We're In Detail Mode These Days

I started the day by washing the boat. It takes about one hour to spray and brush it down . Next I shammy it dry. We will be getting R2 to wax it in the next 2 weeks.

While I did the outside Ruth was busy doing the windows and council on the bridge. It is amazing how quickly this salt air will leave a film on everything. We love windex.

After that we took Daisy for a walk on the beach. Whenever I let her off of the leash she needs a good shower on the boardwalk as we head for home.

This was funny. I accidentally pushed the button for the 6 foot spray as Ruth was standing up . Daisy had a really good shower. Ruth's was quite a bit shorter. OOPS. Haha

 Daisy will be getting a fresh hair cut in the next few days. Whenever she starts to look like a little wookiee I know it is time to pull out the shears.

The Crazies Are Active In South Florida Today

So I like to go up to the boaters washroom to take a shower every day. I try to get there around 8:30 . That is just after the hotel staff clean it for the day. Today I got there about 9:30 on our way back from our ocean walk.  Just as I pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the shower I shockingly realized that someone had crapped inside the shower stall on the drain.  Friggen disgusting. I complained to the hotel . That is the last time I go up there. I'm showering in the boat or motorhome from now on.

This afternoon I headed over to the grocery store on the bike to get a can of green beans for dinner tonight. I was at the cash (behind a woman) who had a cart full of wine bottles. She cashed thru and was having a bagger  load them into her cart. I paid cash for my can of beans and then said "excuse me" to her as she was still in the space in front of the cashier. In a very snarky voice she informed me that I couldn't pass because the bagger hadn't finished filling her cart yet.  All she really had to do was to move forward about one foot.  UNBELIEVABLE.  I stood there for about one minute while the cashier and I rolled our eyes. This is the first time I have come across such rudeness in Florida outside of their drivers. 

Christmas Dinner , We Were All A Little Quieter Than Christmas Eve

Dawn and Randy made it over by 4:00 so we had them open their stockings right away. Randy made a wise crack about my hair cut over Thanksgiving so we felt it necessary to set him up with a nice head of hair over Christmas. Everyone had a good laugh. He's a good sport.

It was a great dinner dinner. Everyone contributed something.

Here Randy brought a dish which had shrimp so I couldn't eat any of it but the consensus was that it's a keeper.

There were 11 of us around the table. Nothing quite like good food , good friends and plenty of laughter.

Wayne loves to schmooze. Ruth didn't seem to be complain.

So festive, We all wore our party hats from the Christmas Crackers. Some traditions never get old.

Rose brought a Christmas Plum Pudding from Winnipeg because Floridians don't seem to know what that is.

I wanted to get a picture of the Pudding before it got demolished but it was on the table for less than 2 minutes before being destroyed. She also made the sauce from a recipe she got years ago that the T. Eaton co. in Winnipeg was famous for. I told Rose this morning that I was tempted to stick a straw in the sauce and enjoy it like that. So delicious.

Here's the Host and Hostess with the Mostess. It certainly was a fun Christmas.

I should have taken a picture of the back yard after dark. It was all decorated with christmas lights. Mark started these two palm trees from seeds about 15 years ago. The one on the right is leaning thanks to a hurricane. They call it Ilene. Haha. 

Leesburg for Christmas

We got up Christmas eve morning and headed over to the pool area for a hot tub and swim. 

I can't understand why they would decide to paint the coping stones around the pool today.

So we headed down to the ocean for a walk instead. I was a beautiful morning.

We fuelled up before getting onto the Turnpike. Diesel is so cheap here. 

This works out to 75 cents a liter .

We were here by 3:00 . 

Mark was waiting out front ready to welcome us.

We are sharing the driveway with Wayne and Sue's new coach. 

It makes us feel like we are driving a little dinky toy.

So the festivities began at sunset. There was way too much laughter and wine.

Sue did a little Elf chair dance for us. Very funny.

Mark the Elf was her dancing partner tonight.

I have come to realize why one never should forget their camera in a friends home overnight.

 Especially if the friends are all crazy.

 Christmas morning Julie is waiting for the rest of us to settle down and open our gifts.

