Howdy all!! I thought I would drop in for a bit and post some pics. I have been away a while now and REFUSE to talk about anything that is REAL LIFE related... so I thought I would share some pics of our trip down south. Maybe it will make the winter blues a little easier for everyone (or make everyone more jealous - all the better!!!!)
We took delivery of Pop's Tayana 42 Vancouver in Punta Gorda, FL (Charlotte Harbor). We anchored for several days off of what is called Fisherman's Village (or Wharf... not sure), but it is a kinda touristy little place with shops (boring) and lots of beer (exciting) overlooking the harbor. THere were several boats that came and went, but nothing really too extravagant to report except hangovers, which hungover until we started drinking again, so we now call them 'hangingovers'. HEHE!
My wife Kris flew in over the first weekend and we all headed out of the harbor. Dolphin greated us most of the way (as did countless crab traps). Given as we were going to be heading a bit offshore and sailing south around Cayo Costa, Captiva, Sanibel, and to Ft. Myers Beach, we made sure to take our sailing seriously - well, not really. We pretty much just joked and cut up the whole time. Here is dad holding the
wheel of HIS boat some miles off the coast of Cayo Costa. Do you remember your first time on YOUR boat in the open water?? It is a memory you never forget:
I wish I could show you better pics of the water and how clear it was. I am not sure what the visibility was, but it was very nice and clear. Here are a couple of shots which do not do them justice:
We spent the next many nights in Mantanzas Pass (Fort Myers Beach). We have some great friends there that will go cruising with us hopefully. We ate out a lot and drank even more, forgeting about the troubles and worries of the past.
Ft Myers Beach is really an oddity of Florida. Although expensive compared to much of the rest of the country, it is moderate in Florida terms... and the people are very laid back much like Fl was before the boom. They recently installed mooring balls versus open anchoring - buit they are not expensive and come with a free, daily pumpout (assuming they actually show up... but that is another story). In the end, here is a shot looking over our stern onto the bridge which connects FL mainland with FT Myers Beach:
In the end, we had to go home. We finished de-
rigging her at loaded her on a truck headed back for Lake Texoma, Texas.
It was a nice trip, but really short (only 2 weeks). Although we wanted to go down to the keys, Bahamas, or Tortugas - I could not spare the time away from my new business so we passed for now. Some regrets, but hopefully we will see them more permanently in the not too distant future. And honestly, it is nice to see her sitting two slips down from me at my marina in Texas (Cedar Mills, Lake Texoma).
We all six (me, Kris, the kids, mom and dad) spent last weekend on each of our boats and our first night together at a marina. A small taste of a great future to come.
Here is to 2008!!!!! (HOORAY!!!!) and what I hope is an awesome year for everyone.
All the best -
CD
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