We made it through 2020 unscathed !!!!!! Our last post had us back in Kingwood to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with family------NOT!------- Although we were happy to be able to celebrate, in person, with Diane's sister, we were not able to get together with our daughter and family. The big mini-reunion scheduled for Thanksgiving didn't happen. Nor did Christmas with daughter and family. They all had had way too much exposure to others and, while they all were fine (as far as we knew) still, we just couldn't chance exposing our aging bodies to the risk. (I am sure you all experienced similar disappointments. I'm not whining, just explaining). Still, Christmas was a very nice celebration; Our Christmas Eve church service was one of the most beautiful I've ever experienced and Christmas day dinner of my first prime rib effort was spectacular. Christmas day opening gifts was spent at Nan's where she had prepared a fabulous brunch. Even her Golden, Haley, got into the spirit by spending the whole morning lying in her new bed that we got her. All in all---the day was a beautiful time but we sure missed being around the kids. Zoomed later in the day and was at least able to see everyone, including Scott and Karina in the D.C. area.
Then it was back to Florida and the boat. (I know--you're questioning why we wouldn't expose ourselves to family but were willing to risk a plane flight. We did decide to take that risk--but at least we reduced our risk somewhat.)
So it's back on the boat which seemed to do OK in our absence. And the beginning of all those projects I listed in my earlier post. We began by getting our dinghy into the water and off the davits so we could get our new outboard mounted and start doing some dinghy exploring.
I spent a day in the engine room changing out the zinc anodes--at least those that I could get to--5 per engine. Next I tightened the belt on one of the engines, then spent a couple hours checking the batteries---4 8D wet cell batteries--2 for the "house bank" (runs all the 12 volt devices) and 2 starter batteries for the engines. NO BUENO!! They're all shot and will have to be replaced before we head out of port and spend days and nights "on the hook" away from shore power. They'll take a charge but won't hold it very long. I'm guessing the previous owners never maintained them properly. Oh well---the hole in the water into which one throws money. Lot's more projects ahead of me but we picked the right month to stay in port and tackle them. While the weather has been very comfortable temp and humidity-wise the wind has been blowing hard non-stop, with small craft advisories almost every day--stuff we wouldn't want to encounter off shore or at anchor----so--- let's get the chores done.
New Year's Eve found us dining on Brats and hitting the sack by 9 0'clock. But New Year's Day was a very different affair. At 3 0'clock we all (the entire marina) gathered at the Tiki Hut for the annual New Year's Day Pig Roast offered by marina management. All the boaters brought sides and quite a feast was had meanwhile watching the college play-off bowls on the 80 in. TV in the Tiki Hut. It was perfect opportunity to meet everybody--- a few people we had met here the last time we were here in Opus V in 2016 but mostly new faces---- a very nice crowd---many from Michigan (one guy was best friends with a fraternity brother of mine from Adrian College--"Moon" Mullins. A really great time and it's nice to be able to start to develop some relationships and experience "community" as Diane calls it.
See pic's of the pig roast below:
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