Below Portsmouth to St. Petersburg Nov.-May

                                  

Well, as I was saying, back in November, 2015….wait, I blinked!  It is now May of 2016!   For the sake of posterity, I will bring the blog up to date on the balance of the cruise to St. Pete, where we have  again 'wintered'.  Actually, from 2011-2015, our southern winter stop has been in St. Petersburg, on the west coast of Florida.  And we have pretty much parked here.  Doing what you are doing---living life,  enjoying each day, and taking what comes.  But we had to get here….

We left off the Blog as we were approaching our old friend the Neuss River. Tied up in Oriental Marina where we made plans to visit Joe and Punk Pica.  They've parked CAROLYNN ANN and purchased a home in New Bern.  Had a fine lunch and house tour and enjoyed very much the time spent with old friends!    No photos, darn it.

New backup nav system for us--iPad along with the pelican on the paper chart...

                                                                 

Moving right along (the current pushed us through Bogue Sound at 9 mph!)  we stopped in Swansboro at Dudley's Marina, and were treated to a lovely dinner at the home of Tom and Melissa, cruising buddies aboard JOURNEY.   Next day was Bridge Day---Onslow Beach, Surf City, Figure 8, and the Wrightsville Bascule—before we took a slip a the Mona Black Marina in Carolina Beach.  First time there---Randy, the Harbormaster, was a hoot! And he was up and out at 6:45 to toss our lines.  This time of year an early start is imperative, as the sun goes down by 4 or so!  Our 'new normal...'

Our next stop was at Grande Dunes in South Carolina, and daughter Kris was there to meet us!  She and John are settled into their beautiful new home in Surfside Beach, and for 2 days we enjoyed dining on fresh fish, watching the critters in their backyard canal, and the generally excellent hospitality!  On Wednesday Nov. 18, John and Kris left a car at Murrels Inlet (Wacca Wacca Marina) and drove back to Grande Dunes.  Once they boarded the boat we all cruised down the river---again the current gave us a nice push---water is really high!  So high in fact, that Kris had to move their car up the hill as the parking lot was submerged!  Did I mention the outstanding fajitas Kris prepared for lunch?  I'm a proud mama!

We had a quick dinner so Aunt Kris could be off to pick up our grandson JT at Coker College in Huntsville, SC. She took him to the Myrtle Beach airport so he could fly home for his uncle's funeral.  It's never dull!

Though the days were short, we made good time---below  Charleston, we swooshed through Elliott's Cut at 7.2 mph with the engines at 1400 rpm—idle speed. Anchored in Tom's Creek, and then stopped in Beaufort at the Port Royal Landing---That is the marina you see in the background at the end of  "The Prince of Tides" when Nick Nolte is driving across the bridge thinking "Lowenstein, Lowenstein…."  Love that movie!   Klauss from MOON BEAM joined us for dinner—Beaufort is his home town!

On through Georgia with stops at Kilkenney Creek and Jeckyll Island (new shopping mall there, and a golf cart to travel to and from it!) and soon  we were tied up at Fernandina Beach in Sunny Florida!

Had a great visit with Maurice from QUOTIDIAN, a St. Pete boat we first met in Canada while on the Great Loop. One of the best parts of cruising is meeting great folks, and then meeting again in a different time and place.  Maurice was on his way home from what had been a fairly harrowing trip.  He single handed to and AROUND Maine, so he could see the white whales—blue ones too!  His boat is under 30 feet, and I'd say it was no match for the North Atlantic, but he was here to tell us about it!  Brave Man!

Must've been construction waste. It was really hard to unwrap the stuff!

The next afternoon we heard a strange sound as we motored along, and the starboard propeller stopped turning.  We made it to St. Augustine—Camachee Island Marina had a nice long face dock to tie up to.   Thursday was Thanksgiving Day, and we were most thankful that Joe the Diver came around at 8 am.  He unwrapped a huge chunk of black plastic from the prop---heavy, unbending black plastic.  Uffda!  We kept a piece for a souvenir (threw it out recently…) and were off to Halifax Harbor in Daytona, with small craft warning type winds howling outside!

