Fender Menders had the truck fixed by 1000. We were under way by 1015. The drive was uneventful. Traffic jams added about 30 minutes to our trip which lasted 13 1/2 hours. We made it home by 2345 hours on Monday, April 25.
This Year's cruise and Easter Vacation are over. We'll begin spring cleaning and yard work in a day or two. Besides those tasks, we have to get the bikes, the little boat and the 5'er ready for use and we're going to add a bocce court to the yard so we can practice up for next year's cruise!
Sunshine almost always makes me high! (John Denver)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter and Happy Birthday, Anna Marie!
After a week of fun and screaming kids (no, not the grandkids who were particularly well behaved and had lots of fun) it was time to depart North Myrtle Beach to head for home.
Matt and Sandi got off first at around 0515. We left the condo with Shelley and the kids about 1/2hour later at 0545. Our task was to return all the condo keys to the drop box and we'd be off. Shelley drove by as we stopped to deposit the keys. As Anna Marie got back into the truck and we started backing out of the parking spot, we heard a very loud "B A M!" It sounded like a shot had been fired. Almost immediately, we lost the power steering. This beast doesn't turn very well without power steering!
A quick inspection revealed that we lost all of the PS fluid and that the end of the high pressure line blew out of the PS pump.
It was now 0615 on Easter Sunday. Triple A showed up about an hour after we called, but we suspected that being towed would likely be the only thing that would be accomplished today.
The tow truck guy said that there was a Triple A facility that was suppose to be open today. He towed us about 25 miles only to find out that it was closed. He tried another establishment but it was closed too. Finally, he took us to his body shop. They'll be able to search for the part and, if successful, make the repair tomorrow. He then dropped us off at the nearby Super 8 motel. We signed in for a room at 0830!
After reviewing options, we took a five mile walk, went to the theater to see "The Conspirator," had a nice lunch and dinner at local establishments and, made the best of a bad situation.
Our activities made for a disappointing Easter celebration, but they certainly made a most memorable birthday for Anna Marie!
Matt and Sandi got off first at around 0515. We left the condo with Shelley and the kids about 1/2hour later at 0545. Our task was to return all the condo keys to the drop box and we'd be off. Shelley drove by as we stopped to deposit the keys. As Anna Marie got back into the truck and we started backing out of the parking spot, we heard a very loud "B A M!" It sounded like a shot had been fired. Almost immediately, we lost the power steering. This beast doesn't turn very well without power steering!
A quick inspection revealed that we lost all of the PS fluid and that the end of the high pressure line blew out of the PS pump.
It was now 0615 on Easter Sunday. Triple A showed up about an hour after we called, but we suspected that being towed would likely be the only thing that would be accomplished today.
The tow truck guy said that there was a Triple A facility that was suppose to be open today. He towed us about 25 miles only to find out that it was closed. He tried another establishment but it was closed too. Finally, he took us to his body shop. They'll be able to search for the part and, if successful, make the repair tomorrow. He then dropped us off at the nearby Super 8 motel. We signed in for a room at 0830!
After reviewing options, we took a five mile walk, went to the theater to see "The Conspirator," had a nice lunch and dinner at local establishments and, made the best of a bad situation.
Our activities made for a disappointing Easter celebration, but they certainly made a most memorable birthday for Anna Marie!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Very Sad News About the Smiling Bartender!
On Tuesday, April 12, we visited the Brass Monkey where we enjoyed a selection from the five dollar lunch menu. Although we had only met Nancy, the Monkey's bartender, on two previous occasions, she greeted us with her warm smile.
We enjoyed lunch and our conversation with Nancy.
A couple of days later, we learned that this wonderful person had perished in a house fire.
The following is the story that ran at KeysNews.com:
Fire kills woman, injures husband
Brass Monkey Lounge mourns loss of 'smiling' bartender
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
A well-known Marathon bartender died in a house fire early Thursday, leaving behind a husband who was injured while unsuccessfully trying to rescue her from the blaze, sheriff and fire officials said.
