Calgon, take me back to sunshine and short pants!!!

 Monday, Jan 5:

Our last full day in Illinois.  Wes drove in with me as I needed to go into the office and he spent the day with a friend of his the lives close to my office.  After work, I hosted a happy hour for a client, then Wes came and picked me up and we went back to my parents house.  My sister and sister-in-law came over as well and joined us for dinner.  We played some cards, then I went up and started packing.  Then we relaxed a bit before bed.

Tuesday, Jan 6:

We got up and started getting all our stuff together.  My sister arrived around 0730.  We visited a bit then headed to the airport.  We got through security and waited for our plane.  All went fine.  Jim Healey was there to pick us up.  He took us back to the boat where we dropped our stuff, turned on fridge and AC on, then he took us to the store to provision.  We grabbed our fresh stuff, then back to the boat, where we put everything away.  Then Dave and Julia swung by and picked us up and took us to The Boat House for dinner.  It was a great visit!  Then back to the boat to relax a bit before bed.

 

Wednesday, Jan 7:

I got up and started working.  Wes did some MTOA stuff and computer work.  Then he took his scooter and dropped off some mail and went to the hardware store. Then he came back and installed our "ceiling fans" in each of the state rooms.  When I was done with work, we both got on our scooters and did another hardware store run and stopped for ice cream.  Then back tot he boat for dinner, some relaxing watching TV, then off to bed.

 

Thursday, Jan 8:

I setup to work on the flybridge.  Wes did some computer work.  After all my work calls, we got on our scooters and stopped at CVS to pick up a prescription and Ace to exchange a CO2 cartridge.  Wes sprayed down the boat and filled the water after we got back.  Then we enjoyed dinner on the aft deck until dark and the bugs came out.  Then we went inside and watched a little TV then off to bed.

 

Friday, Jan 9:

Time to move again!  We got up and loaded the scooters on the boat.  Then I started working while Wes got did some work and got the boat ready for travel.  We dropped the lines around 1200 and headed towards Bimini Basin near Cape Coral where we plan to anchor for a week or so.  We dropped the hook around 1515 and got all settled in.  Then after I was done working, we dropped the dinghy and went to Merle and Tima's dock (previous owners of Toscana) to have a nice visit.  We met their daughter Gloria and some of their neighbors as well.  Then we went back to the boat, where we had a late dinner, relaxed a bit then off to bed.

Saturday, Jan 10:

We got up and relaxed a bit.  Then we made a big breakfast (breakfast burritos) and dropped the dinghy with our scooters to head to Merle and Tima's.  We visited with them a bit, then got on our scooters and went to Pete and Cheryl's place down the road.  We walked to the farmer's market and got some fresh veggies.  The we went to The Dive and had a couple a beverages to cool down as it was hot out.  We walked back to Pete and Cheryl's then road our scooters back to Merle and Tima's.  Then we loaded up on Merle's pontoon boat with Gloria, their neighbor Sarah and her daughter Avery.  We did a nice little cruise on the river, then back to their place.  Our Journey showed up at Bimini Basin as well, so they dinghied over as well and joined us.  We had a nice visit and they got to meet Merle and Tima.  Then back to Toscana, where Wayne and Karen brought over stir fry which Wes cooked up on the blackstone and we enjoyed dinner on the aft deck with Our Journey.  They left as the Bear/Packer game started.  We stayed up and watched the entire game, which went well past our bedtime.

 Sunday, Jan 12:

We were a bit lazy in the morning since we went to bed late.  It was already a hot one, so we decided it would be a good beach day.  Wes went to talk to Merle and let him know our plans, while I gathered our stuff.  We loaded up the dinghy's and headed to Cape Coral Beach.  Our Journey did the same.  We were there for 2 hours then someone came over and said we couldn't park our dinghies there, so we loaded everything up and went back to our boats and left our beach stuff, grabbed the gas can and headed back out.  We went over to Tarpon Point Marina, filled our gas tanks, then explored some more near RumRunners.  We found another nice basin we could use as an anchorage then made a stop at RumRunners for a beverage and a little snack.  Then back to our boats.  Our Journey came over for some anchortales.  It was dark and we were getting tired, so they went back to their boat, we went inside and watched a little TV, then off to bed!

