Day 7 -- Back to the Boat

I could not sleep must past 9:30, so I crept out of the room of slumbering, hungover bodies and went to have breakfast and accurately document the righteous times of the day prior. Upon my return to the room I'd noticed no one had so much as moved to drink any water. We were slow to rise and collect ourselves, but eventually we packed up and checked out. We headed up and down Duval Street looking for some last-minute gifts for loved ones and the random debt payment of a forgotten debit card at a club. Slowly, we got ourselves into the rental car and headed north for the long haul back to Naples. We stopped in Homestead and ate a small Hispanic establishment, where there were no English menus and all I could recognize was pizza and sandwich. Once back on the road, it seemed to take little time to arrive in Naples.

Leaving, however, seemed to take a great deal of time. We had to unload the car, get the gas cans from the boat, fill the gas cans and get groceries, unload the fuel and groceries, refill the gas cans and drop off the rental car, then catch a cab back to unload the gas and push off. In doing all of that, I forgot to purchase cigarettes for two crew members, and I knew it was going to be imperative that these gentlemen have their vice, especially if I were to have to handle them for the next three days. I walked with Prewitt to a 7-11 down the road, passed many boutiques and wine bars filled with the local high society, which from the outside in looked to be a bit WASPy, but I chose to inflict no judgment, for I was dressed like a sweaty bum.

We left Naples harbor with hope in our hearts for a quick voyage at midnight, but didn't reach the Gulf and rough waters until 1:30 am.