On Friday we pulled into the space at the free dock in New Smyrna Beach that Henry and Debbie on SEVEN TENTHS had saved for us.  Fun evening as the town had a parade and turned on the Holiday lights!

By 1:30 the next afternoon we were tied up at Harbortown Marina in Ft. Pierce where SHINGABISS has been living for some time.  Steve and Liz, our hosts in Minneapolis, who now live on the boat, will head for the Bahamas soon.  We had a great shrimp dinner on their boat!

After Ft. Pierce we headed west!  Uneventful crossing of Lake Okechobee, a nice night at Indiantown Marina, a beautiful free dock at Port LaBelle, and next thing you know we've come down the Caloosahatchee River and finally I got to go to the Edison/Ford homes in Ft. Myers!   Bucket List:  Check!  The marina at Edison-Ford was great and we were comped tickets to the Light Show at the 2 homes.  Extra special was the huge Banyan tree.  It covers acres, and is second largest in the world--the really big one is in Oahu, Hawaii. Shades of the Little Prince!  No wait, his tree was a baobob tree, which looked like a rose in it's earliest days, but grew to become something huge and destructive if not uprooted early.   Hmmmmm.

At 9:30 am on Dec. 3, we turned north at mile O of the Gulf IntraCoastal Waterway.  There was an issue with a bridge ahead, so we tied up at the Gasparilla Marina for 3 days before moseying up to the Crow's Nest Marina in Venice.  There we docked behind NEVER SAY NEVER, an 86' Monte Carlo Yacht built by Benetau (who knew).  We weren't invited to the cocktail party for 35 prospective buyers.  Just as well….

Ho Ho Ho!

Continuing with our early starts, at 7:15 a.m. on Dec. 7, we headed north, and by 4:30 had passed under the Sunshine Bridge, and bounced along Tampa Bay's lumpiness to the St. Pete Municipal Marina.  From the 7^th until the 17^th we got re-acclimated (even though we now were tied up on the North Dock). We put up our little 'mast tree',  and it was about the only decoration on the dock.   Thence to New York---Allegiant Airlines is our new best friend.  2.5 hours non-stop from Clearwater (20 minutes away) to Stewart Airport---10 minutes from our condo!  Fabulous!

We stayed in NY over the holidays, and then some.  Doctors and dentists etc.etc. and thankfully we each came away with a clean bill of health!

Back to the Boat by car on Feb. 5-8 with stops at Geoff and Amy's in Carlisle, PA, Kris and John's in SC, and JAX—a quick stop at LAZY DOLPHIN (Barb and Randy) and then a Holiday Inn with a free upgrade to a hot tub in the room!  What better place to watch the Super Bowl? (Obviously the photo is backwards---should be from the tub, looking at the TV!)

In February, even though it is Florida, we had the boat's furnace running many days.  The wind is cold!  It was too cold for the heated pool at Jerry and Janet Guyer's (AT LAST) home near Sarasota when they hosted about 24 Great Harbour family members, but it was an excellent event!

Feb. 15-19 we were in Orlando at the USPS Annual meeting.  Fred was re-elected Chair of the National Educational Fund, and I continued to play in the Ship's Store. 

Had a super surprise when daughter Ada called to say they, too were in Orlando!  Met at Universal Studios for lunch and quality time with Ada, Jimmy, Katie Rae and Jim's sister, Dawn!  Lovely!    Not so lovely to drive back to Orlando that night to get the items we forgot at the hotel, but all in all it was a great week!

On March 3, a slip finally opened on the West Dock, our favorite! We happily moved there, and now live at 101 Bayshore Drive NE again!  Our mailbox (#19) is still here and we are happy to be back, enjoying the closeness of downtown, of Frescoe's Restaurant, and the open view of the harbor!

