Feelin' a little Funky

Im a weensie bit under the weather so I thought I would get the blog caught up a tad. Here is what is going on or WAS going on New Years Eve.

New Years Eve

We had quite a little get together New Years Eve. Lindsay and Mike came down from Charlotte and cooked a great meal for about 25 boaters on the boaters dock. It was chilly but not so bad that we were uncomfortable. The wind waited till late and we really enjoyed ourselves. We were back on our respective boats well before midnight snug and warm.

New Years Eve celebration on the boaters dock.

Mike grillin' up a storm! Elizabeth serving starters Capt. Larry,Elizabeth and Anna

more cute puppy

Cutest Puppy Award

This little guy belongs to this fella

who has a boat down the dock

from us. This is his 5 month old Miniature Dachound . It has to be the cutest thing going!They had some motor trouble so while he fixed it We got to puppy sit with him.....OOOO he was so cute and playful. He has a black head, brown eyebrows and hound ticking on his body and is TINY.

Nancy on Gulliver Sami on Savvy Dave

Progressive Dinner 3 boats loads of fun!

Full Moon 12/12/2008 Port Royal Landing marina

Barry took this picture this evening about 6:30pm

A few more of the boats on their way to downtown Beaufort marina for Parade of Lights.

S/V Eclipse Just Relax Family Affair

Parade of Lights

Barry and Frosty and above are Michele and Captain Gene, proud parents of Alex the Red Nosed Girl.

This is on our way from Port Royal Marina to Downtown Beaufort marina for the Parade of boats contest. We had about 20 boats in the parade and about 1000 people at the waterfront in downtown Beaufort. It was chilly but not windy and very tolerable weather. The boats were really festive and we had a great time with our hosts Michele, Captain Gene and their daughter Alex. We arranged for Susan and Erik our friends we met from LiveAboard to come aboard and enjoy the evening. After the parade, the local Power Squadron had hot chili and hot dogs at the boaters deck at Port Royal Landing Marina.

Before our self induced Turkey coma.

Thanksgiving at Port Royal Landing
Marina 2008. Our Chefs are
Bill and Cheryl and Roger and Lisa.
Turkeys were provided by PRLM
and boaters brought side dishes.

The guys stayed up all night smoking

the birds so they would be ready for us

at 1pm. The weather was absolutely wonderful.

We had a great day and enjoyed the 68 degree

breeze and sunny views of birds, boats and water.

Halloween at Port Royal Landing Marina 2008

Halloween on the boaters deck at Port Royal Landing Marina. We took the easy route. I wore my foxhunting clothes and Barry his graduation regalia. Hey.....my boots slid on like buttah! Gene, Michele and Alex looked great!

Random shots

LtoR, our friend Vic giving us an escort out of the sound, Haig Light House, and a turtle I spied on a golf course water hazard.

Gator Hazord

When you play golf here.....think twice about retrieving your golf ball out of the water.

Where's The Mouse

Hamish knows there is a mouse somewhere! We were enjoying the rain and storms a few weeks ago.

Trees Here are.....Old

The trees in Beaufort are just amazing. Old and gnarled. Most have Spanish Moss lavished all over them. This one is on Paris Island near the golf course.

Lights

Even simple lights, in this case just the fuel sign and dock lights reflected in the water are beautiful. Im not sure a photo does them justice, but here they are.

Some Pictures I have taken in the past few months

Beth Catchin' A Whopper

Ever After with the mainsail up

Our friends took this picture of us on our way to Shelter Cove in Hilton Head. They passed us before we were able to get the jib up as well but here we are finally sailing somewhere!

Our trip to Shelter Cove, Hilton Head

We just got back from a great weekend sailaway to Disney's Shelter Cove in Hilton Head or near it.
We sailed with several other boats from our marina and met up at the marina there. We had a great time playing Pirate Put Put miniature golf and had two REALLY outstanding dinners.
the weather was beautiful, the boat handled nicely and the dogs did well. I think Hamish loved it and Phoenix thought it was just ok. They wore their life vests and stayed up in the cockpit with us most of the time. Hamish loved looking out at all the birds and porpoise. Tomorrow I should have lots more pictures to post including one Michele and Gene took of our boat from their boat.
Barry is making ham sandwiches so Im gonna go for now. One thing about traveling on your own boat which is our full time home......Barry does not have to pull over in order for me to pee. I just go below to the head! Very cool. Plus I didnt have to worry about what to pack. Everything I have is with me below!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Casey's Birthday in Tulsa

Casey turned 30 August 10th and Emily had a great surprise party for him. He was surprised and so was I because Lindsay showed up from Charlotte and surprised me too!!! it was great. We had a lovely time. I got to see my buds Kathy and Paula from The Greater Tulsa Semi-Gourmet Serious Fun Dinner Club....

Dolphin encounter of the first kind

Last night on my way up to the boaters deck for game night, a dolphin was in the shallows feeding.
He was right under the bridge lazily going back and forth feeding on the millions of bait fish there.

Im used to seeing them here and there sometimes daily but this was at least a 15 or 20 minute encounter. Also he was so close and it was shallow so I could see his whole body. He swam in surprisingly shallow water and on his side. At one point his tail was sticking up in the air flopping back and forth. No I did not have my camera or cell to ask Barry to grab it when he came up a few minutes behind me. Im going to be there at the same time this evening and see what I can see.
It was amazing and I would love to share it with you.

The Plan in Spring

This picture has nothing to do with sailing but is such a kick ass picture of my friend Sue McDaniels and her pony Pocket Rocket competing and probably winning at a carriage event a few years ago. You are seeing double. Its a perfect reflection and her son Mark took this picture. He is a brilliant photog. It ended up on the cover of a prestigious Carriage magazine Driving Digest this month. For more really nice pics go to http://www.hoofclix.com/

Now for our sailing plan.
We have been at Port Royal Landing Marina living full time since May 1st. Mostly detoxing and learning a slower way of life. Our plan now is to begin slowing cruising up the ICW mostly but popping out into the ocean when we need to and visit places all summer on our way up. We are looking at charts and info books in the evenings planning where we want to live on the hook and what marinas we want to visit. I have never been up the NE part of the US and am so looking forward to it. Our boat draws 5'9" so there are places we cant go but we can anchor out and dingy where we want to go. At this point we are going to take the dogs but they are soon going to have to learn to pee and poop on the potty rug we have for them up on the forward deck. It goes overboard for a rinse after they use it....but both are so house trained its not going to be easy.

Oct 18th and 19th a flotilla of other boaters from our marina are going to Shelter Cover (Hilton Head)for an overnight. We will anchor out, some of us at the dock some on the hook and play and go to dinner and explore. its going to be our shake out cruise since its been over a year since we sailed Ever After on her way from Port Canaveral Fl. to her new home here.

If anyone wants to join in for a few days, meet us somewhere on the NE coast for a leg of our journey and lend a hand onboard...........speak up!

Casey and Bruce

My son Casey sent this picture of himself and one of his precious dogs Bruce. Poor Bruce
got fixed this week---poor wee little guy.

Life is good