How Quickly the Plans Change

Our return home keeps getting earlier and earlier!  Originally, it was going to be end of June, then we moved that up slightly to the second last weekend in June, and then, once we arrived back in Key West, we settled on a leisurely 2-week cruise up the west of Florida, our old stomping ground, and planned a homecoming for Saturday, June 16th. 

A few days ago, when we were anchored in the Dry Tortugas, we did a weather download for our trip across the Gulf of Mexico to Sanibel Island.  The forecast models started showing another closed cell low-pressure system forming in the Gulf, and we knew we'd have to watch this one too, so decided back then to accelerate our departure from the Dry Tortugas.  This morning, Dave downloaded the weather again, and this is the outlook for next week!

Forecast of the location of the low-pressure system next Thursday, June 14th.  The grey in the center of the system shows winds of 60+ knots!  We were planning on coming home on Saturday, June 16th.  We're speeding up!!

This system shows winds of 60 knots in the grey area in the center of the circle, and according to this model (GFS), its heading our way!  Now, again, its just one model showing this intensity, but we don't take any chances.  Something is out there, so we are accelerating, and getting to shelter!  We are currently in North Captiva, near Fort Myers.  We will now be safely tied up at our home dock, in Madeira Beach on Saturday, June 9th, another week earlier than planned.  The pull of home is strong...the weather just gave us a little push to get there more quickly!