MONDAY 11/12/2012 THROUGH THANKSGIVING DAY, 11/22/2012

How quickly the last eleven days have gone by docked here in Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, Florida!  Everything you could want is either right here or nearby.  Garth and Kathy did a great job keeping me company during Dan’s absence, sharing meals and including me in shopping trips and walks about town.  I spent quite a bit of time cleaning poor Quest.  She had been quite neglected by me during Richard and Charlene’s visit.  Woodwork was oiled and laundry done, along with the dusting and vacuuming.  Somewhere along the line, I got a “bee in my bonnet” and decided to have the window coverings redone.  I yanked down all the existing, rusted and bent mini-blinds and tossed them into my rental car then measured all the other windows and portholes. Armed with all this, I headed to the House of Blinds in North Miami Beach where they will magically be transformed into new, non-metallic, faux-wood blinds.  The proprietor assured me they will be ready on Friday, 11/23.  Wish for the best!

LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN FIND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HERE.
HOW ABOUT THIS OLD LAND CRUISER WITH THE ELEVATED TENT?

 

The weather has been a quite lovely on the whole but one night we had so much rain that Algonquin’s dingy became waterlogged and the gas tank was floating.  Quite a bit of bailing was required to keep her afloat.  Kathy and I helped Garth out by going shopping!

ALGONQUIN'S TENDER IN DIRE NEED OF SOME BAILING OUT

Dan returned from his Vermont trip on Saturday the 17^th but was able to fly into the closer Palm Beach Airport instead of Fort Lauderdale.  I was glad to have him!  Since returning he has wired in the new portable Honda generator, made necessary repairs to the shore power electrical cords, installed the new starboard salon window and repaired that screen, constructed  new screens for the two large portholes in our master stateroom and exicuted an idea of mint to enable the port holes to be partially opened while the shades are down.  How nice that is!!!

DAN SNAKING WIRES UP, DOWN AND ALL AROUND FOR
THE NEW GENERATOR INSTALLATION

Sunset arrives at 5:27 PM now but we are looking forward to December 8^th when that time will slowly start to be pushed back.  Dan did a good job catching the glow of the setting sun over the boats.

STUART SUNSET

 

Thanksgiving Day found the docked and moored boaters sharing a wonder meal together.  Sunset Bay Marina hosted and provided the site, the paper products, the turkey and several other trays of food.  The participating boaters all brought dishes to share.  What a feast it was!!  Thank you Sunset Bay Marina for organizing such a super gathering.   

THE BOATERS BEGIN TO GATHER FOR THE THANKSGIVING FEAST

LINE UP!!!

KATHY HAS A HERD TIME DECIDING FROM THE
TOO NUMEROUS CHOICES OF YUMMY DISHES

AND WE ARE TOGETHER, THANKFUL FOR OUR BLESSINGS

Our family was spread all over.  Our daughter Erin and her family in Hawaii celebrated Thanksgiving with friends and Dwayne's family.  They gathered and cooked a pig in their Cuban-Pig-Box.  It was just another work day at Jet Blue for our son Robert and he spent it training a new employee.  Our youngest, Steven is spending another Thanksgiving in Annapolis with his friend Andrew and family.   We all have much to be thankful for and I am most thankful for my wonderful family and many friends.

DWAYNE FINISHING UP THE
THANKSGIVING PIG

 

The following poem was written by fellow boater Aime’ Lerner on the Lady M and recited to all us appreciative diners after our Thanksgiving meal. 

A BOATER’S THANKSGIVING

Boaters give a special thanks

On each Thanksgiving Day

First is for the sea of blue

So somber when it’s gray

We’re thankful for the lack of waves

When going port to port

We’re thankful for the harbor safe

When in a storm we’re caught

 All boaters know the dangers

Of going off to sea

We hope someone will hear us

If safety is our plea

We’re thankful for the sunsets

The rays of red and gold

The beauty of those moments

When sunrise does unfold

 When light appears at daybreak

And all is quiet and still

The sailor knows awakenings

Will always bring a thrill

 When out on flowing waters

When serenity abounds

We thank our lucky stars above

We’re not tied to the ground

 The dolphins down below us

The birds that soar above

Are surely quite symbolic

Of nature’s constant love

 But really most important

As all true boaters see

Is our sense of “all together”

Our true camaraderie

 Boaters always gather

To help in times of woe

Our joy in someone’s pleasure

When hearts are all aglow

 Thanksgiving Day is special

To all who gather here

So let’s give thanks to Neptune

For all we hold so dear