Unsupervised ... Not all that exciting

 Monday, Jan 26:

We got up and I started working while Wes did some projects around the boat.  I got packed up as I needed to head to IL for work for a few days.  Otherwise, it was a relatively quiet day (except for the construction going on for the restaurant putting in pilings for the docks they are putting in).  When I was done working, we got in the dinghy and headed to the park where Wes took Lemonade to their boat as they returned from Jacksonville, and Donna and Dave came down to join us for dinner.  Donna and Dave were kind enough to loan us one of their cars so Wes had a way to take me to and from the airport for my work trip.  So we all got in the car and went to the Twisted Lobster for some good food and a couple beverages.  Then we stopped by Ron and Audrey's house so the could check on things.  We got back to the boat, relaxed a bit and went to bed early.

 

Tuesday, Jan 27:

Wes's alarm went off at 0400 and by 0430am we were loaded in the dinghy to go to the park, get the car and head to the airport.  It was a chilly morning (about 42 degrees).  We made it to the airport without any issues.  It was the first flight out for the day, so the airport was quiet and very easy to get through security, etc.  I made it to Rockford, and my nephew Austin picked me up.  Then to my parents house where I worked all day.  Wes, Ron and Audrey met up with John and Jackie (from TN) and went to listen to some live music and enjoyed some beverages.  I went to bed early as I had another early morning the next day.  

 

Wednesday, Jan 28:  

I was up at 0400 again and drove up to WI for my work meeting, then back to the office to get my new laptop, caught up with some coworkers, then back to my parents.  Wes did more boat projects.  It was another long day for me.  It was COLD up in IL and I was ready to head back south!! 

Thursday, Jan 29:

I worked all day from my parents house.  They packed up and headed out around 0630 and started driving south as they are going to spend most of February on the boat with us.  My nephew Austin came and picked me up around1600 to take me to the airport.  Again, no issues getting through security.  My flight was delayed, so I didn't land until 2245.  Wes did more boat projects and went to visit Merle a couple times to see how he was doing and to join him for happy hour.  We got back to the boat just before midnight and went straight to bed.

Friday, Jan 30:

We are leaving Bimini Basin today.  I got up and started working.  Wes dropped the dinghy and went to Merle's to pick up our scooters.  It was a super low tide, so we waited until about 1200 to pull the anchor and started heading toward Tarpon Point Marina. We arrived around 1330, went to the fuel dock for a pump out, then over to our slip.  We got all secured and hooked up to power.  I went back to work, some other loopers were around so Wes visited a little.  Then we took the scooters to go get Donna's car so that it would already be here when they got here tomorrow.  It was a short easy trip.  I went back to work, Wes did some more visiting.  Then I was done with work, took an inventory of our food, and made a list.  The plan was to go to The Dive for a quick dinner, then go provision.  When we walked into The Dive, we saw Pete and Cheryl there with some of their friends.  So we had a drink with all of them and visited.  Then Pete and Cheryl invited us over for dinner, so we did a quick trip to Winn Dixie to get what we needed for dinner Saturday.  Then we went to Pete and Cheryl's for pizza and more beverages.  It was a very enjoyable evening.  We drove back to the boat, relaxed a bit then went to bed.

 

Saturday, Jan 31:

I woke up and got moving before Wes (I know it is a shock).  He got in the shower first, I started cleaning/organizing the boat to get it ready for my parents arrival.  We both were busy organizing and rearranging.  My folks arrived around 1130.  Woo hoo!!!  We got all their stuff on board and got them settled.  Then Wes and Papa went to provision while Tutu and I stayed on the boat.  I rearranged the fridge to make room for all the items the guys were picking up.  The winds picked up and the rain came.  They got back around 1600 and we unloaded all the food.  Wes got working on vacuum sealing all the meat, then I loaded it in the deep freeze.  The boat was rocking and things were sliding around the boat due to the high winds and big gusts of wind, but we managed.  We then enjoyed dinner, some beverages and played some cards.  Then we all went to bed.

