Delray Harbor Marina - Delray Beach, FL - 5/6/11

We left Dania Beach Marina (finally) after being there for 55 days about 8:15 a.m. on a low tide so we could clear the fixed 18 foot bridge. We left with More $tuff and picked up Lucky One at the Dania Beach canal and headed north thru Port Everglades.

This is a shot of the Discovery Sun leaving for the Bahamas, the same ship we took yesterday.

A container ship was loading some yachts for ports unknown.

A little closer picture of one being loaded. We have friends on Endeavour that we traveled on the rivers that will be shipping their boat from Fort Lauderdale to the west coast next spring.

Some of the big yachts have a toy locker on the stern.

Then we started seeing big houses again.

And started feeling POOR!

And POORER!

Our cruising friends Skip & Barb got us flowers for our anniversary.

We pulled into Delray Harbor Marina at 1 p.m. after traveling 28 miles, most pretty slow with many bridges to open and lots of slow manatee areas.

Scenes around the marina.

The marina.

They put Skip between two 75 footers.

Huen was on the fuel dock.

The marina was surrounded by condos.

We saw this critter on our way to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner before turning in for the night.

Our position tonight is N 26 26.758 W 80 03.954

Bahamas - 5/5/11

Thursday started very early at 4:30 a.m. so that we could board the Discovery Sun for a day trip to the Bahamas. We had to board the boat about 6 a.m. at Port Everglades with departure about 9 a.m.First order of business was a breakfast buffet. Breakfast, dinner and ALL beverages were included in the $128 price per person ticket.

before we ever left shore the games began with a limbo contest on the top deck. the boat had about 6 or 7 levels that included several lounges, dining rooms, a swimming pool and cabins. We went with Ken & Dianne and decided to get a cabin so we would have a place to store our stuff or even catch a nap if needed.

We were escorted out by harbor patrol boats which is done for all cruise ships since 9/11.

Leaving Port Everglades looking out into the Atlantic.

The pilot boat. A Harbor Pilot takes all cruise ships out about 5 miles then is picked up by this boat at that point. When we come back tonight about 11 p.m. the same will happen in reverse.

Apparently the Coast Guard was conducting some sort of a drill or promo film. They passed us at high rate of speed accompanied by a helicopter.

Our travel companions .... Ken & Dianne.

More games on the top deck. There were several Canadian young folks that entered every contest and provided a lot of entertainment.

At 11:30 a.m. we entered the Bahamas and went thru customs.

Ever wonder what is inside a conch shell?

We took a bus to a local resort for lunch and shopping, first stopping to see the pretty green water.

the grumpy ol' man and his bride on their 20th anniversary.

Looking back at the resort from the board walk.

A little eye candy for our female friends.

We met a couple ladies from Australia. this was the comical one ... Sue.

The resort as we were leaving for the shopping district.

the shopping district.

Anyone for hair braiding?

More shopping.

Back on the boat ... the Canadian boys and a gal from Holland in a beer drinking contest.

Must have worn my bride out ... looks like she picked a hunk to sleep with!

And back to Port Everglades to clear customs at 11 p.m.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will leave Dania Beach and start up the coast of Florida.

Dania Beach, FL - 5/4/11

Another day getting ready to leave the marina. Ricki had planned to work inside the boat today and I planned to put a final coat of varnish on the rails.

Shortly before noon Barb came across the dock to our boat and said Skip was going for a pump out and would I like to go. So Skip, Barb, Dan and I took off for Harbour Towne to do the deed.

Skip topped off his fuel and this is the result ... Notice the per gallon price!

After our chores were finished, Ricki & i headed for the beach with our little friend. He has caused quite a stir around here since everyone has seen him sitting on the boat.

Here's another shot of him. If you can enlarge the picture you will see why he is trying to look at the ocean.

The evening was topped off with a rib & chicken BBQ hosted by Joe & Stephanie, local boaters. I think they are worried the marina will become a ghost town when we all leave this weekend. Tomorrow we are taking a cruise ship to the Bahamas for the day since we will not be able to go in our own boats due to Skip's leg problems. We should get some great pictures over there.

Dania Beach, FL - 5/1/11 thru 5/3/11

We have been very busy since returning and failed to update the blog so now I have the problem of remembering what we did for the past 3 days .... so here goes!




