"SUNSHINE" Stories: 2018 Cruise

Week 11

March 17 - 23, 2018

Work - Since we had the enclosure made, the rear cockpit has been our lounge. We started this project last week and finished it today (Saturday, 3/17/18). We can now convert lounge into our dining area. We used a couple of Bamboo cutting boards, some hinges, dowels, and Cetol to make and finish two folding tables, one for each of us. The third folding table which we’ve had for a couple years, holds the food before it is transferred to our plates. Oh. And we made a similar table a couple weeks ago for the front cockpit. It’s located next to the grill and is used to hold grilling implements and serving plates.

Diver Rich stopped by today to scrub SUNSHINE’s bottom. He worked for twenty or thirty minutes. He charged $60.00 for the service.

On Wednesday, we attached a safety chain to the trailer. It didn’t have one. We bought a “U” Bolt from Stainless Steve at the Big Pine Flea Market last Saturday. The chain is intentionally too long. We’ll cut it to length when we get the boat on the trailer.

A package with remote controlled light arrived. They were installed in the aft cockpit which doubles as our lounge and dining room. They work great and are adjustable for brightness (intensity), color and they can be set to turn themselves off.

Fun Stuff - We went to Bev and Mike’s St. Paddy’s Day (Saturday) dock party. Mike and Al played some tunes. I tailed to Al about his Blueridge guitar and the next thing I know, I was playing a few tunes for the crowd.

On Sunday, the 18th, we listened to Joe Mama and friends. He had a couple of new players who were very good and they seemed to energize Joe. It might have been his best performance yet.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Joanne’s Birthday with the North Dock gang. Following the party, it was pizza and Four Sheets to the Wind on the porch.

We welcomed Spring this week without any special celebration. It’s not really that special for us since we’ve been in Spring like conditions pretty much since we got here.

On Friday (3/23), we took some mackerel fillets given to us by Pat and Ellie to Sparky’s for their catch and cook offerings. We had two lightly fried and three lightly blackened. The and the sides were very good. While dining, we enjoyed the dulcet tones of Four Sheets to the Wind. Following dinner, we checked out the recently reopened Havana Jacks. The place looks good, but it isn’t ready for prime time. The bar is open, but the kitchen is operating out of a food truck set up in the parking lot. The only serve lite fare. Being a cool evening, we ordered coffee and tea. Apparently they aren’t set up to serve hot beverages. I did manage to eventually get a decaf, but it came from the Kerrigan machine in the lobby of the hotel. Anna Marie never did get her tea. We did enjoy watching the first half of Villanova’s sweet sixteen game. We watched the second half on the porch at the hurricane.it was touch and go until five minutes were left in the game. Nova took control and won by twelve.

Food - Three squares a day! Sometimes. Other times it may be two squares and some snacks. The Key Lime Dip has been a hit at Two dock parties so far. On Sunday, lunch consisted of an ounce of a fantastic cheddar and some of the best black olives on the planet along with a slice of tomato basil ciabatta. Then we shared a Greek salad while listening to Jon Mama on the back porch. Just before dinner, a Tarpon stopped by to listen to me playing my guitar!

For dinner, I grilled a couple of small Hog Fish fillets and Anna Marie made a nice Cucumber Salad. Delicious as usual!

Weather - i’s warming up! The temp made it to the high 70s on Paddy’s Day and the wind dropped to the single digits. Thanks to a favorable wind shift, most of the sea grass has left the marina.

Another cold front arrived on Wednesday bringing strong NE wind 20 - 25 knots which dropped into the mid to high teens overnight. The high reached the mid 70s and the low dropped to the low to mid 60s.

Friends/Acquaintances - Pat and Ellie arrived today (Sunday) for fishing tomorrow. They wanted to be here well before now, but the wind has not cooperated. The forecast for tomorrow suggests a repeat of today with a light breeze, high near 80, calm seas and mostly sunny.

Cheryl and Chuck, friends of Gary and Carol Kramer, found us at the Point today. No, they didn’t know who they were looking for, but the Kramer’s told them to look us up. They started talking to us while we were chilling at the Point and exchanged names. We joined them later in the evening to listen to Four Sheets to the Wind on the back porch at the ‘Cane!

We also met the Episcopal School Bus driver who tried to recruit us as volunteers for the Red Cross. He made some compelling arguments.

Departure Planning - It hasn’t been planned yet, but we have started discussion about when we’ll blow this popsicle stand. If we leave on March 26, we’ll be home by Easter. Or we could wait until our previously planned departure on April 6. Right now, we seem to be undecided!

On Wednesday, we determined that our departure date will be April 3. We’ll haul out on either on the 1st, Easter Sunday, or the 2nd. We’ll start getting things ready next Wednesday, a week from today. That way we won’t be rushing around.