Spent Easter in NY—started the day with a 911 call to put out the fire in the condo next door.  A bit of excitement in the wee small hours!  We are sooo grateful for firemen who come out in the dark on a holiday.  (Hmm, very familiar that---Thanksgiving 1984, only it was our very own home on Sunset Drive that was afire!  Uffda!)  The rest of the day was indeed a lovely day at Ada and Jim's!  Lots of good food (sit down dinner for 29) and lots of kids, large and small, hunting for eggs in the yard.

While home, we drove to Boston for our annual MIT Luncheon---with 3 inches of snow atop the car!  We helped Ada put Salon Lucere back together after having the floors re-done, we watched granddaughter Laurel tap beautifully in 42^nd Street at Arlington High School, attended the D2 Change of Watch and had a successful 'virtual Ship's Store'.    Sadly, my high school buddy Paula lost her fight with Lung Cancer.  She is already missed.  Although we didn't see her often, she was always just there, ready to pop in at a moment's notice!  Sigh.

In addition to Easter, the April trip was to do the taxes.  Unfortunately, we left the bundle of 2015 papers on the boat, so the process was extended until yesterday, the 11 of May.  THAT won't happen again, she said….

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When we left New York to return to the boat, we turned the condo over to Kris and John.  He had very successful back surgery in Rockland County, and was able to recoup at 68 HPC.  That same week, in Virginia, Christopher bade his gall bladder adieu.  Happily, he, too, is enjoying a speedy recovery!

And so spring is here.  Our summer plans don't involve moving YOUNG AMERICA, just moving us.  Will update the blog when we are 'back on boat' in September.

Hope you are staying on the sunny side of life---who and wherever you are!  

Be well and remember to breathe!

Solomons to Portsmouth

Happy hummingbird

San Diego was delightful.  It was Sunny, Warm and Gorgeous!   We were there for  the National Meeting of the USPower Squadrons, and had plenty of free time to catch up with friends that we mostly see at these events.  When that ended, we rented a car and drove to Casa Grande, AZ.  Visited there with the Mangelsdorf kids’ Aunt Miriam (Gallo).   Her desert home is beautiful.  She spends much time and effort keeping flowers blooming in the dry heat, and the birds are very happy that she provides so well for them!

We flew back to Newburgh and drove back to the boat a couple of days later, stopping in Carlisle, PA to have breakfast with son Geoff, Amy and Pete!  No more overseas duty for Geoff. He is now part of the PeaceKeeping study group at the Army War College.  Good to know such activities exist in our military! 

From Labor Day until the 23^rd of Sept.  we Did Not Labor.  We simply enjoyed the summer breezes, occasional showers, and lots of lazy mornings with coffee and USA Today provided by the hotel.  We vegged out big time.  And loved every minute of it!

Took a quick trip to Raleigh, NC to visit the Headquarters of the USPS, and to have dinner with Fred’s nephew and niece, Dan and Heidi.  Stopped in Burke on the way home, and spent a day helping Jen and Chris pack up for the move to their new townhouse.

You are probably aware of the Lunar Eclipse that occurred at the end of the month.  I saw great pictures of it.  Stayed up to see the beginning, dozed and woke as the moon was re-appearing.

The end of Sept. we went back to condo-land for 3 weeks.  Lots of happenings there!  We went to New York City to follow up with the nice dr. at Memorial Sloan Kettering who routinely checks Fred’s delicate skin.  Melanoma remains Gone! Yay!  After that we crossed the street to the Plaza Hotel and had Tea.   I use a capital T as the fare was about what you would expect to pay for a dinner for four.  Yikes.  It was the Plaza, though, and we lollygagged for a long time before catching  the only conveyance we could find, a pedi-cab, to get back to Grand Central Terminal.  The UN was in session and there were black SUVs and guys with earbuds everywhere, and no cabs to be found. (What is the fare?  I asked the Pedi-Cab Pedaler.  It is metered, he replied.)  At GCT he smiled and said “Meter says 12 minutes at $5.00/minute.  That’ll be $60, please.”

