Going Cruising

Charlie, Momo & Charlotte
Photo by Momo

Charlie, Charlotte and Momo crossed the ocean in the HiJinx and met us in the Butterfly Memorial Garden, a favorite picnic spot of Socks, Charybds and Scylla. It is such a lovely and peaceful place that we almost hated to leave. But we had a busy day ahead, so after a leisurely picnic and an invigorating nap, we went on to activity number two on our list - lunch!

Photo by Momo & Sassy

We had a small meal at Mary Mahoney's restaurant, which is close to where the boat was moored on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. (Well, we thought we were having a small meal until the long tables we'd moved together broke apart under the heaping trays of food.But, hey, there were 17 of us and we were hungry!) The weather was lovely, so we ate under the Patriarch Arch in the courtyard.

After lunch, we walked the short distance to the boat and piled on. What a luxurious boat. No wonder our Australian friends traveled by sea. We cruised around the Gulf of Mexico for a while, and then set a course to visit some friends.

Photo by Sassy.
Front of boat l-r: Socks, Momo, Sassy, Rusty & Opus
In pilot house l-r: Asta & Roscoe
Back of boat front row l-r: Karl & Ruis
Back of boat back row l-r: Emil & Mrs Oz
Scylla's up top with the net. She wanted to catch a seagull for an evening snack. Or even a flying fish. Anything fresh and tasty.

Our first stop was in Cocoa, Florida, where Zoolatry's Maggy & Zoey were patiently waiting to welcome us with a little wine, cheese, bread and grapes. There is something about water spray hitting one in the face that works up an appetite. The refreshments were a welcome sight and we enjoyed every bite.

Photo by Zoolatry

Our next stop was to see Daisy the curly cat. We all admire Daisy for her sense of fashion and she didn't let us down. She was wearing the cutest perky white sailor suit and hat.

Photo by Sassy.
l-r: Charlie, Charlotte, Charybdis, Pinot & Momo

Daisy waved good-by as we sailed on to Samantha and Tigger's in Daytona Beach, where the had a picnic prepared for us. We couldn't stay too long, though. We still had another stop to make.


All aboard!
Photo by Sassy & Zoolatry

We left Samantha & Tigger's and went on to our last stop of the day, Abby, Boo, Jinx, Ping and little Gracie's in Northern Florida. I didn't know them very well, so it was great to meet them face to face and to get to know them as individuals.

At the end of the day, exhilarated but exhausted, we all needed a long nap.

Be sure to visit Charlie ... Sassy ... Momo ... Opus &Roscoe ... Karl, Emil, Mrs Oz ... Ruis ... Charlotte ... Asta ... Momo dog & Pinot ... Socks, Charybdis and Scylla ... and Rusty (That's me.) and read their versions of our cruise.

(s) Rusty/JFF