Banana Bay

2012.  Who’d a thunk it?  I can remember when 1958 was far out into the future…that’s when I’d graduate from high school.  And it came and I did. And now here we are…

Fred and I spent a couple of days just reading new books and hanging out after Christmas.  Very soon it was time to prepare for the Marina’s New Year’s Eve Party (which occurred without benefit of camera...).  Fred helped set up the decorations and I pickled a batch of shrimp.  It was a grand party with paper hats, noisemakers, fireworks and a champagne toast to the New Year!  We learned that 9pm is Banana Bay’s midnight, and by 10:30 we were back aboard YA.  A well attended and fun evening.

Fred flew the big flag in honor of the New Year.  Other than that is was a normal day with book reading and engine room activity---today’s project is the new pressure gauges (glycerine filled so they won’t jiggle so much) for the fuel filters!  A bonus is the extra piece of starboard behind the filters that makes them more accessible when it is filter replacement time.

Monday morning Nancy came to tell us that there was a manatee visiting near JENNA STAR.   And it was a big one!  George petted it and scratched its back and belly and finally it moseyed off to wherever manatees go.  


Where I went from there was to the 7 mile bridge with Sharon from STEVADORE.  She’s been a power walker for years.  I haven’t slowed her down much, but I only did the 4 miles---2 out and 2 back---one time.  Now we walk Monday and Wednesday mornings, go 3 miles and pick up litter.  And what a lot of litter there is to pick, sad to say.  All the bending certainly adds another dimension to a walk.  Belly, be gone!

While we were busy strolling, Fred greased the windlass motors.  They’ll be most appreciative when next we deploy Knute!

Sharon and I also went shopping one afternoon, and I’m pleased to report that I found new pillows and a throw that make us happy.  Marathon has some fine shops, and also some great restaurants.  We have a minor obligation to check these out!

This was the chilly week.  Temp got down to the 40’s one morning, and the wind has been reeeeealllllly blowing.  So cool and breezy that the free Yoga class at the City Dock was cancelled on Tueday.   By Thursday the wind had slowed and moving the class to the deck (further from the water and out of the shade of the tiki hut) made for a sunny class time.

Larry the Dockmaster says he is attempting to bring more events to the Marina portion of Banana Bay Resort.  This weekend we had sailboat races.  Eight Coronado 22 sailboats (a lot fewer than had actually signed up for the event) went out into Florida Bay (Gulf of Mexico?) and raced on both Saturday and Sunday.  CHICKEN SHIP, I’m told, is the National Champ in this class, and boat and crew came from the Atlanta area to win the races both days.

Another ‘happening’ at the dock on Saturday was the discovery that “AIN'T HAPPENIN'’” was underwater.  Not good.  Sea Tow was called, and came to raise the boat and take it away.  Apparently the problem was bilge pump related.  Instead of water flowing out of the scuppers, it was being pumped into the boat.  Really not good!   For you non-boaters, the idea is to keep the people in and the water out.  The people were in---they fished 17 miles away from shore on Friday afternoon.  Happily the water stayed out while they were away from the dock.  There is always something to be grateful for!

We have a movie theater within walking distance of the marina.  It is adorable---has tables and chairs and limited seats.  The movie changes every Thursday.   This week saw “My Week With Marilyn”.  Not a bad movie—one I'd like to see again to get all the people straight.  Sigh.  The premise of the movie was that 'Marilyn' was acting with Sir Laurence Olivier.  Inspired us to find his old movie, Marathon Man.  We await it's arrival.  Surprisingly, I phoned TCM to order the DVD, and not only do they not have Olivier movies, the young lady on the phone said "Who?"  End of an era, I guess.

This afternoon, Steve came by with the new exhaust fan he's building for the galley of  STEVADORE.  Using that [port]hole that already exists on the boat turns out to be a pretty good idea.  We certainly are getting milage from ours!


The weather has returned to the FL standard we’ve come to expect, and we’re

enjoying each day.  Hope you are as well, wherever you are and whatever you are up to.