Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas

Don and Helen ~ Ma

Nick, John, Lorrie & Mable

Don & Jenn

Well the season is upon us on we have snow to prove it.  Don and I put up our tree on the 11th and have been making the house look festive.  It is a great time of year and one of my favorites.  We wanted to invite some of our former staff over for a little casual get together, so after a few calls and the help of Lorrie Meharg we had a great turn out.  We so happy to see so many of them.  I will try to remember all of them Lorrie & John, Tracey & Nick, Wendy, Kirk & Mable, Scotty & Barb, BR, Jenn, Al, Debbie, Gary, Norma and Helen (Ma) and Joanne.  I had a great time making hors'd oeuvres and dips and mini cheesecakes for the day.  We made each person a bag of my homemade cookies to take with them.  Tracey was so kind and brought two homemade cherry cheesecake which were quickly devoured....   It was nice that we talked about what each person was doing now and the good times we all had together and not about the Resort today.  The best part of the evening was when Don gave Jenn her special box of Turtles, that he always gave the Front desk staff at Christmas, that were actually from last year that forgot to give Jenn ..... HaHaHa....  When she opened them they were still good.  After all had left we relaxed in front of the fire with a glass of wine and sat quietly with our thoughts of the many years at the Resort and the many memories that working there has given us.....  Later that nite Don woke up at around 3ish and said we really do not have to stay for anything after Boxing Day so lets go back to the boat.  I agreed with a great big yes then he kissed me good nite said great and went back to sleep. So we are off on the 27th....

Kirk, Wendy Joanne, BR, Al, Barb
Tracey, Debbie & Lorrie

Lorrie & BR

It is now Christmas Eve and a bit more baking and prepping before we head out to #1 stop for the evening.  So we were off to The Black Horse Pub, our tradition to see Ray and Nancy, and to take Ray his very large box of cookies.  Then it was off to #2 stop,  Lil Legros for our next tradition, Christmas eve dinner.  We always feel so welcome and we look forward to her warm hospitality and great food.  I can not remember how many decades that Lil said that they have been doing this but it is a special place for us during the holidays.  Thanks Lil....

PS:   Don't forget to hang up your stockings and lets hope that you all have been very nice and not too naughty....

Merry Christmas

Don and new golf shoes

Don and Paul

Looking out over the lake with a lite snow that fell during the nite it looked like a Currier and Ives picture.  After Don made his great coffee and lit a fire in the fireplace we relaxed with the quite sounds of Holiday music playing and our two cats.  What a nice way to start a day especially this one.  After I call my sisters to wish them the best  and Don called Paul.  He was coming over after 2PM to open gifts and then we were heading to Bonnie and Vern's house for another tradition, dinner at the Hamilton's on Christmas day.  It is always enjoyable because there are lots of people and kids around that still get excited about Christmas.  Bonnie always has a wonderful dinner and yummy desserts.  Great times are always to be had and a delicious dinner.  Thanks Bonnie and Vern

Back home we relaxed in front of the fireplace.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good nite....

Well it the 26th and we have one more dinner to go to.  Shawn and Krista Pack have this great dinner usually around noon.  It is a nice drive to their home and we always have such a great time.  They have welcomed me with such grace to the family get-togethers.  Krista and Shawn are great cooks and have a wonderful meal every time.  It is nice to get caught up in everything and what everyone has been doing.  We really should see them more.  Well back to the house and packing to do.  But we may have a problem.  there is a snow storm brewing and coming towards the Buffalo and Toronto area during the nite so we will have to see if we leave tomorrow.... I will cross my fingers but it does look doubtful.

Well it is the 27th.  May be I should have crossed my toes too.  We had about 7 to 8 inches of snow and so did the route we were going to take to go back to the boat.  So we finished up some things around the house and packed up the car and were ready to go first thing in the morning.  Callie and Sunshine were staying home and being looked after by Joanne which they love.  What a difference a day makes.  The morning of the 28th was beautiful.  We put the last of the things in the car, kissed the cats and off we went.  I said to Don as soon as the temperature's reach 50 degrees on come the shorts and Crocs....  And so they did....