She's like an excited little kid. She loves Christmas. Her house is decorated beautifully.

Here Sue is acting as Santa and heading out presents.

After an afternoon nap everyone settled into their electric gizmos.

The table has been set for three weeks . I see another party about to happen.

Two Days Till Christmas

It was a beautiful morning. Quite a strong breeze from the south and about 70 degrees .

We wandered down to the ocean on our morning walk and sat on the benches for a few minutes watching the kids on their surf boards.
 I love when I get to ease into the day like this.

When we go on our morning walks and there are no other dogs on the beach I usually let Daisy off of her leash.

 She is so happy running in the sand but it does stick to her fur. She likes these morning showers.

Back to our marina. We couldn't ask for a better place to be. 

There are 3 pools , 2 gyms , free tennis , 2 tiki bars , free ocean loungers with umbrellas and more. 

I've been helping myself to the apples in the gym every time I work out .
Two apples per day. They don't taste  that great to eat but I have another use for them.

Grandma's secret applesauce recipe for Christmas dinner. 

We're going to Mark and Julie's for Christmas  and no turkey is complete without Applesauce. 

I made a little extra. 

The dock master told me that he loves applesauce so we are giving him a case of beer and a little jar of home made Applesauce .

Sunset tonight was beautiful. It's quite windy tonight and it's going to be 30 MPH tomorrow. Not nice.

Back to Florida

It was a beautiful morning for a ride on the ocean. 

We headed east from the Bahamas on our way back to Florida.

Once a year we have to leave the USA with our boat , otherwise we won't be given a cruising permit for in the states.   

It is interesting to be cruising along when suddenly there is a freighter in the middle of nowhere.

The seas were 2-3 feet at 11 second intervals which provided a nice rolling ride.

It sure would be fun to ski on this wake.

Daisy just hunkered down in her life jacket and slept most of the way home.

When back in U.S. waters we called customs to check in. We were given 24 hours to present ourselves to custom in Fort Pierce. 

That was our activity this afternoon . We got our cruising licence for the next 12 months.

Bahama Bound

So I climbed onto IN TUNE"S aft roof and installed the Canadian flag my cousin brought me last week. It made me feel warm and fuzzy.
I love being a Canadian and showing it whenever possible.

We headed out  thru the St. Lucie Inlet and onto the Atlantic Ocean around 9:30 bound for West End in the Bahamas. It was a little bumpy but still beautiful. The NOAA site said they were 3 foot waves.

I found it a little daunting to be in such deep water. It got over 2000 feet at on point.

Last year I bought all new electronics for the boat. A Chart Plotter , Radar , VHS , Auto Pilot and a few other items that are all hand held. The Auto Pilot has had a problem since the get go. We'd be going along and suddenly it would take a 90 degree turn. Yikes. RJ Marine in Stuart has been great. They have worked with me to fix this problem even though I bought my equipment in Canada. They were on the boat last week and discovered something wrong with the steering . There was an air lock in the system. After about one hour of bleeding the lines the auto pilot works perfect. I set a coarse from Stuart and disengaged it as we pulled up to the Jetty at West End. It was such a nice relaxing trip.  

Something quite large breached beside the boat and then behind . I tried to get a picture but missed. 

It is a beautiful day.

We found the entrance to West end and proceeded to clear Customs and then buy fuel.

I don't know why I'm smiling here. It took 150 gallons of diesel to get here in 4 hours at $5.00 a gallon.

I'm starting to think this is a better way to travel. Under your own steam. Hahaha

Our marina loaned us a couple of bikes to ride into town on. It was Ruth's idea to take advantage of them. I just wanted to sit down somewhere and have a glass of wine.

It's quite a town. Lot's of derelict buildings.

We spotted this water tank from 5 miles out. It is quite a handy landmark from the ocean.

So after the bike ride we stopped at a little bar on the beach and had Conch Fritters. Now I always get sick from seafood but these looked so good I ate half of them. I felt fine. What's up with that.

But I did need a little nap after the bike ride , beer and fritters.

The sunset is beautiful off of our back deck . I love the Tropical breezes.

This is my neighbour. He pulled in just as the sun was setting. 

It's a nice boat but is he really happy.