xMas #6 in FL

Christmas number six in Florida has come and gone and even though we tried our best to get into the Christmas Spirit, it's just not the same.  Not that it's all bad, by any means.  Spending Christmas in flip flops with our boating buddies is quite pleasant. Just different.

As a lead-up to the big day, a group of us went to visit the Burroughs and Langford-Kingston Homes, which are two local historic homes all decked out in Christmas cheer by volunteers and open to the public for tours.

Folks were quite interested in our Christmas miracle baby.  I sure had a some 'splaining to do!
Ultimately, Jeff got a bit of a scolding for playing with the displays and we had to give our baby back.
No babies for us!  But we sure had a good laugh for a bit.

Beautifully decorated for Christmas, the Burroughs and Landford-Kingston Houses

Beautifully decorated for Christmas the Burroughs and Landford-Kingston Houses

The gang

Christmas Eve was spent with buddies Dave and Michele on (M/V Just Us) at Legacy, a neighbouring marina.  Appetisers, lots of boat talk and Christmas cheer were shared.

On Christmas morning, hankering for some white powdery stuff, we all piled into whatever vehicles were available and drove the twenty minutes or so to Fort Myers Beach.  The beach is a neat place to be on Christmas morning.  Families gather and set up chairs, umbrellas and a variety of Christmas decorations.  They settle in for the day, open gifts, eat, drink and enjoy their non-traditional celebrations.

After walking the beach we gorged on a buffet lunch while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  Thick clouds hung in the sky all day but the rain eluded us.  Afternoon naps with overstuffed bellies and evening docktails with friends rounded out the day.

Road Trip and Launch 2019

Road Trip

We took a friends & family visiting circuit tour on our way South, stopping to visit friend Paul in Stratford, siblings Bob and Mary and niece Cass in Waterloo, and nephew Joshua in Niagara.  We hadn't had much time for visiting during our busy summer so it was especially nice to touch base with everyone.  We were only sorry that we weren't able to squeeze in one last visit with Jeff's kids, as they were both away for their jobs.

Then on to Massachusetts to visit friends Steve and Wendy (S/V Old Sam) followed by several days in Brooklyn to visit niece Rachel and her husband Bartek.  Lots of good fun.

We had a great visit with Rachel and Bart at their home in Brooklyn.
Where we enjoyed an afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art, where Rachel is a member,
a taping of the Stephen Colbert show, and lots of laughs and catching up.

MoMA

We feasted our eyes at the Museum of Modern Art where
we saw this very famous painting....

...and THIS Klimt. One of my favourites.  And....

...this awesome HUUUGE Monet.  Breathtaking!

In line at Late Night with Stephen Colbert

Later, we went to see a live taping of the Stephen Colbert show. It was really interesting to see how they put it all together. You'd think they tape in sequence?  But not so.  We saw interviews being taped that were to be shown on a different day. I now notice when watching the show that sometimes during an interview he's wearing a completely different suit than he was during the monologue. Ah-ha! Taped on a different night! Days later Rachel and Bart caught a glimpse of us in the audience when they finally showed an interview taped on the night we were there (Paul Rudd).

And when Stephen Colbert runs out at the beginning of the show and high fives the first row, you think they are seeing him for the first time?  Well no.  They're not.  He was just out answering questions. Then as the theme music begins he ducks around the corner and comes running out.

Unfortunately we were only able to score two tickets so Rachel let us go ahead and we caught up later.  Sorry Rach! But thanks!!

Florida

Eventually we made our way back to Gran Vida, who, as expected, was a dirty mess after her summer's nap.  We hosed off the big chunks, slapped a coat of anti-fouling on her bottom, repainted her waterline stripe, and after a few days in the boat yard, launched and got outta there.  Lickity-split.  We've got this process down to a science.

Requisite pic of Launch 2019

Here's Gran Vida tied to the dock at Glades Boat Yard.
She looks so perty.  Even before her wax job.

We are presently at Fort Myers Yacht basin where we'll spend a month getting some upgrades and maintenance work done.  New canvas tops are being made.  Pearl, our trusty Perkins Engine is in pieces, getting a make-over -- new hoses, clamps, fuel injection lines, belts etc.  We should be able to run her a little faster with confidence once it's all done.

Out for dinner with good friends in Fort Myers.
It feels like a second home here.

And we continue living the dream.  Year six of our Great Loop trip on Gran Vida is on, with it's sunset barbecues in the cockpit, "docktails" with friends, puttering, long walks, good books, golf breaks, evenings swaying under the stars at anchor....   Living life large.  Gran vida.