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We left Marina Jack on Tuesday because it was so bloody expensive and anchored out in Sarasota Bay, just outside of the new marina. I did not want to arrive at the new marina until the March 1 so that we would not complicate their accounting. We launched the dinghy and met Barb and Don who had driven the car over. It was a beautiful day and a peaceful night.
We were safely docked in our new slip by lunch. This place is rather posh - beautiful pool and hot tub, expensive restaurant, surrounded by tennis courts and a golf course. Plus we can park the car less than 25 steps from Tide Hiker. After settling Tide Hiker, we headed for the pool for a dip.
Thursday March 2, 2017
The marina is on Longboat Key which is like Disney World for houses and shopping. Just a few miles south is Lido Key and the Saint Armand's shopping center. The marina is on the Bay side, its an easy walk to the beach on the Gulf side of the island. We spent most of the day getting ready for visitors. We needed the dinghy in the water for our visitors but we were docked "starboard-to" so it was quite a project to get it launched.
Friday March 3 thru Sunday March 5, 2017
Kathy and the two kids were scheduled to arrive in Tampa at about 9:30 AM, a 90 minute drive north. The plane was about an hour late. We dropped Kathy off at a friends in Tampa and headed back to the boat. After 2 weeks of perfect weather a front passed through Thursday night and it was quite windy. That did not stop the kids who were immediately into the pool.
Saturday morning we pumped up the tube and headed out into the bay but the wind and waves were too much for the kids. I was bummed. So we headed to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens for the afternoon. We caught up with Kathy later in the day. Then after dinner we all headed to the Circus.
Sunday morning, after a pile of pancakes we headed to the resort on the beach. Then back to the airport at 3:00 PM.
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| Oh No! Not the camera, again! |
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| Waiting for lunch |
Monday March 6, and on......
As usual, time is racing by. Now that the kids visit is over, we have to get on with some jobs. First job was to remove the lazarette hatch and treat it with "teak cleaner" followed by "teak brightener" on the dock. The aft deck folding teak table received the same treatment. Tuesday I oiled them both and left them in the sun for a day or so. The end result is great, but it really does not last.
Wednesday started sanding the rails. Deidre started varnishing on Thursday. By Saturday they had received three coats.
Some time during the week we got all the bedding and clutter out of the guest stateroom (aka the "vee berth"). The walls have been roughed up a bit over the last few years and the whole room needed attention. Some of the paneling needed sanding, some just scrubbing. Fresh paint finished it off. Now we just have to keep it that way.
Friday night we invited 8 friends over for "dock-tails". A fun time was had by all. Saturday we joined the Katey Krogan (a brand of trawler) group on a dinghy picnic. Also fun. I have met a lady who likes to walk and so I now have a partner to get some steps. Longboat Key is a great place to walk. This morning we walked along the beach for about three miles then back on walkways thru the homes and hotels. the weather has been fantastic, but today the whole east coast from New England to Florida is experiencing storms - ice and snow up north and rain in Florida.
Lots of walking
I now have a walking partner from one of the other boats and I am putting on some miles. Maria is barely 5' tall but can she walk! We walk thru the neighborhoods and the beach. This area is so manicured and perfect that walking is very pleasant.
St. Patrick's Day, 2017 .....
Last Sunday night a mighty "Nor'easter" hit the east coast and brought nasty weather to New England and the North end of the East coast in particular. We were also affected in Florida and overnight the temps dropped to the 40's and brought an end to the weeks of perfect weather we had been enjoying. The days were still perfectly sunny, but we were in jeans and used the electric blanket at night.
Its now the following Saturday and it has taken all week to get back into the 70s, and today is "just perfect" again. Not a cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze in the palm trees and mid 70s.
Last evening we attended an impromptu St Pat's party on the bocci ball court. All of the boats contributed food with an Irish component so lots of corned beef and cabbage. Deidre cooked "Soda Bread" and "Potato Pancakes". Afterwards a bunch of us relaxed and recovered in the hot tub.
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| St Patrick's day pot luck dinner. |
45th Wedding Anniversary - March 21, 2017
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| I remembered to buy a card AND 18 red roses! |
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| Celebrated in the AM with breakfast at the Golf Club |
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| Deidre had lots of lox fro breakfast |
Most days we spend a bit of time at the pool and i get some steps walking around the island.
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| My feet and all the other oldies at the pool. |
Thursday thru Saturday March 23 - 25
I needed to make a fast trip to Anthem. Deidre drove me to Tampa airport on Thursday and picked me up on Saturday. While in Anthem took a few photos of the newly painted house.
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| Our place in Anthem after the quick paint job |
We expected today to be our last day so we arranged a dinghy trip to the salty Dog for lunch. It was about a 4 mile trip. Bonnie and John rode with us. Bonnie brought champagne for the ride.
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| Deidre on the way |
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| John and Bob on the way |
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| Getting into the champers on the way |
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| Thursday we took the dinghies to the Salty Dog for our farewell lunch. Look at the colour of that water. |
Rain started about 4 AM and continued into the morning. So we decided to stay in bed and not leave. The weather cleared up about lunch so we took a picnic to the beach. We will leave tomorrow.
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| Lunch on the beach with the New York Times. |