When we returned we found this furry creature on top of one of the piling poles on the next dock behind us. We have had raccoons on the dock every since we got here and the dock master has trapped some of them and deported them to another park down the road. They have gotten so brave that they actually invade picnic baskets on the beach in front of people so we have been told. This little guy was up there for at least 3 days without food or water, so ...

Randy (another boater on our dock) took a long pole and suggested that he leave the piling.

He did leave and swam around the marina for awhile coming real close to the island between the marina and the AICW then went up another piling. We think he is sick and probably starving because the next day I saw him fall into the water and not come up.

Our first agenda item on Monday was an appointment at the customs office to get our re-entry card that you use to get backing into the USA so you won't need to appear in person at the customs office but just call in instead. Then we went to West Marine and on to lunch at Lester's a very quaint diner with excellent food. Later we needed to pump out and because of our height we have to wait on low tide, so as we were leaving we encountered Dan & Biddi (Biddi & the Beast) coming into the marina from the AICW. They had guests for a few days and had taken an overnight trip up the New River.

Tuesday was chore day. While Ricki, Barb and Biddi took off for the laundromat, I tackled the teak rails since the varnish had actually lifted while we were in WV. What a job ... first sanding all the bad stuff off then cleaning them and putting paint tape on all the metal pieces and finally getting one coat of new varnish on them. All nine of us (Huen, Ken & Dianne, Skip & Barb, Dan & Biddi, Ricki & I) went to a great Italian restaurant for dinner. Evidently it was "cooking school night" where their chef prepares the dinner in front of 60 folks who pay $30 each to learn how to prepare it. They normally don't open the restaurant up for others but they let us go outside on their patio area for our dinner. This is a picture with everyone showing except ....

Biddi & Dan .....

Huen loves all women. Maybe that has something to do with the fact he has been married 5 times!

My bride met this "hunk" outside the restaurant door. Good thing the car was already full.

Tomorrow is boat washing day and finish the teak project since we will be leaving Thursday for a day trip to the Bahamas and leaving the marina Friday heading up the Atlantic coast.

Dania Beach, FL - 4/30/11

YIPPEE .... HOME SWEET BOAT!!!

Boy is it good to be back on the boat having been gone only 15 days however, the trip home to see all the kids and grand kids was also great. During our time there we had both daughters home for a few days from Germansvile, PA and Raleigh,NC along with our sons from Vienna, WV and Washington, WV. a total of 17 in all in the same place at the same time. Life is good.

The whole family ......all 17 of them

Since the newest arrival, grandchild #9 wasn't sitting up so well in the group picture, here are a couple of close-ups.

Cameron

Grand baby #9.

..just a few weeks old

We spent time with my (older) sister Mary and Danny whose house guests were my cousin David & Agnes from Florida. We will see them again when we go up the St. Johns River to Sanford in Florida.

We also took a road trip to Jamestown, NY to visit with Ricki's mom, sister Sue and niece Jen for a couple days. It is always nice to go there but damn it was cold and we had left all our jackets in Florida!

Grandma Ricki, grand daughter Kaci and good friend Gladys (aka Glenna) out for a girls lunch.

We had dinner on Tuesday night with Bill and Dianne at Los Agaves where Tom Holcomb (tomholcomb. com) a good friend is an entertainer on a circuit that includes the restaurant in Parkersburg every Tuesday night.

We saw the ladies from our local court house who were also at Los Agaves last Tuesday night at the adjoining table.






Ricki and Harold met at cardiac rehab after heart surgery many years ago and we usually see him at the Mexican restaurant since his group is there every Tuesday to hear Tom.

Wednesday evening was spent with our friends Butch and Johanna with dinner at their lovely home. We are trying to talk them into joining us on this adventure.

Our trip back to Florida was about 1,100 miles so we spent the night near Savannah before coming on in today. Our friends Skip and Barb, Ken and Dianne, Dan and Biddi and Huen were all here when we drove in to the marina. Skip is still under doctors orders and will not be able to withstand the long trip out of the country to the Bahamas so it looks like the only way we will get there is by cruise ship next week. Looks like we will be starting up the east coast by next weekend so stay tuned ....