Florida - the Final Chapter?

After five or so days of 25-30 knot winds, the weather prediction was for 10-15 with waves of 2 feet or less in the Gulf Stream. We had made several friends at Weech's Dock, and two other sailboats decided to make the crossing with us. This was a new experience, as we have always made the crossing alone, but turned out to be quite a fine one. We left Weech's around noontime, looking for a high tide to get through the challenging channel to South Bimini. This proved to be no problem, and we tossed out our anchor in about 9 feet of water near the old range marker, making sure to stay out of the channel. The other two boats followed shortly. A peaceful evening turned into an early morning departure as we had 75 miles to make to West Palm Beach - Lake Worth inlet. We left a bit before our two friends, but could see at least one of them all the way across and were able to maintain radio contact. The day started clear and sunny, but then a huge cloud bank moved in. We were fortunate not to have any rain (and truth be told, protection from the blazing sun was a blessing), but the wind really picked up as did the waves. We rolled in the Genoa and were sailing only on a reefed main. Our reefed rig, coupled with the power of the waves and the current of the Gulf Stream, proved to be a sailing machine! We were flying down six to eight foot waves, and our speed topped out at 11 knots! Don't think we will ever see that again...anyway we made the crossing in good time and Wayne once again did his cowboy imitation riding the huge waves into the Lake Worth inlet. Once inside, we dropped the main, started the motor for about 5 minutes and were soon enjoying a well-deserved "anchor beer". A convenient anchorage lies just to port of the inlet as you are returning from the sea, and our two friends were not far behind. Perhaps the crossing was a bit more adventurous than what I've portrayed: it's true that we both got a bit queasy, and the sight of the huge waves on the stern was impressive to say the least. But then again, perhaps it was just SO MUCH BETTER than last year's nightmare with lightening and howling thunderstorms that we've become a bit less impressionable. West Palm was fun, and Westerbeke/Universal treated us very well; the repair parts for the cam shaft/water pump job were there and our mechanic (Lee Ellis of Leeward Marine) was impeccable. The boat is now resting safely on the hard in Indiantown and is looking for a new adventurer to take her to her next destination. She is listed at www.sailboatlistings.com/view/13117
As for us, we've done the dream and have a new one: selling art. Looks like first thing may be a move to Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan and a return to civilization.