March 28, 2011

We’re back.  Back on the boat, and ready to leave it again.  Go figure...

I did go to New York.  Stayed in the condo for two weekends, to give the crew in FL time to install the new heating system.  The only problem is, the components didn’t get put together and the ‘right stuff’ didn’t arrive, so Fred spent eleven days in the southern state, while I spent eleven days in the northern state, and a few days after I returned, the work got started.

I  had a great time in NY.  On the first Sunday, much of the family gathered at High Point Circle to celebrate March birthdays and anniversaries, as well as to visit with the newlyweds, Tarryn and Austin, who were home from Hawaii.  The time flew by, and very soon I, too, was flying.  On Tuesday the 15th, I  landed back at the JAX airport to lunch with Fred!

Hmmmm...  Cruising?  The day after I left, Fred moved the boat from the huge concrete, stationary, built for Navy ships dock to the recreational boat floating dock.  It is much easier to board with heavy boxes of building supplies from here.  And that is 'it' for boat movement since last we spoke---except for the rock and roll of the St. John’s River.  Not sure why we get so much bobbing here, but unlike some docking experiences, here we know for sure that we are on a boat!  The lines do their work holding us securely at the dock!

Reynolds Park Yacht Center has a rich history and an exciting future. Formerly known as Lee Field Naval Air Station, it was the site of one of the largest U.S. aviation training facilities during World War II. In 1946 this 1700-acre complex, located on the St. Johns River, was developed into a marine terminal to securely house the Mothball Fleet of WWII ships. Over 600 ships were stationed here until, under his first executive order, President Johnson decommissioned the facility and moved the fleet to Texas, his home state.
The Navy relinquished the facility and industrialist J. Louis Reynolds, former chairman of Reynolds Metal Company, established Reynolds Park in 1965. The park remains in the family today and is now home to a diverse variety of businesses, local and international. Since established the waterfront and piers had been used mainly for commercial vessels, dredging equipment, ship building and repairing.
Most marinas are in restricted spaces with no room to expand. With the increasing size and number of yachts creating a demand for more yacht facilities it was decided in 2002 to develop part of the waterfront as a yacht marina to take advantage of the existing piers and available space.

I cut and pasted that paragraph from Google.  Mirage Manufacturing chose Reynolds Park as the marina to use to launch their boats.   YOUNG AMERICA was first splashed here, after being trucked from Gainesville, in 2008.

Darryl did come to install the furnace.  He brought his son Aaron, who easily could fit in the alleyways under the floor.  Ran hoses and wires from one end of the boat to the other.  Our 592 sq. ft. home will have 3 zone heat when it is all done! 

Where were you on the night of the biggest full moon in many years?  We celebrated  with fellow boaters at a ‘Howl at the moon' Party on the dock.   Hot dogs and salads, munchies, and eventually brilliant moonlight!  A good time was had by all!

We’re really enjoying the southern warm weather and sunshine (except today it rained---much needed rain, though, so it’s a good thing).  Here is a local news flash!   An Osprey nest atop a power pole got wet in the rain and the resulting short circuit caused a power outage for an hour or so.  No one knows for sure what happened to the bird, but it can’t have been pretty…..

Tomorrow we’ll pack up and drive to New York. This is a trip that has been on the agenda.  We’ll take care of taxes, Power Squadron events,  (I’m studying for the Advanced Piloting exam), and various appointments with the professionals who verify for us that we are well.  And immensely grateful to be so!

 Will return in mid-April.  See you then!