Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas - Everybody!

The end of 2015 is about here and frankly we are really looking forward to 2016 right now.  We have been at docks way too long but all in all we have Nati about as good as we can do right now.  Tomorrow we depart Melbourne.  Over the last week or so we have had a lot of laughs with Jean, Tom, the Chief and Millie, of course we can't forget Jumbo, Shrimp, Scampi and Mickie.  If you don't know.........don't ask!

Last sunset at Camachee Cove

Christmas lights everywhere

Camachee Cove

















To recap......we pulled out of St Augustine 10 days ago and made it to Melbourne.  We are having Christmas with the gang here and last weekend my parents came over from Largo.  Some good laughs were had by all.
The "gang" was all there!


Christmas Eve was put on by Jean & Tom......steak tapas and shrimp went down the hatch very nicely....

Tom with his apple pie

This morning was gift opening and we did quite well.....thank you everyone!  My highlight was my very own rendition of "Rudolph the red nose reindeer" by no other than ....EVAN!  It was great!

Our gifts from under the tree

So....to recap, we have had quite a year and we are looking forward to heading further south.  We  both want blue, clean water off our stern.

  Nati is being let out of the pasture to run!! 

Friday, December 11, 2015

Take 2!!

As they say in the film industry.......take 2, as in lets do everything again, and again and again.  The last couple of weeks has been insanely busy but after today's test run proved, it's all been worth while from our standpoint.

The prior post had us getting ready to head south to make Jean & Tom's Thanksgiving party.  Well, we made it as far as Daytona and ended up turning around.  Our engine woes continued and we were beginning to think we may have to buy oil by the barrel.  So back to St Augustine and Camachee Cove Marina for more work.  To fast forward.......we are now the proud owners of 2 brand new Yanmar 3YM30 diesels!

It's a good thing the Camachee Cove and 1st Mate Marine Services are first rate companies.  While nothing is free in this world we are satisfied with all of the service and the engines are great.  Quiet, a little more power and supposedly 8 lbs lighter.  We will take all that we can get.

Our new instrument panel

3YM30 diesel

getting lowered in place

Besides spending a bunch of $$ we did get to be in St Augustine for the turning on of the Christmas lights.  It's pretty spectacular when the Schooner comes up to the Bridge of Lions and when the horn sounded all the lights switched on.  We had a perfect view and it made for a good night on the mooring ball.  It was too cold to go to town but we were happy to be right there.

The lighting of St Augustine

Downtown

More of downtown

























Once the engine work was finished we had a couple of days to wrap up our new wind generator installation.  Now we figure we won't see a lick of wind for weeks on end.  It seems to be working well, even if the amount of wind we have seen is 5kts or less.

Too high to climb

Finishing touches




















Tomorrow is the marina Christmas party and we have decided to head south on Sunday.  We are crossing our fingers that all will go as planned.  It's starting to get a little too cold up here in north Florida.  Time to put the pedal to the metal........