We do not recommend Pedi-Cabs.   The good news?  We were on time for the train. 

Back at the Condo Devyn planned, and with her big sister’s help executed a lovely party for Kris and John!  Sit down dinner for 18, and everything was dee-lish.  No goodbyes for Kris and John, who moved to their new home in Surfside Beach, SC the following Friday.  The girls said “See ya later!”    OCCC also had a work related party for Kris.  They will miss her a very great deal!!!

In addition to getting good reviews from doctors and dentists, we:

·      attended the Power Squadron’s D-2 fall conference in Poughkeepsie. 

·      attended granddaughter Katie Rae’s string department (she plays the cello) concert with Mark Wood---a vibrant string performer who plays the 7 string electric violin/viola/cello/bass that he invented and markets.  He insists that music be fun as well as emotionally satisfying, and fun it was!  

·      were present when granddaughter Laurel trumpeted the fanfare as the Arlington High School Band hosted its annual invitational event.  

·      went to NYC with Linda Lee to see Wicked, and had a great dinner in the Time/Life Building Restaurant.

In between we spent some time on m&r of the condo at 37 Westbrook, making it ready for a new tenant.  That got a bit goofy when Central Hudson shut of the power (oops—their mistake) and refused to turn it on again until they could shut off the gas valve to the stove.   Couldn’t find the gas valve.   We had returned to Maryland to be ready to join the French family in Washington DC on Saturday for Boo at the Zoo!  And what a hoot that was!  All the kids, large and small, got T&T bags that were filled with candy etc. from the more than 40 stations around the Zoo!  Had a really fun evening!  Free bus rides to the restaurant where we had dinner, and back to the car. (If you ever need parking, check out SpotHero.com.  Efficient and effective.  Got us two parking spots in busy Washington, in easy walking distance from the Zoo!)

See the new 'door' for the shut off valve?

From Washington, we headed north and arrived back in Newburgh on Sunday afternoon.  Fred was able, of course, to locate the gas shutoff (and make it accessible) and in the ultimate irony, Central Hudson’s rep came on Monday and turned the gas on before I arrived to show her where to find the ‘necessary to keep the place from blowing up’ stove shutoff.  Sigh.

Decided to stay one more night in Newburgh to have lunch with Rev. Chris from the UUCRT.  Glad we did---it was good to get to know him better!!

I’m reminding myself that the purpose of this blog is to highlight our cruising life.  Seems we are spending as much time ashore as on the boat these days.  Or, perhaps, that I’m recording the events just so posterity will be served.  Our lives do seem to be a bit goofy at times, and we find ourselves enjoying the goofiness just as it is!

Two tasks ere we left Solomons….Jeff the diver came and scraped barnacles off the bottom of the boat.   His wife came as well (to watch for bubbles while he dove, and share a glass of wine afterwards.)   She works with her dad doing inlays on guitars.  Guitars that sell for $30,000 and get put in MOMA and the Smithsonian!   The people we meet provide a great part of the enjoyment of the cruising life!

Thing two was to diagnose the problem with the head (toilet, don’t ya know…)  No vacuum, no flush.   Fred finally located a pinhole in an important little diaphragm.  Bing bang boom, replaced it and Bob’s your Uncle!

Bye Solomons until next year!  We spent a couple of days in Portsmouth, VA awaiting good weather for crossing the Albamarle Sound.    Got to See Tom Hanks in the Bridge of Spies at the Commodore--historic ‘pick–up-the–phone-and–order–popcorn-and-dinner-from–your-table-before-the–movie’-Theater.  ‘Twas an excellent movie!  Next day I bought my first persimmon at the local Farmer’s Market.  Made a great smoothie!

