I wasn’t able to post this on the 21st as we were out of internet contact. It was my 55th birthday on the Bramble and I got a great gift: nice weather. We saw a US Navy ship pass us. The seas were very calm (in contrast to the previous two days!) and we were able to enjoy sailing and even had a beautiful sunset.
Marlon had even prepared a chocolate cake for dinner and I enjoyed it with some strawberry ice cream and wishes from the crew. At night, the moon was out and very bright and Bill and I went up to the Gun Deck to enjoy the calm and look at the distant shore. We could see the lights of Cape Canaveral approaching and I’m sure I could make out the Vehicle Assemble Building at NASA where they assemble rockets.
I was missing Mandi though and hoping that I would get some internet so I could contact her. Just after midnight Bill said he was heading off to sleep. I stayed up on the deck for just another moment of reflection when I started to receive and internet signal. One little bar of reception on my phone from AT&T. It’s funny how happy that can make you when you feel reconnected with the world. I guess that’s how sailors used to feel when they got a letter from home. I was able to write Mandi an email although I knew she would most likely not see it until the following morning. What a great feeling.