Firefighters pulled 50-year-old Nancy Pratt, a Brass Monkey Lounge employee, from a second-floor hallway at the couple's home shortly after midnight, but were unable to revive her, Marathon Fire Chief William Wagner said. "Unfortunately, she had already succumbed to the fire and smoke."
Ernest Pratt, 46, was outside, seriously injured from the heat and smoke inhalation, when firefighters arrived to find the house at 1203 Westward Ho Lane engulfed in flames, Wagner said.
Pratt reportedly told firefighters that smoke alarms had woken him, then he found the back porch on fire and called 911, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office press release.
That's when the glass doors to the porch exploded from the heat, burning his back, he told them. He said he tried to get his wife out of the house, but finally was forced to flee as the flames spread, according to the Sheriff's Office release.
"He tried to get her out, but at that point he just couldn't do it," Wagner said. "The flames were through the roof when we arrived."
Nancy Pratt was pronounced dead at the scene, and Ernest Pratt was taken to Fishermen's Hospital, then transferred to a Miami hospital for respiratory injuries, Wagner said.
Wagner and Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief Jim Callahan did not know his condition or to which hospital he was admitted.
The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating what caused the blaze; there were no obvious signs Thursday, Wagner said.
"The report indicates that they were smokers who didn't smoke in the house, but on the back porch," Wagner said. "It appears the porch was the origin, but we can't say that [smoking] was the cause at this time."
Firefighters initially thought there might be a child inside the house after neighbors also called 911, Wagner said.
"Crews immediately laddered and entered through the second floor and that's when we found [Nancy Pratt] in the hallway," he said.
Red Cross volunteer and response coordinator Shannon Vasko, who is working to help Ernest Pratt when he is released from the hospital, said this fire is more personal than others. She knew Nancy.
"Nancy was such wonderful person," Vasko said.
"Everyone knows her from the Brass Monkey, where she always had a smile on her face. I think all of us will be coming together as a community to assist Ernest on a personal level."
alinhardt@keysnews.com
Nancy will certainly be missed by her family, her friends, and all of the patrons of the Brass Monkey!
We enjoyed lunch and our conversation with Nancy.
A couple of days later, we learned that this wonderful person had perished in a house fire.
The following is the story that ran at KeysNews.com:
Fire kills woman, injures husband
Brass Monkey Lounge mourns loss of 'smiling' bartender
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
A well-known Marathon bartender died in a house fire early Thursday, leaving behind a husband who was injured while unsuccessfully trying to rescue her from the blaze, sheriff and fire officials said.
Firefighters pulled 50-year-old Nancy Pratt, a Brass Monkey Lounge employee, from a second-floor hallway at the couple's home shortly after midnight, but were unable to revive her, Marathon Fire Chief William Wagner said. "Unfortunately, she had already succumbed to the fire and smoke."
Ernest Pratt, 46, was outside, seriously injured from the heat and smoke inhalation, when firefighters arrived to find the house at 1203 Westward Ho Lane engulfed in flames, Wagner said.
Pratt reportedly told firefighters that smoke alarms had woken him, then he found the back porch on fire and called 911, according to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office press release.
That's when the glass doors to the porch exploded from the heat, burning his back, he told them. He said he tried to get his wife out of the house, but finally was forced to flee as the flames spread, according to the Sheriff's Office release.
"He tried to get her out, but at that point he just couldn't do it," Wagner said. "The flames were through the roof when we arrived."
Nancy Pratt was pronounced dead at the scene, and Ernest Pratt was taken to Fishermen's Hospital, then transferred to a Miami hospital for respiratory injuries, Wagner said.
Wagner and Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief Jim Callahan did not know his condition or to which hospital he was admitted.
The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating what caused the blaze; there were no obvious signs Thursday, Wagner said.
"The report indicates that they were smokers who didn't smoke in the house, but on the back porch," Wagner said. "It appears the porch was the origin, but we can't say that [smoking] was the cause at this time."
Firefighters initially thought there might be a child inside the house after neighbors also called 911, Wagner said.
"Crews immediately laddered and entered through the second floor and that's when we found [Nancy Pratt] in the hallway," he said.