 

Sunday, Feb 1:

 We all got up but were not in a hurry to leave as it was still very windy!!  Wes filled the water, then he and Papa went to take Papa's truck to where it would be parked while we traveled via boat.  When they got back, it was still at very low tide (under regular low tide) so we were dragging our feet to let the tide come up as much as possible.  We dropped the lines around 1200.  There was basically no boat traffic as it was windy and cold.  We made it back to Bimini Basin and dropped the hook around 1315.  Then we dropped the dinghy and went to visit Merle and Tima.  I walked over to CVS and Walgreens to try and fill a prescription (unsuccessfully), then back for a quick visit.  They had company coming so we loaded back up in the dinghy and went back to the boat.  We watched a couple movies, enjoyed some beef stew for dinner, then all went to bed.

Anchortales, anchortales, anchortales!

 Monday, Jan 19:

We were moving SLOW today.  We don't recover as quickly as we used to when we were younger!!  We laid in bed and watched TV all morning, then went over to the park in our dinghy to get our Walmart delivery.  Then back to our boat where Wes did some work on the dinghy (putting the bilge pump in the lower section so our feet would stay dry).  Then we call got in our dinghies and explored the canals some.  Then back to Toscana for a quiet dinner and TV before bed.

 

Tuesday, Jan 20:

We both got up and did our respective bible studies.  I had a busy day at work.  Wes and Ron took the scooters to Walmart to see how far they could go before they died.  They made it there and took the long way back.  They were about 2.5 miles away when they died, so basically we can go about 15 miles total before they die.  It was windy and there were some hills, so they might go further somewhere else, but that gives us a good idea of how far we can go.  Then Wes did more dinghy work (replacing the light and other things).  I made a big roast with all the fixings, so we had Lemonade and Knot on Call over for dinner.  It was really windy so we ate inside.  It was a little tight, but we managed.  Another very enjoyable evening, then off to bed.

 

Wednesday, Jan 21:

We got up and Wes did some computer work and took Lemonade over to the park so they could go pick up their rental car.  They are heading to Jacksonville for a couple days.  I started working.  Wes did some more dinghy work and some other boat projects.  After I got done working, we went to Merle and Tima's for "happy hour" and visited for a bit.  Then back to the boat for leftovers for dinner and a quiet night watching some TV.

 

Thursday, Jan 22:

I worked all day.  Wes did some boat projects, dinghied over to check on Lemonade, and other little things.  Then John and Terri on Captain Kidd II showed up.  Once I was done with work, we all got in our dinghies and explored.  We went out on the river and into another canal system on the other side of Cape Coral.  We saw Ron and Audrey's house, then went to a bar and food truck place where we enjoyed a beverage, dinner and some live music.  It was well after dark when we were done, so it was a dark and chilly dinghy ride back.  We all made it back safe and sound then went back to our respective boats to relax a bit before bed.

 

Friday, Jan 23:

It started out a foggy day.  I worked all day.  Wes did some running in the dinghy (visited Pete with John), picked up some mail and packages from Merle, checked on Lemonade, etc.  Captain Kidd II took off as they had some things to take care of, but they are planning on coming back in a few days.  The construction crew was working on building the docks by the new restaurant where we were anchored.  It was a bit loud, but it was interesting watching them install the spud poles.  While most of the country is getting hit with very cold, wind and snow, we had sunshine all day with just a slight breeze.  After I was done working, I made myself a margarita and sat on the swim platform and put by feet in the water.  It felt good!  Pete, Cheryl and Barnes stopped by late afternoon/early evening.  We enjoyed some beverages.

 Saturday, Jan 24:

We got up and our original plans to go for a boat ride with Merle changed as he went to the hospital the night before with an infection, so he needed to rest.  So, we grabbed our laundry, and we went and did laundry with Knot on Call.  Audrey and I went to the farmers market while the clothes were washing, then once all the laundry was done, we walked to Hacienda Jalisco Bar and Grill for lunch and margaritas (Wes had a beer).  LaRae came into the basin while we were gone, so we swung by while on our dinghy and chatted for a couple minutes.  They invited us all to anchortales on their boat later.  So we went back to our boat for a bit then us and Knot on Call went over to their boat and had a very enjoyable visit along with some beverages and snacks.  Then we went back to Toscana where we relaxed a bit then went to bed.

 

Sunday, Jan 25:

It was a lazy day for me.  Wes did some stuff around the boat but not too much as it was hot and humid.  I read most of the day.  Then we went to Knot on Call for dinner.  It was another great time with good food, beverages and lots of laughs!!  Then back to Toscana to watch a little TV before calling it a night.