The Journey Back to the Cold

It is Sat. the 8th, a sad day, very, very sad....  We have to head back home to Canada and the cold, snowy weather....  We are leaving 80+ temperatures for -20 temps.  I think we are crazy but it is Christmas coming up and it will be nice to home for that.  So we have cleaned up the boat and packed up the cats and are heading North but first we are going to see a new dingy for the boat.  So with that in mind we headed for St Petersburg, a little out of our way but so worth it in the end.  Don found the right on for the boat and it was a showroom model so he got it at a great price. 

It is us two nites and three full days drive to get home, and from the west coast of Florida added quite a few more hours than normal.  We had great weather for driving and did not encounter any problems along the way or at the border.  We arrived home late on the 10th to snow and very cold weather.  After we unloaded the car and the cats Don made a huge fire in the fireplace and I poured the wine.  It is nice to be home again.  Being away so long make one appreciate your home even more....

Well our blog entries will be very sporadic to almost none existent till we are back on the boat but I will try to keep everyone informed.....

Ft Myers Yacht Basin

Well it is Friday the 7th of Dec. a "Day that will live in infamy".  It was another beautiful morning so Don and I went for a walk to the beach and stopped at a shop on the way back and picked up a lovely dolphin souvenir's for the house.  After breakfast we headed a short distance to Ft Myers.  Don had made reservations at the City of Ft Myers Yacht Basin for the boat while we headed back to Canada for Christmas.  We pulled into our slip and got settled in.  They gave Don a list of reputable trades people to do some work on the boat while we were away.  After a few calls we were very lucky that two of the people were actually across in Coral Gables and would drop in later in the afternoon to talk to us.  Fate or the cards must be with us because everything that we wanted to get done on the boat was going to get done and at a good fair price.  We can not say enough about the Marina staff and the facilities, all great and accommodating.  We called Bruce Alexander and Ann Thistle from the boat Happy Hour that we met back in Peterborough at Little Lake this summer.  They have a place here and have wanted us to look them up if we were in the area.  Well we are in the area and they came by for a drink and to catch up on old times.  They are a fun couple to be with and we were glad to see them.  They told us they it was "First Friday" and the downtown area is blocked off at nite, and that they have live music playing everywhere and all kinds of things going on and it would be fun.  It was all in walking distance from the boat so off we went but I have to say it was not fun it was a blast.  A beer here a rum and coke there, and music everywhere as well as people everywhere.  This is something they hold the first Friday of every months similar to other cities.  We had a great dinner at the Morton  House. After dinner we came back to the boat and had a nite cap, what's new.  We invited Bruce and Ann to stay over nite so we all could have fun and enjoy the evening.  Can't wait till next month!!!!  Sorry... More pics to come still having problems uploading....

Ft Myers Beach

I hope that family and friends that follow our journey can forgive us for being so tardy and not updating our blog for the last month.  What with so many things to do and making arrangements to head home in a few days that the blog has sat dormant.  But I am back on it....

It is now Thurs. the 6th.  We left Cabbage Key reluctantly and headed for Ft Myers Beach.  The weather was beautiful and we anxious to go swimming.  We pulled into Moss Marine which is right downtown in Ft Myers Beach.  After we tied up and checked in we dawned our swim suits and headed for the BEACH....  It was just a short walk through the main part of the strip which was all decked out for Christmas.  When we got to the beach there were lots of people there.  There were not too many people in the water but we found it nice and refreshing, remembering that we are Canadian and any water south of us is refreshing....

We called David and Kristi Jensen from Westwind Inn back home, who like in Ft Myers Beach in the winter and invited them over for a drink.  It was so nice to see them again.  Last time we were here we stayed with them and had such a great time.  We went back to their lovely home and Kristi had made a great dinner for us.  It was so relaxing to just sit back and talk with friends from back home.  After dinner we came back to the boat and called it a nite.  Lots still to do before we leave on the 8th.