Ocean Marine Marina in Portsmouth was filled with sailboats.  A group called the World Cruising Club was staging two trips---one group was going to the Bahamas and the other heading to the British Virgin Islands.  Apparently these trips go every year. Departure had been delayed, and  the sailors were anxiously watching the weather…as were we.

We tied up Sunday night at the Visitor’s Center in the Dismal Swamp.  As we were about to leave in the morning, Robin and Karen arrived in a sailboat they designed and built in Canada.  A delightful couple with about 6 musical instruments on board.  They were especially interested in  Fred’s harpsicle, as they built and sold harps for awhile.  Karen shared some music with us (Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx doing Pete Seeger songs, for example) and showed us a really great video of their cruise down the Hudson River with a Pete Seeger sound track.  Fabulous.

Had an easy day on Monday, and stopped for the night at 2:30 in the afternoon.  Still staging for the Albamarle Sound.  Today we crossed without incident, I’m happy to report.   Of the many Sounds (for the non-boaters, Sounds are bodies of water that open to the Ocean.  Depending on depth, wind, tides and currents, calm water can become very unsettling in a hurry) along the ICW, crossing the Albamarle can be 2 hours of pain or pleasure.  The pain can usually be avoided, as we did by staying in Portsmouth and then moseying.  Caught a good ride, and now we’re anchored for the night with 3 other boats in the area near the Alligator-Pungo Canal.

As soon as steady internet returns, probably Thursday, I’ll post this.  Until then, hug a veteran and be proud and grateful for their service!   In our immediate family, my dad and brother served in WWII and Korea, and son Geoff continues his Army career with  his first stateside posting in several years!  Also, Fred’s dad worked in the Petroleum Industry during WWII, helping to keep the military moving, and granddaughter Tarryn’s special guy, Ron, is an Army Veteran.

And, of course, remember to breathe!

June- August, 2015 Charleston to Solomons

Disgraceful.  Commit to Monday Messages, and then don’t do ‘em.  And so now it is time for a major catch-up.

We did get to the Chesapeake!  And a month ago I wrote a lengthy travelogue, and then lost it by closing the silly thing without saving.  Who does that???  Needless to say, it is taking awhile to get back in the swing of this thing, but I’ve very nearly let go of my anger and frustration, so will begin again.   (I know, you didn’t really need to know all that, but I needed to write it down for posterity.)  

We zipped up to Myrtle Beach from Charleston---stopped at our favorite place, Barefoot Landing (great ice cream).  Sad to say, just before docking we pulled far to the right side of the channel to allow a big boat to pass, and heard the awful scraping sound of rocks that were NOT far enough under our keel!  Happily there was no damage that hurt the boats ability to work, so we continued on the next morning  to Southport, then across the Cape Fear River, and back to another favorite---Swan’s Point Marina in Sneads Ferry, NC.

There is new management at Swan’s Point—Tina Turner and her mom.  They are making much needed improvements, and we wish them well! Hop, skip and jump thru the Marine’s Camp LeJune practice firing range---nobody was shooting at or around us---and next thing you know we’d rounded the Morehead City bend, and zipped up to Oriental. At 8 miles an hour.  :-) Stopped at Whittaker Landing this time---a new marina for us, and found Knute to be a great dockmaster.  He even drove me to the new mini-WalMart that graces Oriental (arrgghh) for a few supplies.

If you’re new to our blog, there are descriptions in excruciating detail of the East Coast IntraCoastal Waterway back in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 postings. Since then, our cruising has been on the west coast of FL, and the inland rivers.   I’m highlighting here, but must say that we really were enjoying cruising through familiar waters, stopping with old friends and making new ones!

 

One of the many spring Thunderstorms!