Fun with friends in Cape Coral!

 Monday, Jan 12:

Wes got up and did some computer work.  I started working right away.  Then around 1000, Wes took the dinghy over to Merle and Tima's as we did a Walmart delivery.  Wayne joined him and they explored on the scooters a little as well while Karen and I worked.  They went to Tarpon Point Marina and Wes made our reservations for when we will pick up and drop off my parents.  Then we all got in Wayne and Karen's dinghy and went to Merle and Tima's for a wonderful dinner.  It was well after dark when we got back, but we relaxed a bit watching TV then we went to bed.

 

Tuesday, Jan 13:

We both got up and did our respective bible studies, then I worked all day.  Wes and Wayne took Wayne and Karen's bikes to Merle and Tima's.  Then after Karen and I were done working, we all went over and got on our bikes/scooters and explored.  Karen and I went and had pedicures done while the boys enjoyed went to West Marine then went to The Dive for a beverage or two.  We met up with them and also enjoyed a couple beverages.  We were joined by Ramble On and Lemonade as well as friends of Wayne and Karen's, so we had two tables full.  We went back to Merle and Tima's for a short visit.  Then we got in Wayne and Karen's dinghy and had a few more beverages on Lemonade.  We definitely got stuck on the fun wheel!  We got back to the boat late, but sat up with the generator running to charge the batteries before we went to bed.

 

Wednesday, Jan 14:

Neither of us was moving very fast in the morning after being up well past our bedtime, but I got up and started working.  Wes stayed in bed sitting up watching TV for a bit longer.  Our friends on Knot on Call arrived.  They needed a battery charger, so Wes went and picked up Rod and took him to get our scooters and they went to the hardware store.  When they got back, we hosted anchortales.  It was a great visit!  It was a quieter evening and we all went back to our boats around 1900.  We stayed up and watched TV for a bit, then went to bed.

 Thursday, Jan 15:

I got up and started working.  Wes did some computer work, then all the "boys" from all the boats went into Merle and Tima's to meet up with Pete so they could go to the discount marine stores and grab some lunch.  Wes came back with some goodies.  He picked up the harness system he'll need to attach to the mask so he can use it to put the dinghy on the aft deck, he picked up stairs that attach to make it easier to climb onto the bow (and where it'll attach by our side gate to make it easier to get on and off the boat, along with some other smaller items.  It was a WINDY day so we didn't all get together for anchortales, but we invited Our Journey over for dinner and drinks and they are leaving tomorrow.  We had a nice dinner and visit then said "goodbye for now."  Then we relaxed watching some TV then off to bed.

Friday, Jan 16:

It got cold overnight (in the 40's), so when Wes got up in the morning to turn the generator on (around 0500) , he also turned the heat on the the cabin.  We laid there being lazy for a bit before we both got up and moving.  I went up to the flybridge to work and Wes turned the heat on in the salon and also made us breakfast sandwiches.  Our Journey took off around 1200 (low tide was at 0900 and they needed to wait for the water levels to rise so they could get out).  Wes did oil changes on the generators.  We enjoyed anchortales aboard Knot on Call.  We went back to the boat, relaxed a bit, then off to bed.

 Saturday, Jan 17:

We got up and got things organized, then got in the dinghy and went to the farmer's market with Knot on Call and Lemonade.  We all got some goodies and the farmer's market, then a quick stop at The Dive then back to our boats.  We did our own things for the mid-afternoon, then all went over to Lemonade for anchortales.  Ron on Inspiration and Vinny and Sylvie on Water View joined us as well.  We enjoyed some drinks and lots of snacks.  Then we called it a night and went back to our boat.  

 Sunday, Jan 18:

We made plans to hang out at The Dive as they had a special for bottomless bloody marys or mimosas and all you can eat sushi.  So we all dinghied over to the little dock at the park and walked to The Dive.  Donna and Dave drove over as well and joined us.  It was so good catching up with her.  The drinks were flowing and we all had more than we usually do, but a good time was had at The Dive!  We walked back, got in our dinghies and then continued the fun on Knot on Call where we did some karaoke.  It was a very fun day and night!!  We went back to our boat and then crashed!!