Cabbage Key

We are just realizing that we only have a couple of day left of cruising till January.  So sad.  It is Wed. the 5th and we left the Crown's Nest after a great breakfast. We only had about 36.4 miles to go today and 5 bridges to go under but they were all 30' to 24'.  Again the weather was beautiful and water was calm and we were on another dolphin highway.  The Caloosahatchee River was so nice.  There were lots of people kayaking and canoeing throughout the river and large folks of birds everywhere.  This has been a great section of the intracoastal to travel through.  I some times wish we had a bit more time to stop at some of the quaint areas and keys along the way.  There were many lovely anchorages along the way that we saw and lots of boats doing just that.  We were going to stay at Boca  Grande but got a rather cool reception from them when inquiring about dockage so Don suggested that we continue on to Cabbage Key.  It is a small family owned island and very quaint.  The dock hand was very helpful and looks like he has been there for ever.  He mentioned that the bugs were bad at nite so keep everything closed up.


The sunset was shining on the homes across on Useppa Island and looked like an amazing golden glow.  We went up to the restaurant for a drink.  What a place.  Don had mentioned it to me about all the money taped to the walls but you have to see it to believe it.  They said that in any given year that over $10,000.00 dollars fall to the floor and the money is collected and given to charities.  There had to be well over $100,000.00 dollars on the wall.  Sure hope that it is insured well for fire!!!!   We made reservations for dinner at 8 and I think there were only 2 other table there.  The service and food were amazing and the prices were reasonable.



We signed our dollar bills and tapped them to the wall just like all the other.  It was a great day and we will surely miss cruising and stops like Cabbage Key.

Venice Anyone....

Well sorry to say it is Tues. the 4th. and another beautiful day.  We started off on what was to be a simple bike ride to the Public's store just a "few block away" so Don said.  Well 30 minutes later we found it.  Picked up just a few quick supplies and off we were again.  The temperature is now getting quite warm and we are lost going back.  Don took a different route and our 30 minute ride was now a 50 + minutes.  I was so glad to get back to the boat and take a shower and cool off. 

We packed up the boat and got ready to head out again.  Doug and Linda were on their boat so we could say good-bye.  I know we say it all the time, but one of the best things about our journey is the people we meet along the way which now become friends.  After a quick photo we were off.  Marina Jack was a nice Marina, and we wished we could stay another day but off we go. 

Water was so calm and the sun so bright.  Made it had to look for crab pots. We only had 15.4 miles to go today but there were 4 bridges to go under. the first Siesta Key at 25' and then Stickney Point Bridge at 18' with 3' more at centre.  Along the way we saw our new winter home.  Just a little something on the water!!!!  What a magnificent house and it is for SALE....

After Don told me "no Freya we are not buying the house" we moved on to the next bridge, the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge at 9'.  We called in and like Skipper Bob said it took him a bit to answer.  As we saw him walk out to the centre of the bridge we could not believe how old he was.  No wonder it took him so long.  After through we continued on to the Albee Bridge at 14'.  There was a lot of boat traffic on the water so we waited our turn, then went through.  We were staying at the Crow's Nest Marina in Venice which was just past the bridge.  Once in and all settled in we walked around and saw other Looper's there.  Northern Lights was there and then Flying Free had just pulled in.  After talking to them we took the Marina's bikes for a ride into town.  They said it was not that far maybe 1 1/2 mile, I don't think so.  I was still recouping from this mornings bike ride, well this one was quite a bit more.  I was not sure if I would make it back but we did.  And guess what, just in time for another sun set!!!!  Don grabbed a quick rum and coke and off we walked to the beach.  What an amazing sunset.  It looked like a lover's lane, with all the cars driving in and parked to watched the sun go down.  We walked back to the boat and relaxed for a bit then went to dinner at the Marina restaurant.  We had a great dinner.  Back to the boat and a nite cap and a little TV and we called it a nite. 

