Soul Refreshing

Last evening as we were sitting on Velsignet’s top deck admiring yet another sunset, we heard a voice say “Excuse me. (to which we looked over the railing to the dock below) We’re Loopers too and we also have a Mainship with a navy hull like yours!”  After a too-quick-and-too-short-of-visit with Sharon and Mike (MV “Scout”) with their 2 pooches (one of which DOES NOT like boating) and having shared plans, inspirations, challenges and boat cards (as much as 4 fast talkers can accomplish in 45 minutes), we bid each other goodbye with “See you again on the Loop!”

The lovely town of Dunedin is located 10 miles from Dave and Colleen Forte’s winter home.  Dave and Colleen also live on Long Lake near Bemidji, MN and we were delighted when they agreed to meet us in Dunedin for brunch and catch-up conversation.  The rest of our day included giving Velsignet a second washing, a relaxing dinner (after our visit with Sharon and Mike), and a walk downtown Dunedin to hunt down some live music.  And what a serendipitous gem we found:  Shaun Hopper, a fascinating and entertaining acoustic guitar wizard was playing at a local establishment. (One can listen to him through his website at Shaunhopper.com) Watching him perform awed us (very difficult to adequately describe).

This afternoon, we left Dunedin and are cruising towards Tampa Bay.  We will anchor north of the bay for the evening and continue towards Sarasota where we will meet up with Erica and Mike Ellis.  As we are bathed in the beauty of the blue-green waters and comfortably warm temps of Florida, we are reminded of the sermon we heard at the Dunedin United Methodist Church this morning at worship.  Young Pastor Jason Knott (no relation to the Red Lake Falls, MN Knott family…we asked!) talked about the importance of the health of our souls.  

"Soul" does not equal "self."  Our bodies are flesh and blood (more accurately, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus). It is God’s breath that gives us life, that gives us our soul.  As humans, we have (1) a will, (2) a mind, and (3) a body—which do not always communicate well with each other.  We also have (4) a soul, which integrates 1-3.  Thus, the condition of our soul is important to the rest of our self.  A healthy soul brings harmony to will, mind and body; an unhealthy soul results in the collapse of them, which leads to…a mess.  The world tells us that we can conquer inferiority, insecurity, inadequacy, guilt, or anxiety if we focus more on our SELF.  God wishes us to look larger and higher, beyond our self.  Belief and faith in God's goodness is a good foundation for a healthy SOUL-- one that will allow us to live life to the fullest.  Amen!

This is the guitar wizard, Shaun Hopper, that we watched and listened to last night in Dunedin.  I took a couple of photos, but they don't compare to this one that may be on his website.

After brunch, Dave and Colleen and the Finkenbinders enjoyed a car show
of very old automobiles (horseless carraiges) in downtown Dunedin. 

This is Dave and Colleen trying to figure out their phone so they could take a picture of US!  

This is Mike in front of a VERY NICE 1914 Pierce.  We think it must be English as the steering wheel was on the right side.

We left Dunedin Marina at 12:45 p.m.  The temp was a nice 80 degrees, calm winds, and partly cloudy skies.

Florida waters are a boating mecca--especially on a Sunday afternoon!

And there's all kinds of boats to be seen!

At anchor, Mike worked to clean up the dinghy and put on our registration decals. 
We're now officially ready to dinghy where-ever and whom-ever to and fro Velsignet.