We are leaving our beloved home for a long while.

Tonight as the Fire Sprite heads out to sea I think on the journey to our fattoria in Las Californias. The journey will be long. but it has been 4 years since we have seen our holdings outside the small mission San Juan Capistrano . We are excited to see if the Criolla grapes have produced a wine of any consequence and if there is the possibility of bringing back slips to our vineyards here in Melioria.

It will be a long sea voyage and we expect the turmoil caused by this endless hostility between all nations over the Inglese loss of their colonies will make it even harder. The Inglese are giving outward diplomatic agreement to the spirit of safe passage for the neutral among us. But their pirateers have free rein on the sea lanes encouraged to take as many prizes as they canthe goal tocontinually needle the Bourbons. And though officially neutral what better point to drive home to the Napoli royal family and their relatives in Versailles and Madrid that even their little peaceful cousin Melioria is vulnerable to attack.

We pray our hugging the North African coast to Tangiers and a speedy dash thru the Strait we can pass the first dangers of this trip. We pray for strong trade winds. We shall see.