 

Holiday Family time!

 Monday, Dec 29:

We got our scooters from our friend (we had them delivered to their house).  Wes put them together and we did a quick test of them on the road.  No issues.  We plugged them in so they could get all charged up.  We took our time in the morning, doing little things around the boat.  Then we dropped the dinghy in and headed downriver to see some folks that just crossed their wake.  It was windy and we were heading into the wind.  It was about a half hour ride and it was lumpy!  I kept getting sprayed, so I was quite cold and wet, but we managed.  We passed Gvit a Go on our way downriver.  They were heading upriver to anchor near the dam that evening.  We stopped by Too Nasty's place, but they weren't there.  Then we went over to the marina were Journey was and we had a celebratory drink with them to celebrate them crossing their wake.  It was a quick visit with Journey, then we headed back upriver to where Gvit a Go was anchored.  We had a quick drink and visit with them as well then we had to get going as it was dark.  There was a little light off the horizon, but not much.  There wasn't anyone else our on the river, so we made it back without any problems.  We secured the dinghy, then had dinner and relaxed watching TV before going to bed.

 

Tuesday, Dec 30:

We wanted to try our the scooters, so we went to Manatee Park which was about 5 miles from where we are docked.  It was a chilly day (for Florida), but we didn't have any issues getting there.  We parked the scooters and locked them up then walked around the park.  We saw two manatees (barely) but we still saw them!  We walked the trails a little, then got on our scooters and started heading back to the boat.  We stopped at a gas station and got a drink, then made it back to the boat.  Both scooters made it without any issues, but Wes's was down to the last bar.  I was at about 50%.  We had a quiet afternoon.  I read and Wes did some computer work, then relaxed a bit.  Wes was getting a little stir crazy so we got on the scooters and went to Shore Bar and Grill which we passed on our way to Manatee Park and back.  The place was hopping (especially for a Tuesday around 1600).  We had a couple of drinks there then went back to the boat where we had dinner, watched some TV then went to bed.

 

Wednesday, Dec 31:

Wes got up and did some computer work right away.  I started packing and getting all my things together.  Then we took everything out of the main fridge and freezer and put them in the drink fridge and freezer on the fly bridge so we could defrost it while we were gone to visit family in IL.  We got all packed up and the boat basically shut down then caught an Uber to the airport.  The airport was busy!!  I didn't expect that given it's a smaller airport.  All went well though.  Our plane was on time and we didn't have any issues.  We arrived in Illinois about 1800.  My parents picked us up.  We ordered a pizza for dinner and played cards until we were all tired and went to bed (no we didn't make it until midnight).  Happy New Year everyone!!

 

Thursday, Jan 1:

It was a bit of a lazy morning.  Then we went out to visit some family.  It was a nice day!  We went back to my parents house, had dinner and played some more cards until we were all tired an went to bed.

 

Friday, Jan 2:

I worked all day and Wes did computer work.  On my lunch hour, I wrapped presents for our Christmas party Sunday.  Then we went out to dinner with our friends Joe and Dawn.  We had a great visit and great day!

Saturday, Jan 3:

We got up and went to breakfast with some friends.  Then I dropped Wes off and he did computer work all day while I went to my daughter's house and had a nice visit.  When I got back, we enjoyed a nice dinner then played some cards with my parents, then off to bed.

Sunday, Jan 4:

We had my family's Christmas party.  Got up and helped get the house ready and helped cook some of the food.  People started showing up.  A few were missing due to illness, but we had a great time and played some games and had a great time catching up with everyone.  We cleaned up, relaxed a bit then off to bed.