Thanksgiving

Krista came down from the freezing cold upper lands of Vermont to spend Thanksgiving with us. We played in the Spanish moss, with a gator sighting nearby. 







We played on the beach in the cold winter waters (69F) of the Gulf of Mexico.....brrrr.

We ate New Mexico-style enchiladas for Thanksgiving 

We ate New Mexico-style enchiladas for Thanksgiving and a feast of crab at Crabby Bill's on a chilly, sunny afternoon on St. Pete's beach. Luv having friends and family to share with!

Friendly captain, Danny

On Saturday, Dec 6th, under the command of our friendly Captain Danny, we left Cape Coral, where the boat had been for a year, and started our two-day motoring adventure up the Intracoastal Waterway on the east side of Florida.  Halfway up the first day, between sunset and the full moonrise, we got our first diesel engine lesson when the fuel filters needed to be changed.

Cough-cough-sputter-blehhhh...... that's diesel lingo for "welcome aboard"!

Naively, we believe she's happy to be out moving again!

Sarasota, the "Emerald City" behind me

The next morning after the fog lifted, we motored for twelve hours and ten bridges.

We putt-putted at about 5-6 knots all the way up to Palmetto, FL, to slip C-19 at the 

Regatta Point Marina where we will be "live-aboards" (plugged in and pumped out) for at least one month, maybe two. Here we will fix and shine her up (and practice our docking skills) and break into all the ins and outs of sailor life, until we cast off our dock lines for the next big adventure.

In the meantime, our very friendly live-aboard neighbors here have taken us in with no shortage of 

mostly helpful "how-to" tips (I call them the Peanut Gallery; just wait until I go UP the mast 48 feet to "attempt" to change the broken tri-color light at the top---great entertainment).

We got a lighted holiday boat parade on Saturday and a Christmas party on Sunday (sailors like any reason to have a cocktail).  We'll fit in just fine :)