Neuss River, BelHaven, Alligator Pungo Canal, Alligator River, and then came decision time.  It was late in the day, the water was smooth as silk, and we had to cross the Albamarle Sound. Hmmmmm. Stay with Miss Wanda at the Alligator River Marina, or cross the smooth-as-silk Sound and reach the opposite shore in the dark.  We chose to stop before dark (Fred’s Rule #2), knowing that the next morning the wind would not be our friend.

Turned out to be a hoot!  Sure enough, the wind was whipping and the water roiling (don’t get to use that word very often.:-) )   We left early---along with PROUD MARY,  who pulled out ahead of us (ahem) and then jumped into our wake as the water got lumpy. 

Poor PROUD MARY rockin' and rollin' in Albamarle Sound!

  It was rough enough to tip over the Aero-Garden (oh, I was supposed to put the bungie cord back on after all this quiet time?  Oops.) and Fred’s navigational trick---turning east toward Coinjack rather than heading for our planned destination in Elizabeth City --made only a moderate improvement in the ride.   PROUD MARY’s skipper told us they wouldn’t consider turning back, as his wife “wanted to be sure someone knew where the bodies were”.  No worries, we finally reached  the lee of the land, hung a left, and motated into Eliz. City, where PROUD MARY, alive and well, stopped for the day.

Next stop for us was the Dismal Swamp!  Had a brief wait for the lock at South Mills, and we soon slid into the Visitor’s Center.  There was no room on the dock, so we rafted to the unusually outfitted Kadey Krogen, MANATEE-- just in time for happy hour! 

MANATEE in the Dismal Swamp

First time we’ve met Ted and Sarah.  Their cruising is a spiral---they are doing the Great Loop for (I believe,) the 22^nd time this year!  Tragically, I lost a million dollar bet with Sarah because I foolishly believed that HAPPY CLAMZ was a Great Harbour Trawler, not a Krogen Manatee, as Doug and Leslie are traveling with Great Harbour SEVEN TENTHS.  The two boats are a day ahead of us, and on their way to the GHTA Rendezvous.  I was sure HC was a GH, and Sarah phoned Leslie to prove me wrong!  Paid the debt with ½ a cantaloupe that Sarah said “tasted like a million bucks!”

We caught up with the above mentioned trawlers the next day in Portsmouth, VA, and docked  (in the North Basin) and dined (at the Commodore Theater—bucket list check!)  with Doug, Leslie, Henry and Debby.  Fun.

Our next stop was to be hauled at Ocean Marine in Portsmouth to check the props.  Sure enough, the starboard prop was badly bent, and the rudder banged up a bit as well. 

Dings in a propeller are NOT a good thing!

 As it was Tuesday, and we had to wait until Friday to get the props back from the repairman, we decided to make a run to St. Pete and pick up the car!  Found a cheap flight via Miami, and got to the airport by taxi in plenty of time.  Plenty of time.  Some sort of issue with the airplane’s windshield prevented take off until we’d missed our connection in Miami, so the Airline gave us a hotel room, and at 5:30 the next morning we were headed for St. Pete.  Chatted at and checked out the newly re-done St. Pete Municipal Marina Office, got a USA Today at the Hampton Inn, and headed north.  An overnight in Bluffton, SC, and Thursday we were checked into the hotel overlooking that free dock at the North Basin.

The boat was ready on Friday, but it was 2pm before we got docked at the N. Basin, so we accepted the BOGO Lunch offer we’d received the night before at the Marina restaurant, and Saturday morning headed out.

 

Message board at the restaurant.  I like it!

We made it an easy day and stopped at Hampton Roads before noon.  After a delicious afternoon rain I went to the Farm Fresh Market (yum) and that was our day!  Sunday was Flag Day, and the big flag went up to celebrate.  There was lots of boat traffic in the Bay around Thimble Shoals and Mobjack Bay, and by 2:30 we were happy to arrive at Deltaville.  The temp was 81 degrees with 100% humidity---and it is only mid-June!

