From: "Jon Bickel" papillon31@earthlink.net

Subject: Papillon update

Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 20:46:50 –0500

N 25°10.94 W 80°23.32

Hello from Key Largo. Yes, we finally have started towards the north and back to real civilization? I actually watched the weather on TV last night, the first time since we left Miami in December. We made the trip up the Florida Bay after trying the Ocean side for a short 20 minutes. With the winds out of the East, right on the nose at 17-22 knots and a good swell coming in off the Atlantic it didn't take long to decide to turn tail and head for the Florida Bay. There we had 15+ knots of wind and a moderate chop. Made 60 miles in about 10 hours, not to bad. We anchored the first night in Tarpon Basin and moved yesterday afternoon, 6 miles further NE and anchored off Gilberts Marina. Thanks to Annie I met Georgeane, who works at Gilberts, via email and had breakfast with her this morning. She is the bartender here at the Tiki Bar at Gilberts. A real cute gal and we had an enjoyable breakfast and she came out to the boat to meet the crew, Ruby.

A friend of mine, Mike, that I met in Marathon is sailing in today from Marathon and when he gets here we will probably go in for a cold beer. The plan is for Mike and I to head to Miami tomorrow. With an East wind we should have a great wind for sailing to Miami.

Go check out the latest pictures from Key Largo. Just click on the link below.

Check out our position on http://liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/Chartourcourse.html

Ruby finally has permitted me to post her kitten pictures to our web site. NOW for your viewing at wwww.liveaboardsvpapillon.homestead.com/rubyspagekitten.html

"Goin where the weather suits my clothes"

Capt Jon & Ruby