2011 - 11-12 - The surprise party

11/12 We had a pleasant surprise too. Kathryn drove up from Ft Myers to spend the weekend. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed her until I saw her                                 Kathryn & Susan aboard RIVER SKIPPER
pretty face. We chatted a bit then I put her to work decorating River Skipper for Tom’s 50th birthday party. We met Tom & Sue Melton at Regatta Point marina in 2010. Tom was the one who created & installed our new stanchions.
                          Michael, Margaret & Baileys - 2010 (I never got a new pic of them)
Sue’s a nurse so we had lots in common. Here’s how the surprise worked out. Tom & Sue are going to Aruba on the 13th, Margaret & Mike are watching their 2 dogs aboard their boat docked at
                                                                           Sue & Tom in 2010
the marina. While Tom & Sue were delivering the dogs, the party goers boarded RIVER SKIPPER at the fuel dock. We then took the boat over to Mike &
                                                                   Sue & Tom (today)

Margaret’s boat & shouted HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It went off without a hitch & he was shocked & surprised. Now, the Tom I knew looked like this…he now looks like this - While we were singing I asked where Tom was ! I honestly didn’t recognize him

                                                                Jean & Joe (Tom's brother)
 It became the joke of the evening. Good food, drink, music & friends made for a good time for all ! (notice, no pictures of ME)

                                               Tom & Susan - owners/operators of RIVER SKIPPER

                                                                      Brothers - Joe & Tom

                                                                                     Kate & Wayne

                   Little Tommy

I doubt there'll be much excitment for the next few weeks. Wayne has been busy researching parts he needs for repairs, ordering new stainless anchor chain - things we hate to have to do, but necessary. My excitment was to go to Bed, Bath & Beyond ~ love that store & go food shopping. SO, not sure when the next blog will be posted ~ I surely don't want to bore y'all. Ciao for now...till next time.

2011 - 11-4 - The Coast Guard wants to do WHAT?

We left at 5am, Friday,11/4 (yes, I was functioning at that god-awful hour) Dead calm (did you see the movie?) and it remained so for quite some time. I actually saw the ‘crack of dawn’! It started to kick up just before we entered the Gulf Stream then the wind kicked up, the sea became confused & choppy. At least it was better than the trip from Andros. Once past the Stream it settled a bit & then we saw them - in

 
the distance - the US Coast Guard. They called & wanted to board us (couldn't we just say NO?) They’re going to board us in these rough seas? You’ve GOT to be kidding. They told us to keep up our course & speed. A side line here…How many illegal’s do you think enter the US on a daily basis without so much as a nod from anyone? 1000? More? And here we are, 2 old folks, 2 dogs on a very slow boat heading home & they want to board us in the middle of the ocean! Here’s the interesting part - our para-vanes were out so they couldn’t board on the port or starboard like they usually do. Five Coasties approached our swim platform scratching their heads trying to figure out how to get on board. Three decided to jump for it on the swim platform - one almost didn’t make it.(I figure they wrote that up as an exercise) Unfortunately, I have no visuals of this cluster-f_ _ _.  They were nice enough, lots of questions & paperwork but they were hanging on for dear life. These pics were taken when they were departing. This time they got smart
                                                                All aboard - See ya !
& the dinghy came along side of the swim platform - not on top of it! The only good thing was we were able to maintain speed & course during this event & were soon entering the Lake Worth inlet. At 5pm we anchored somewhere in Palm Beach.

2011 - 11-5 - 11-10 - Crossing Florida to Bradenton

11/5 The weather was crappy. Overcast, grey, rainy & stiff winds from the NNW. Another cold front was coming through. Fifteen foot waves were reported at the beaches. Wayne calculated the crossing just right & just in time! At 2 pm the weather was deteriorating even more as we were passing Peck Lake in Jupiter. We did a quick turnaround & anchored there for the night. This is a beautiful State park when the                                                           Ft. Denaud Swing bridge
weather’s nice & it’s right on the ocean so we could easily hear the surf. 11/6 The weather improved. We got an early start and by 11:30 we were fueling up in St Lucie -Wayne calculated we had only about 15 gal remaining. (Diesel was $3.75/gal. Cheap compared to the Bahamas @ $5.15/gal) We went through the St Lucie lock without a hitch. 11/7 We were making good time. The lake was high & even with the water-way so the

Mayaca Lock was wide open & we sailed right on through. It took 3 hours to cross Lake Okeechobee. The sea gulls loved the bread I threw out to them. Molly & Scups went nuts. At 3pm we
                                                      I sure didn't miss this crudy water

went through the Ortuna Lock & anchored at 4.