We tied up at the Norview Marina (again a new-to-us-stop) and discovered INSANDITY was our neighbor.  This Great Harbour N-37 was PELICAN with its’ former owners. Enjoyed meeting and chatting with Chuck and Joyce. 

YOUNG AMERICA & INSANDITY at Deltaville

Monday was a 90 degree day, so we took a day off with a/c.  Went for a dinghy ride when it cooled a bit, and just relaxed.   Tuesday morning, as we headed into the Chesapeake, SHINGABISS hailed us on the radio.  Liz and Steve had come into Deltaville the night before….

The Chesapeake was calm, and we had an easy run to the mouth of the Potomac.  At  2:30 we’d turned into the St. Mary’s River, where the Great Harbour Rendezvous was scheduled at the Corinthian Yacht Club. The dock was alive with GH owners, and we pulled into a slip where we would stay for a week.

Had a really good time hanging out with our fellow Great Harbour boaters—business meeting, winery tour, concert at St. Mary’s, good food, camaraderie and all that jazz!  Sunday morning we piled into a rental car with Joe and Punk  (CAROLYN ANN) and drove to Portsmouth to bring our car the rest of the way to where we are—or will be! What great friends are they!  Had a good lunch together at the Gosport Tavern in P’mouth, then drove two cars to Solomons, MD—our final destination for the boat---and Joe and Punk returned us to YOUNG AMERICA.  Whew!

For those who are map oriented, the GHTA Rendezvous was at a yacht club off the St. Mary’s River—first stop on the Maryland side of the Potomac.  The Patuxent River is the next major river flowing into the Chesapeake Bay north of the Potomac.  Solomons (and now YOUNG AMERICA as well as our car) is at the south end of the Patuxent.  We are now, and have been since June 22, at the Marina behind the Holiday Inn in Solomons, on the same dock we lived on in 2011 when we were here.

Becda & Casey have a dinghy ride with Grandad Fred

There is a lot to like here.  We have hotel privileges---free morning coffee, USA Today every day, gorgeous big swimming pool, workout center with sauna, and Isaac’s restaurant.  The Library, barbershop, nail salon and Maritime Museum are within easy walking distance. There is a UU Congregation 15 minutes away, and a movie theater 20 minutes in the other direction.  Chris and Jen live just 1-1/2 hours away—  There are plenty of good restaurants and a market with fresh seafood—we bought a dozen steamed crabs and learned how to take them apart---and new friends in boats tied up on the dock and old friends passing through.  Not to mention Geoff, Amy and Pete stopping on their way to their new posting at Carlyle, PA—the Army War College. 

Geoff, Amy & Pete came for dinner.  Great to have them in the US

It is all good.

I went to book club at Jen’s house, and she and the kids have come down to spend a day on the water!

So, of course, we left, and drove to New York.  As I was born in a year that ends in a 0, July 2015 provided a milestone birthday for me!  The good news is that I am now old enough that I no longer have to take off my shoes at the airport!  Fred and the girls very generously planned and executed a fabulous Birthday Party for me!  

It was held at the UUCRT, and with Ada’s Selfie Studio about 60 folks were photographed as they arrived.Grandchildren helped with nametags and serving; there was great food, wonderful background music, and  cake and ice cream after the reading of the Desiderata and Let if be a Dance (words I’ve lived by).  Coincidentally, the UU had a brand new Labyrinth built into the lawn outside for folks to explore.  It was a spectacular afternoon!  I’m incredibly blessed---and looking forward with gratitude to many more happy years!

We are now back in Solomons, enjoying the most relaxing boat time we’ve had in a long time.  No deadlines, no major boat work.  Sunny days and pleasant evenings!  And air conditioning!

 

My sister sent us a quilt she made!  Really brightens up the stateroom!

Will catch up again when we return from San Diego---US Power Squadron meeting the end of this month.

Until then, be well, remember to breathe, and thanks for stopping by!