This past weekend we prepared for a "big blow". A cold front had slowly made its way across the country (leaving lots of destruction in the Southeast) and finally got here Sunday night. As the front approached, winds started building to 25 mph from the Southeast, then Sunday night the front blasted through with a little rain and a wind shift to the West with up to 40 mph. I had taken a hint from a fellow RVer and bought 100 feet of webbing which I tied across the slide toppers to keep them from ripping or making too much noise. By Monday night, the winds started subsiding and things are back to normal.
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| Ready for the big blow |
Before the wind started picking up, Saturday I went on a kayaking trip with a group from the base.
Saturday evening we attended a "Luau in Paradise" here on base. It was Hawaiian themed, good food and not so good entertainment.
We've finalized plans for a trip to the US Virgin Islands. We have met a couple, Steve and Linda DiStatio, who full-time in the motor home and in discussions, found that they are also sailors.
We broached the subject of perhaps flying over to the Bahamas and chartering for a few days. From this, we looked into chartering here in the Keys, and finally decided that the Virgin Islands were as cheap (airfare is actually less than going to the Bahamas), we are much more familiar with the waters and the weather was probably better. So, we're leaving February 21 for 7 days on a 38-foot catamaran out of CYOA in St Thomas. We chartered there in 2014 and really enjoyed it. We especially enjoyed sailing and snorkeling around St John. So that's the plan.
We'll leave the motorhome here and return here for a few days before thinking about heading North.
Wednesday evening, we had some friends over for a shrimp boil.
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| John, Bob, Lynn, Nancy Clara Steve and me |
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| I sailed several miles over to the Sigsbee Campground and Clara went down to shore and took this pictures. |
Steve and I have been out a couple more times on the Hobie, but unfortunately, the winds were fickle. Although we sailed a couple hours, it wasn't as much fun. From now on, I'll pay a little more attention to the weather forecast rather than assuming it's always going to be perfect.
Saturday evening we were sitting outside late in the afternoon, and suddenly the wind got a chill in it. It was foreboding of a few days of cooler temperatures. And Sunday, for the first time since we've been here in two years, it rained most of the day. We had several things that we needed to get done so we took advantage of not playing all day and got those out of the way. Primarily I worked on our annual book of photos for 2016. It was fun replaying all the memories of a great year.
Steve's wife, Linda is out of town, so we've gotten together with him for a couple of dinners. Steve and I get along real well. We can go out sailing and don't feel that we have to continuously have a conversation. I think we both just enjoy the silence and aren't concerned with trying to keep a conversation going all the time.
Eureka is gone. A couple from Charleston SC has bought her and left Saturday. It's been a great boat, but we're ready to move on to something different.
Jean Speights, our neighbor in Beaufort made this statement upon learning that Eureka is sold.
"I imagine that it must be a bitter-sweet moment in time for you and Clara. I trust that She’ll be sailing on to another good home and will be well loved and cared for in the manner in which she was accustomed. I’m glad we all had the opportunity and privilege to dress Her with lights and parade Her in the Flotilla. That was a wonderful time that we’ll never forget. She was so beautiful, and we have wonderful memories to keep! You could easily say that She departed your harbor with grace, beauty and style and will carry those qualities with Her as she embarks on Her proud new journey"
There is no better way to say it.
Tuesday, January 31 was a special day. In recent correspondence with Kent Meyer, I learned that they are taking a cruise out of Miami to Cozumel, and their first stop is Key West.
We coordinated meeting each other at the Customs House (near the cruise ship terminal) at 10 this morning and spent two hours catching up. What a great coincidence.
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| We called Slade to suggest that he let Anna go to Colorado for the summer to be a counselor at YMCA Camp Chief Ouray, where Slade had gone when he was 15 years old when Kent was the Camp Director there. I don't think Slade thought that was a good idea. It's amazing the difference in perspective when it's your baby girl. |
It's hard to believe that January has slipped away. Clara commented tonight that it only seems like a few days. We're over the half-way point on this trip.
Tonight we returned to the Tennessee Williams Theater for a tribute performance to The Carpenters (a singing group that Anna has never heard of). It was fun to break the routine we've settled into, which is doing nothing. The singing was good, the performance not so great.
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| This is where Clara spends most of her days. We are located where a lot of people walk and lots of them stop and talk - and of course Clara loves to talk. So this is perfect. |
Thursday, February 2 we met with Joe and Susan Johnson, friends from Beaufort who come down every year for a week or two. It was good to catch up on all the news from Beaufort.
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| Clara and Susan have established the southernmost chapter of the Beaufort Garden Club |
Friday, Jim invited me out for a sail on his Hobie. A great boat. I want one!!
