, to Steve, we have this sentimental picture of Unabridged passing by the bow of Holy Cow as the new family took possession and left the marina. We had some amazing, unforgettable, years on Unabridged, and we have great plans in the making for Holy Cow, but seeing this picture makes us realize it is entirely possible to feel sadness and happiness at the same time. Sentiment is a funny thing.

Holy Cow is no longer in the warm salt water of the south and is no longer surrounded by resort like palm trees, but I hope the fresh water lapping on her hull and the beautiful wind swept pines of the north are considered a fair trade off or, at the very least, a second place honor.

As the evening fell upon us and we ventured up to the restaurant for dinner, the sun began to set over the marina as it always does. This was our first of many sunsets of the summer, and it was a beautiful day to be home.

Thank you to everyone that followed along. Your comments, likes, personal messages and emails, best wishes and encouragement meant the world to us. To those of you who were able to visit us along the journey, those memories are forever part of our hearts and this adventure.

Sending love, from Gord, Jenn, Jaxon and Brooklyn