January 4, 2025 - Fort Lauderdale and New Friends

Dear friends and family,

What a delightful day! Fort Lauderdale welcomed me with warm sunshine and a salty brisk ocean breeze. I spent the morning having breakfast with two other shipmates, and met Alan, the organizer of the group I’m traveling with.

Then Judy picked me up. We went to Dollar Tree to get some of the things I had to leave behind because I ran out of packing space and time to do some editing. Lunch was at the Quarterdeck Restaurant. We first sat outside to admire the view of sailboats, kids surfing along the ocean’s edge, and contrails from jets in the blue sky. The brisk breeze was too much so we went inside. Our server was gracious enough to let us linger for a couple of hours. It’s easy to see why they call this place the "Venice of America" with its canals on the Intercoastal Waterway and beautiful boats.

This evening, I met the group I’ll be traveling with—Travels with Alan. They’re a lively bunch, and it’s already clear we’re going to have a lot of fun together. We shared stories, laughter, and a collective excitement for the adventure that lies ahead. Tomorrow, we’ll board the Island Princess, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

With love and a sense of excitement,
Chris