You're welcome Gary

Had to hang around the boat yesterday waiting for Customs to come inspect and evaluate the sailboat as Gerry is thinking about importing it so we didn't get to the beach.

Today we decided to drive around the highway to get to our usual beach, the other one just isn't up to snuff - too shallow and there are absolutely no treasures to be found. Started out about 11:30 but didn't get too far - tire decided to fall apart. We didn't know that at first so were quite startled when a horrible racket made me pull over as quickly as possible. Gerry hoped it wasn't the front drive shaft, the noise was so horrific, but when I looked back on the road (Chris thought we'd hit something) I saw bits of rubber all over the road. We limped back ever so slowly on the wide shoulder on the wrong side of the road (it was clearer and the police car that drove by didn't seem to care).

Purloining Gary's spare

Amazing that it didn't totally disintegrate as we drove.

So now what? No spare; tried to buy one yesterday but tire guy is waiting for a new shipment.






We noticed that Gary had a lovely spare tire on his jeep and Gerry figured asking forgiveness is easier than asking permission so we sort of stole his tire. It was almost an emergency - we had to get to the beach didn't we? We noticed that it was a little low on air so we put more air in it  - you're welcome Gary.

Joys of boat ownership

Finally got to the sunny Bahamas on Thursday October 23, was raining, Friday, raining, but on Saturday the sun came out to stay for a while and we found the time to get to the beach on Sunday.

Things that needed fixing that aren't on our usual never ending list:

Jeep: 

* started, hurrah – but no brakes! We actually got a mechanic to show up when he said he would on Saturday and he fixed them in record time.

Dirty Girl: 

* forward bilge pump not working - 2" of water above the metal flooring. Pumped water out with portable pump, Gerry rewired so now we have to turn the switch on (and off) at the electrical panel.

* aft bilge pump stuck on, same fix as above. Still have 2 working automatically.

* fridge not working - took panel off in the freezer part, spun the fan, now it works.

* ice maker freezes but won't make ice.

* Saturday 2 of the electrical outlets in main salon just up and died ***

Ramblynn: 

* engine started but no water in the exhaust – replaced totally chewed up impeller

* a few annoyances trying to get the halyards and topping lift back into the clutches but once all was fixed the main sail went up nicely.

The tree Gerry pruned down to almost nothing last spring has grown so much it's hanging over the boat. The rats might be using the branches to get on the boat but none found their way inside. A few were trapped on the deck over the summer, thanks to Betty for dealing with those.

Old Freeport Road:

Photo taken a few days later, seems to be drying up.

* so much rain in one spot that Gerry had to walk through a large swampish and pretty deep hole to see if we could drive through - made it.

* further down part of the road is pretty much gone - high tides and rain have washed it away. Someone has placed a few large flat rocks to form a path around a tree but you need 4-wheel drive. Over time I think someone will fix this problem but until we get our 4-wheel drive fixed, we'll have to drive around the highway to enter the beach area from the other direction or go to a less desirable beach.

Shipwreck

Pretty enough beach but no treasures to be found except the view which is a treasure in itself.

View of Peterson's Cay

And lastly, we've been experiencing the highest tides I've ever seen. You have to walk just a little bit downhill to get off the dock- unreal!

**** Update on the electrical outlets - the ice maker was causing the problem. Had to turn it off, and hope we can fix it,  as we miss the convenience already. We might be spoiled?

 

Gone south, finally

So the almost straight to Bahamas meant that we had a day and night to fill in before boarding Celebration. We rented a car and they talked us into upgrading to a BMW for $10 as the compact we had booked was very small. BMW wasn't much bigger and had so many bells and whistles and stupidity that it would have taken me a week to figure it all out and all I had was a day.  It did handle nicely once I got it into drive but every time we pulled away from a stop it dinged and would you believe the lights didn't come on automatically (probably needed to reset something).

Had dinner and a small drink at the Rock Bar, Fort Lauderdale Beach. Forgot the camera but Chris had her cell phone. So the funniest part of this is that they might have been a little tipsy from the margaritas but when we got back to the hotel I (the sober one), tried to open the hotel room door with my Winn Dixie grocery card, duh.






Next day we had a brief visit with Jean (photo taken in her driveway), and a promise of lots of shopping when we come back in November. Gotta buy more Crocs, sorry Gerry.








Celebration's cabin seemed to be even smaller this time. It might be that we had 8 pieces of luggage (counting 2 giant purses and a backpack).  All October cruises had a Halloween theme, was fun.

Zombie hand appetizer

Real head among the fakes.

 Line dancing on the ship:

Doing the Wobble

The Casper Slide

Good grief it's Thanksgiving!

We are never here this late but with various appointments and business dealings we (plus Chris) are going to leave just in time to catch Fantasy Fest.
Update: due to circumstances beyond our control we're skipping Fantasy Fest so it's straight to Bahamas (almost) October 21.

Summer has passed quickly, as usual. We spent time with friends but not enough time, as usual.

Doesn't look like fun, but I assure you it was.

See - fun! Well maybe not Gerry, he's cooking.

More fun - we're not cooking!

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We surprised some club members by actually being present for the dock pull.

This is about how much I contributed but in my defense I had a migraine and should not have been there at all. I showed up to take pictures.

We hauled the Catalina out of the water and I don't know if I've mentioned this before but I hate that boat. It has too many shrouds for the jib sheet to get caught up on, the cleats are way too tight etc. etc.

I now have another reason - you can't get the damn thing out of the water. Gerry suspects the former owner used a crane. There were 4 attempts to get it out resulting in a dent and partial flooding in the SUV. Not only that but it sits crooked on the trailer. I vetoed the suggestion to relaunch and try again - are you nuts!!!

Agile Les, trying to keep out of the frigid water.

Chris, braving the frigid water to help us.

Didn't get to the car in time to take a picture showing just how much water was inside the SUV.

The entire right side of the car had water in it.

Just a wee dent.

Stupid crooked boat.

Four boats were hauled out that day and only one didn't have any trouble.