The View Hasn't Changed

Hi Everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to an exciting new year.

Our Christmas was spent at home. It was so nice getting to see the family and our great friends over the holidays. We enjoyed seeing all the grandchildren. I can't resist including a few photos.

Becky, Jake, and Amanda with their "new puppy" Bam Bam (he is now 106 pounds on his way to 200!)

Our traditional picture of Bob carving the bird

Our youngest grandchild - Annabella - not yet interested in Christmas

Brooke and her mother, Lisa

Bob and his brother Dave (two peas in a pod)

Bob's wonderful mother Evelyn

We had rented a car to drive home and returned to the boat on the 7th. We discovered that all the work had not been completed on the generator, so with three more trips, they finished today. We then discovered that the weather system on the Raymarine was not working and that had to be replaced (luckily under warranty) today. We had a diver clean the barnicules off the bottom on the hull. Then we discovered that the gray water drain pump had failed and the head in the master stateroom was not working and Bob fixed those today. So, with all these repairs and maintenance, we have been pretty much dock-bound since we got back. The longer we sit here the more I fear will break!

Well we were all set to leave tomorrow, and Bob tells me that the weather system says there will be 25 knot winds and 4 to 6 foot waves - so guess what - the view won't change tomorrow either.

Some fun things we have done since we returned were to spend some time with Barry and Diane (neighbors from Ophelia), and their friends Marty and Sandra. We went on a one day cruise and anchored off Sanibel Island. Sandra has been on our boat at the dock in Ophelia, but this was her first cruise.

Photo of a pirate cruise ship at a dock near us taken on trip to Sanibel

We drove up to visit our friends from DC, Bill and Linda, who have a condo in Bradenton for a day and shopped in St. Armand's Circle and had a wonderful dinner at the Columbia Restaurant. They make the absolute best Sangria. Bill and Linda then came last Sunday and we visited the summer homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. That was an interesting visit.

Bill and Linda with Thomas Edison in front of a huge Banyan Tree

Bill getting a close-up for his collection (surprise - he didn't know I took this)

On Monday, Pris and Paul, (Penny's sister and brother-in-law) came from St. Pete where they winter away from the cold weather in Rochester, New York. We celebrated our Christmas together. I had left our Christmas decorations up on the boat for the occasion.

Yesterday, we went to see "The Bucket List" a great movie and came to the conclusion that what we are doing is our "Bucket List"! Provided we ever leave this dock. Recommed you see this movie.

Every boat at the dock seems to have a "sentry."

Zephyr sleeping on the job
This guy means business


Our boat has "Polly"

Bob just informed me that we may be here through Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed for us. The plan is to leave here and head back South, anchoring each evening. We will get to "No Name Harbor" (really called that) in Key Biscayne, where we will meet up with other boaters wanting to go to the Bahamas and wait for good weather for the passage to Bimini.