Red Cross volunteer and response coordinator Shannon Vasko, who is working to help Ernest Pratt when he is released from the hospital, said this fire is more personal than others. She knew Nancy.
"Nancy was such wonderful person," Vasko said.
"Everyone knows her from the Brass Monkey, where she always had a smile on her face. I think all of us will be coming together as a community to assist Ernest on a personal level."
alinhardt@keysnews.com
Nancy will certainly be missed by her family, her friends, and all of the patrons of the Brass Monkey!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Decommissioning!
Work, Work, Work!
We are in the process of decommissioning SUNSHINE.
We left the harbor yesterday. Today, we removed the jib, all the canvas, and cleaned and stowed the dinghy. We also removed the mainsheet, retrieved the bikes from the city marina, folded them and placed them in their storage bags. We're taking them to Yellowstone in the fall.
I asked the marina staff to haul SUNSHINE tomorrow. We still have a few cleaning and decommissioning chores, the last of which is to flush the engines with vinegar and change the engine and gear oil. We'll load the truck with everything that's going home and then we'll stow the mainsail.
Once those tasks are done, decommissioning will be completed! We'll get a good nights sleep and head off to Myrtle Beach by way of New Smyrna Beach, where we'll visit Joe and Dee for a couple of days.
We are in the process of decommissioning SUNSHINE.
We left the harbor yesterday. Today, we removed the jib, all the canvas, and cleaned and stowed the dinghy. We also removed the mainsheet, retrieved the bikes from the city marina, folded them and placed them in their storage bags. We're taking them to Yellowstone in the fall.
I asked the marina staff to haul SUNSHINE tomorrow. We still have a few cleaning and decommissioning chores, the last of which is to flush the engines with vinegar and change the engine and gear oil. We'll load the truck with everything that's going home and then we'll stow the mainsail.
Once those tasks are done, decommissioning will be completed! We'll get a good nights sleep and head off to Myrtle Beach by way of New Smyrna Beach, where we'll visit Joe and Dee for a couple of days.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Departure Day!
During the farewell portion of the cruisers net, Anna Marie bid farewell to the marina staff, the net controllers and all of out friends in the harbor. At about 1000 hours, the pump out boat arrived and by 1007 hours, we slipped our lines from mooring ball "P-2." we made our way out Sisters Creek and headed in a South-easterly direction to Coco Plum.
By noon, We were tied up to the floating dock at SUNSHINE's summer home. After hooking up to electric, we began the initial tasks for decommissioning. We made arrangements for the haul out and ran some errands. After completing the errands, we arrived back at the boat. By is it hot! Too hot in fact to work!
We met Joe and Dee for dinner at Key Colony Inn. The early bird specials promised plenty of food. We were not disappointed! The food was wonderful! We dined at Key Colony because we wanted to hear Peter play the piano. We delighted in his talent and his selections of old standards. It was a lovely evening and the perfect compliment to the spectacular day we enjoyed yesterday!
The no-see-ums came out in force. Decommissioning activities ceased until tomorrow!
By noon, We were tied up to the floating dock at SUNSHINE's summer home. After hooking up to electric, we began the initial tasks for decommissioning. We made arrangements for the haul out and ran some errands. After completing the errands, we arrived back at the boat. By is it hot! Too hot in fact to work!
We met Joe and Dee for dinner at Key Colony Inn. The early bird specials promised plenty of food. We were not disappointed! The food was wonderful! We dined at Key Colony because we wanted to hear Peter play the piano. We delighted in his talent and his selections of old standards. It was a lovely evening and the perfect compliment to the spectacular day we enjoyed yesterday!
The no-see-ums came out in force. Decommissioning activities ceased until tomorrow!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunset Key!
It ain't the $5.00 lunch special at the monkey!
Today is SUNSHINE's last full day in Boot Key Harbor! That's right, we are moving the boat to her summer resting place tomorrow.
I thought we'd be aboard at sunset today to give a final conch shell salute to the sunset. Alas, it didn't work out that way. You see, we planned to go with Joe and Dee as they searched the Big Pine Flea Market for Marathon and/or Key West T's. Joe didn't find any to his liking in Marathon proper, and he hit every store trying!
