of the house. The fourth photo is Shelly and Bill having Christmas on our boat. The last photo is Chip from Ithaka, one of our baoting companions from the summer in Canada
Bill and Eileen prepared a wonderful meal for Christmas Eve. Jeff arrived shortly before dinner so he ate dinner with us. Anne was unable to get away from the camp so Jeff went back and they will come together Christmas morning and Jeff will ride down to Everglades City with us. It was quite relaxing to sit and visit before and after dinner.
Shelly was up on Christmas morning before Muriel and I. When she turned to leave our room she said “What is wrong with Bill’s boat, it is leaning way over.” I got up to see and sure enough, Blue Max was heel ed way over to port. We jumped outside to see what was going on and realized that the tide was very low and Blue Max was hard aground. Bill said it did not do that yesterday, but he moved forward yesterday before we came in to make space for us. We might be lightly on the bottom but we are still level.
Jeff and Anne showed up about 9:00 and we got underway about 10:30. The tide was rising as we went through the Marco River and out past Coon Key. This was the perfect time to pass the shallow waters in this area as they were rising. We went right through without even bumping the bottom. We arrived in Everglades City at the camp at mid-afternoon in time to help with preparation of the Christmas dinner. We had turkey, ham, squash, mashed potatoes, gravy, snap peas, and key lime or pumpkin pie for dessert. Afterward everyone participated in a gift swap.
This morning, Dec 26, we are working on projects around camp. Shelly is anxious to get her Florida fishing license so I will go on line shortly and get that done for her.
I got Shelly’s license for her so now she is using her new pink Lady Shakespeare fishing rig. Yesterday, Saturday, Jeff and I drove over to Ft Lauderdale to shop for items for our boats. I got an anchor wash down pump for Muriel. She hates using the brush we have and a bucket to clean the anchor rode and anchor. Today, Sunday, we went for a late breakfast with a friend who lives on Chokoloskee Island right here in the bay out from Everglades City. We had a nice visit and then returned to the base to work on several projects. Right now Muriel is helping Anne prepare dinner to earn her keep.
Monday Jeff and I worked on several projects around the site. We repaired a dock which was damaged by the hurricane this fall. We re-piped a water heater which was leaking and we put down new ceramic tile in one of the living spaces for staff. We are still working on the floor on Tuesday. It is all done now except for a little grouting. We had to make a run into Naples today to get some more adhesive for the floor so while there I bought a wash down pump for the boat. I will try to get the installation done before we leave here. Muriel bought new boat cushions and a new fender to match the one we lost up around Steinhatchee. She also got some herbs and a planter so she can have fresh herbs on the boat.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we plan to get out about noon and go to a small island a little north from here called Lulu for the same new year’s eve party we attended down here last year. It was a lot of fun last year and we hope it will be as good this year. We have been working hard during the day but relaxing in the evenings. It will be hard to decide to leave such a relaxing place.
The New Year’s Eve at Lulu did not happen for us, Jeff had an emergency with a student in the field which required his presents at the base so we all decided to spend the eve there together. As it happened, we went across the river, all of us in a 27 foot canoe intended for 12 people, and rang in the new year with some people Jeff and Anne have come to know here. We may get out to Lulu on new year’s day for a while.
Shelly was up on Christmas morning before Muriel and I. When she turned to leave our room she said “What is wrong with Bill’s boat, it is leaning way over.” I got up to see and sure enough, Blue Max was heel ed way over to port. We jumped outside to see what was going on and realized that the tide was very low and Blue Max was hard aground. Bill said it did not do that yesterday, but he moved forward yesterday before we came in to make space for us. We might be lightly on the bottom but we are still level.
Jeff and Anne showed up about 9:00 and we got underway about 10:30. The tide was rising as we went through the Marco River and out past Coon Key. This was the perfect time to pass the shallow waters in this area as they were rising. We went right through without even bumping the bottom. We arrived in Everglades City at the camp at mid-afternoon in time to help with preparation of the Christmas dinner. We had turkey, ham, squash, mashed potatoes, gravy, snap peas, and key lime or pumpkin pie for dessert. Afterward everyone participated in a gift swap.
This morning, Dec 26, we are working on projects around camp. Shelly is anxious to get her Florida fishing license so I will go on line shortly and get that done for her.
I got Shelly’s license for her so now she is using her new pink Lady Shakespeare fishing rig. Yesterday, Saturday, Jeff and I drove over to Ft Lauderdale to shop for items for our boats. I got an anchor wash down pump for Muriel. She hates using the brush we have and a bucket to clean the anchor rode and anchor. Today, Sunday, we went for a late breakfast with a friend who lives on Chokoloskee Island right here in the bay out from Everglades City. We had a nice visit and then returned to the base to work on several projects. Right now Muriel is helping Anne prepare dinner to earn her keep.
Monday Jeff and I worked on several projects around the site. We repaired a dock which was damaged by the hurricane this fall. We re-piped a water heater which was leaking and we put down new ceramic tile in one of the living spaces for staff. We are still working on the floor on Tuesday. It is all done now except for a little grouting. We had to make a run into Naples today to get some more adhesive for the floor so while there I bought a wash down pump for the boat. I will try to get the installation done before we leave here. Muriel bought new boat cushions and a new fender to match the one we lost up around Steinhatchee. She also got some herbs and a planter so she can have fresh herbs on the boat.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we plan to get out about noon and go to a small island a little north from here called Lulu for the same new year’s eve party we attended down here last year. It was a lot of fun last year and we hope it will be as good this year. We have been working hard during the day but relaxing in the evenings. It will be hard to decide to leave such a relaxing place.
The New Year’s Eve at Lulu did not happen for us, Jeff had an emergency with a student in the field which required his presents at the base so we all decided to spend the eve there together. As it happened, we went across the river, all of us in a 27 foot canoe intended for 12 people, and rang in the new year with some people Jeff and Anne have come to know here. We may get out to Lulu on new year’s day for a while.
No comments:
Post a Comment