Off to Sarasota

 

Well it is a sad time but it is time for us to move on again.  We have said good bye to Tom and Linda before but as I am sure we will meet up again.  It is always a great time with the two of them and we are lucky to have them in our friends of boaters.  It was also hard to say good bye to Treasure Island Yacht Club.  Great please to stop with friendly staff, great pool and Tiki Bar and great food.            So we bid Linda and Tom good bye and head to another favorite spot, Sarasota.  We have been there by car but am looking forward to staying on our boat there.  We had just another great day to travel.  We left at 9:45AM on Sun the 2nd and the temperature was already 73.  We had a beautiful area to travel through, the remainder of St Joseph Sound and the ICWW to Boca Ciega Bay and then out into the Gulf at the North Channel and came in at the Egmont Channel.  It was a beautifully calm day in the Gulf.  Anyone doing the crossing will be having a wonderful time.  We picked up the ICWW and then down the long Sarasota Bay to Marina Jack Marina in the heart of Sarasota.  It is a very large well equipped and maintained marina.  Another boat pulled in beside use called the _______ Linda.  We helped them with their lines and introduced ourselves to them.  Doug and Linda Cardente      were from Maine but had a home in Palmetto and were out for a few days cruising.  After we were all settled in we went for a walk and then back to the Marina Jack Bart for a drink, listen to the live music and to watch the sun set, again....  Never too many sunsets.  We decided to go to the Italian restaurant we went by earlier for dinner Ca's Antica on Palm Ave.  We sat outside and had one of the best dinners, Don a veal chop and I had veal Marsala.  Five stars in our books.  It was a lovely nite walking back to the boat. We wanted to have a nite cap and listen to the music but it all stopped at 9PM.  Oh well the next time.

 On Mon.the 3rd we had decided to ride our bike across the causeway to St Armand's Circle and the Lido Beach and walk along the beach and look for some shells.  The last time here I found some of the best shell ever but this time they were few and far between. It was a very long ride but the beach was worth it and the water was nice.  We stopped and had a very refreshing cold beer in the circle before heading back across the causeway.  We relaxed for a bit on the boat before we headed off to the Ringling Brothers Museum and the Ringling Mansion "Ca d Zan".  Don and I were amazed at the estate and the Circus Museum.  There was so much to see, we could have spent half a day there.  There was a large section of the Circus Museum were they had built the whole life of the circus all in miniature made all mostly by Howard Tibbal.  You have to be there and see it to believe it, unbelievably amazing.  We walked the exquisite grounds and up to their palatial mansion.  It is a display of decadent wealth. 

Back at the marina we invited Doug and Linda to join us for drink and to see the sun set. It was another beautiful sunset and a perfect way to end a perfect day. We decided to eat at the Marina's up scale restaurant. We had another great dinner in a lovely dining room and a great waiter Gerard. Came back to the boat and had a nite cap and called it a nite. Long day....

 

 

Tee Time in Treasure Island

Well the weekend is upon us again.  It is Fri. the 30th the last day of the month.  Don and I just do not know where the days have gone.  We kind of like that feeling.  We checked our email and I was having a problem with mine.  I could not get into my email account because it said it was already opened somewhere else.  I remembered that Don had asked me to open one email that had come from Bonnie his sister the day before so I did open it the day before and low and behold it had a very nasty virus.  It took me 3 1/2 hours to straighten everything out  but I still can not send emails from my Ipad.  What a way to start the day.  After breakfast Don took Tom's place on the golf course with Jim.  He had been waiting for repairs to be done on his boat and Fri. was the day.  So the ladies were forced to go SHOPPING....  And we did but not without some excitement to start us off.  When we got to the mall there was a PNC bank so I knew Don wanted some money from our account so I thought that I would get some.  So to make a long story short I tried my US card but had the wrong pin # so I put my card back in the case and put the case to try my Canadian card which did not work but to some it up somehow I lost or dropped the case with the cards in them....  I was so upset but could not do anything till I got back to the boat.  Bad thinks go in threes, what could happen next...  It was otherwise a great day shopping with Linda and Sandi.  We went back to the golf course and had some wine and a munchies and waited for the boys.  Don and Jim had a good game of golf, as golf games go.  Weather was not too hot and they had a lite breeze.  Back at the boat Tom had had a long day with the technician's and we were worn out from shopping.  Jim and Sandi went back to their home and we all retreated back to our boats. We went up to the restaurant and had a great dinner then back to the boat.  Great way to end a day that had not started off so great.... 