As luck would have it, he hit the mother load at the Flea Market. We thought the trip to Key West was off and that we'd return to the pool. Not so! We continued on to Key West, where Dee found a shirt to her liking. Unfortunately, we were not successful in finding the storage box that we were looking for.
When talk turned to a discussion on where to have lunch, I casually mentioned that our friends Willis and Lucille mentioned that they enjoyed lunch at Lattitudes on Sunset Key. Joe thought that sounded good, Dee and Anna Marie confirmed and we were off to make a reservation.
We took the boat over to the tropical island paradise that is Sunset Key and enjoyed delicious blackened grouper sandwiches and tropical fruit tango. Both were great choices. After lunch, we walked the perimeter of the island before boarding the boat back to Key West.
On the way back to Marathon, we stopped at Boondock's Bar and Grill on Ramrod Key. As luck would have it, the Nowhere Band, a Beatle Tribute Band, was slated to be the entertainment.
We enjoyed a light dinner while listening to and watching the band. We enjoyed them so much that we stayed for all three sets. Their musicianship and vocals were spot on and their set lists were outstanding. The atmosphere was more that of a concert than than of a typical bar band. We had a great time.
We all agreed that this was an outstanding day! As for us, we are thankful that we could spend it with Joe and Dee!
Today is SUNSHINE's last full day in Boot Key Harbor! That's right, we are moving the boat to her summer resting place tomorrow.
I thought we'd be aboard at sunset today to give a final conch shell salute to the sunset. Alas, it didn't work out that way. You see, we planned to go with Joe and Dee as they searched the Big Pine Flea Market for Marathon and/or Key West T's. Joe didn't find any to his liking in Marathon proper, and he hit every store trying!
As luck would have it, he hit the mother load at the Flea Market. We thought the trip to Key West was off and that we'd return to the pool. Not so! We continued on to Key West, where Dee found a shirt to her liking. Unfortunately, we were not successful in finding the storage box that we were looking for.
When talk turned to a discussion on where to have lunch, I casually mentioned that our friends Willis and Lucille mentioned that they enjoyed lunch at Lattitudes on Sunset Key. Joe thought that sounded good, Dee and Anna Marie confirmed and we were off to make a reservation.
We took the boat over to the tropical island paradise that is Sunset Key and enjoyed delicious blackened grouper sandwiches and tropical fruit tango. Both were great choices. After lunch, we walked the perimeter of the island before boarding the boat back to Key West.
On the way back to Marathon, we stopped at Boondock's Bar and Grill on Ramrod Key. As luck would have it, the Nowhere Band, a Beatle Tribute Band, was slated to be the entertainment.
We enjoyed a light dinner while listening to and watching the band. We enjoyed them so much that we stayed for all three sets. Their musicianship and vocals were spot on and their set lists were outstanding. The atmosphere was more that of a concert than than of a typical bar band. We had a great time.
We all agreed that this was an outstanding day! As for us, we are thankful that we could spend it with Joe and Dee!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Lunch and Boat Projects!
After Yoga, that's right, we do Yoga on Saturday's too, we walked to the Hurricane to have lunch with Deb (our Yoga instructor) and Lou (Free n' Clear) and Dee and Lee (About Time). About Time is leaving the harbor today, so this is our goodbye lunch with them. We had a nice visit with both couples. Lee, Anna Marie's Bocce partner, presented her with a n"About Time" crew cap to celebrate their narrow victory. Neither Dee nor I found it amusing!
Back aboard SUNSHINE, I worked on the two solar vents that were not working properly. They are needed to keep SUNSHINE's interior from developing mold and mildew problems during her lay-up. In short order, I got both back on line.
We joined the crews of Island Dancer, Crazy Cat and Queequeg at the Dockside for the prime rib special. It was another good night in the company of good friends!
Back aboard SUNSHINE, I worked on the two solar vents that were not working properly. They are needed to keep SUNSHINE's interior from developing mold and mildew problems during her lay-up. In short order, I got both back on line.
We joined the crews of Island Dancer, Crazy Cat and Queequeg at the Dockside for the prime rib special. It was another good night in the company of good friends!
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