October 01, 2004 12:52 PM

Oct 1, 2004 Just a note to let you know Conquest is fine and I'm back in Fl to start another season. Ken drove me to RI in late June and returned to Fl to baby-sit Conquest which was hauled out up the New River in FT Laud, getting blisters removed from her bottom. She was supposed to be back in the water by Sept 1, but several storms held things up. They're finishing up today, and she should be back in the water early next week.

Meanwhile, Ken rented a place on the ICW in Hollywood Beach for the summer, walking twice a day (3 miles each) and loosing 20 pounds, while he agonized over the approach of Charley, then Frances, then Ivan, then Jeanne.

I spent another lovely summer in RI, with a great 10 days in Aug. sailing the coast of Maine with friends on their Hinckley 41 and visiting with former teaching friends. Then the first week of Sept I flew to Fl for a "vacation" and to give Ken some company, only to have to evacuate for Frances. We drove to Ft Meyers to stay with Ken's uncle, roughing it for 5 days, with bloody Mary's by the pool, great meals and great company, but Ken sure Conquest would blow over. We returned to Hollywood just in time for me to fly home. Ken got to evacuate to Ft Meyers again for Jeanne, while The good Lord spared Ft Laud and Conquest once again. We'll spend Oct in Hollywood, cleaning up the boat and preparing for our time in Marathon. It sounds like Ken doesn't want to spend next summer in Fl waiting for hurricanes, so we'll probably take the boat to RI next summer. That can always change.

Happy October, Keep in touch.

Jane and Ken