11/8 It was 62degrees! I was freezing. Out came the warm clothes. I had on 2 pr socks, 3 shirts & long pants. We passed by Alva @ 7:45; Ft Myers @ 1000; Cayo Costa @ 2:15; Gaspirilla @ 4 and anchored in Stump Pass @ 5:30. Great trout fishing in this pass but we were determined to be in Bradenton in time for the B-day party on the 12th.

Stump Pass

(rats!) At 4pm we anchored at DeSoto National Park, on the Manatee River & just minutes from the marina. Wayne needed a rest before the partying begins. 11/9 We arrived at Twin Dolphins Marina. The dock master, his deck hands, Tom & Susan were all there to greet us. They took care of everything so I didn’t have to - I could get real used to this treatment. We got a tour of Tom & Susan’s new 60’ boat, GLASS SLIPPER. Susan & I went to the store for a few items...I went for 3 things & came out $100 poorer. Then off to Kojaks for baby back ribs...been dreaming about them for over a year now.

2011 - 11/1 - 11-3 -Island Seas Resort - Cave tour, Grand Bahama

Entrance to Port Lucaya

11/1 We deserved to be docked somewhere nice after what we had been through. Port Lucaya was just what the doctor ordered, nice docks with a market place on site & casino across the street…(Google it) before docking, we cruised around the area. Neat sailboat & this hotel looks like a cruise ship. We wandered around to get the lay of the land. For some reason, I didn’t take any pictures of the market place but really nice stores, including Emeralds International, bars, straw market, restaurants & bars. When I was here over 25 years ago, you went to downtown Freeport to the International Bizarre & Princess Casino. Not any longer - this is the place they bring all the cruise ship people. Shame. We were on our way to Zorbas, a Greek restaurant, when we were approached by
                                           Island Seas Resort

Maxine, soliciting people to see a time share & listen to the spiel at Island Seas Resort. What the hell…free gifts & $60 towards dinner in the market place-we signed up. 11/2 Our 8 year Anniversary. Wayne actually remembered because it’s been mentioned at least 5 times in as many days but he said it was 50 years! (smart ass). We met the bus @ 11:45 that took us to Island Seas & to meet with Linda,the sales
              Outside tiki/bar/restaurant on right; inside restaurant on left

agent & Ramon, the sales manager. We chatted, laughed & got to know each other. We had yummy cheeseburgers for lunch then got down to the nitty-gritty. I’ve gone to these on several occasions but never in my wildest dreams would I consider joining. You know how it goes…they offer highest price, costs, maintenance fees blah, blah, blah-then you negotiate. Wayne was intrigued, I was shocked, he was deadly serious! (guess you know what’s coming) Wayne told me what he was thinking; together, we have 3 kids; we plan to go out with a bang & spend whatever money we have leaving nothing for our kids (doubt that); "let’s get 3 weeks" he said. I said, "are you sure you're OK? are you insane?" - 1 for each kid; at the end of 15 years, we get all our money back; they can negotiate for more years in the program or cash out & split the money. We also figured our age & ability to cruise plus, I’ve never been to Europe or many parts of the US so this will give us the incentive to travel more but in a different way. That is exactly how I justified this deal but in the end I'm happy about it. Of course, Linda & Ramon were happy & wanted us to be happy while we were still on the island - we'll get you a rental car for as long as you want; $60 for dinner @ Le Med; T-shirts; 4 bottles of rum; massage; tours...whatever you want. Well, alrighty then! We opted for all of it. They scheduled us for the 'Cave' tour in the morning & would pick up the car then. After a full day of receiving lots of information, we were too tired to eat out for our anniversary. 11/3 Wayne checked the weather once again - oops! It changed. the front was arriving sooner than when we last checked. We gotta leave tomorrow - Friday. We let Linda know to cancel the car & massage. (that sucked canal water) We met the bus & ‘Biggie’ at 1000 for the Cave tour. He picked up others at various resorts & soon we had a nice friendly group. Biggie told us that an adventurer named, Ben, who found a blue hole at Gold Rock (so named as the rock looks like gold when the sun shines on it) which is just off the beach. Underwater, he followed the passage towards shore & came out into this cave. Spectacular. Next, Burial Mound Cave then onto Gold Rock Beach where he left us to enjoy the beach &

water. These critters at the beach were all waiting for something. Coon was cute even though he was a bit cross-eyed. Biggie then took us to a beach bar, I think it was called Banana Bay Beach bar where we spent aleisurely hour. Now this is the beach he should have taken us to in the first place…drinks & food. What a pleasant & different day. Little rest time then off to Le Med for early bird special using our $60 coupon-$13.95 plus a free glass of wine. Doesn’t get much better than that. We readied the boat for morning.