Hey Tom,

I must confess, I was completely unaware of that guy... I've only had time to skim all that, but I'm definitely struck by a couple of things...

What I'd most like to know, is where he might now be, or what his plans would be, if he were NOT maintaining such a blog, or "playing to the audience", so to speak... (grin) Perhaps there would be no difference at all, of course - but I can't help but think he might have made it a bit further south...

In an odd coincidence, it was precisely at his turnaround point - Titusville - that I finally felt, on my current trip south, that I was really getting somewhere, and the reason for sailing south for the winter was at last becoming apparent... Seems a pity that he'd made it so close to the Keys or the Bahamas, then decided to turn back... I'm afraid he may have become a bit too much of a "hostage to the ICW", had he jumped outside an done some sailing when the opportunity presented itself, his trip might have turned out entirely different... Well, to each his own, of course...

It's certainly an enjoyable read, and I'll confess it's quite unfair of me to render any such "judgment" after just skimming over it... But, that's what strikes me - exactly what you said - that his cruise definitely appears to have been "influenced", to a considerable degree, by what he was blogging, and the feedback he received...

NTTAWTT, of course... Different strokes, and all - but if I had to travel at such a modest pace, I'd go insane...

Of course, I'm already insane, and I've already seen every inch of The Ditch a thousand times, so... (grin)