 It is now Sat. the 1st of Dec.  This morning we lounged on the boat for a bit and got a few things done that needed to get done.  After we went down to the pool and lounged a bit more.  Back at the boat we brought out of few Christmas decoration and put them up.  It made the boat look festive.

Tom and Linda were going to their friend for a BBQ so since we had eaten out the last few nites we decided cooked on board, a great rack of New Zealand lamb for dinner. A definite yum yum.   After dinner there was music coming from the pool area so we went down for a glass of wine. Great music.  Just as we got back to the boat we saw fireworks off in the distance.  They seem to do this every time we come into port....Ha Ha....  After a nite cap it was now after 11:00PM so we called it a nite....

Dolphin Highway to Treasure Island

It is such a great day to travel again. We decided to move on and travel to Treasure Island.  Before we left we went for a long walk down the beautiful soft white sand beach of Clearwater.  The wind had gone and the sun and blue skies were out.  We went on what I call a shell walk, scouting for that perfect shell and a great walk to boot....  We found a couple of great shells for our collection.  Lots and lots of birds everywhere looking for food.  This one found his breakfast.On the way back to the boat we browsed the shops and Don found a shirt. 

We left on Thurs. the 29th to warm temperature's of 73, blue skies everywhere and now much more boat traffic. But the boats were not the only traffic we had.  We were on the dolphin highway and the highway was busy.   They were everywhere.   In front of our boat, behind the boat in our wake and in the right hand lane.  I think he was trying to text us because he kept looking at me and rolling over and spinning in circles and then just flying out of the water as to say "this will surely get her attention". Well it did..  What an amazing site.  I don't think that anyone can get enough of the playful dolphins.

It was a great cruise and coming into Treasure Island you certainly knew that you were in Florida.  The palatial estates and homes along the shore line, one after another after another....  It was impressive to come into the Treasure Island Yacht Club Marina.  The dock master put us next to Tom and Linda on Q's End which was great.  They were waiting for us and after they helped us with the lines they were on their way to the pool.  Sounds good to us so we changed and followed them.  Beautiful pool and grounds.  Don was in the water first and said "come on in, it is not Canadian water anymore".  It was lovely and so refreshing.  After a few hours at the pool we came back to the boat and cleaned up.  Tom and Linda were going to have dinner at the Club so we joined them.  They came over first for cocktails and hors d' oeuvres.  The restaurant was beautiful and they had a great 2 piece band and singer playing.  We had a great dinner with our great friends.  Last time we had dinner with them it was back in Grafton.  We came back to the boat and had a nite cap and called it a nite.

Clearwater

We were sad to say good bye to Tarpon Springs.  Our lovely little Greek escape, opa....  The weather was beautiful, about 72ish and clear blue skies.  It was not a long distance to Clearwater but it took a bit of time to get out of Tarpon Springs.  Lots of boat but this time we did not have to contend with the crab pots, at least not that many only a rouge one here and there.  We had said our good byes to Phil and Carolyn and wished them the best and hope that thing got straightened out with her arm and that we would keep in touch.  It was a nice cruising day again and 20+ miles through St Joseph Sound.  We arrived at Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina in no time.  It was a big marina and they were putting us on the T end of the main dock but when we got there the whole dock was full of pelicans and sea gulls and any bird that wanted to rest and shit.  Everywhere you could see.  After I jumped off and tied up one line Don got off and did the rest.  The marina dock master did come by and had the whole dock washed off with a high pressure washer.  It was much better. 

We went for a walk down to the boardwalk and beach at Pier 60.  It was windy out, but there were people everywhere.  The city certainly takes great care of the beaches.  There were many vendors on the Pier, and they set up 2 hours before and 2 hours after sunset.  I thought that they were going to be blown away. We went for a drink at Hooters and a munchies.  Then came back to the boat and cleaned it down and I worked on this blog for a bit.  Cooked a great dinner and watched TV.   Sunshine like to watch me cook dinner.  Her favorite perch in to lay across the wooden duck, how funny she is to watch.  A nice simple nite.