Not all days are play days

Yesterday was errand day. K Mart, Publix, West Marine, etc, etc, etc, and today was catch-up day on maintenance, service Half Note's motor, help Stephanie clean the boat, etc, etc. Not all days are play days, but even work and errands are play time when you are cruising. Tonight Chuck and Fabin Miller, new friends, DeFever members and owners of Whichaway, a DeFever 48, came over for cocktail hour, well maybe more than an hour, and sunset. We passed them as they were coming from Washington DC as we were headed up the Potomac to Washington last summer and talked on the radio. They are from Texas and are full time cruisers and just finished the Great Loop. They arrived here the day before we did and are going to be here for the month. The cruising world is huge, but when things like this happen it makes it seem so small. They are great people, as most cruisers are, and I am sure we will enjoy their company the month we are here.
Tomorrow the Admiral says I can have the day off, so I'm going fishing. Wish me luck!

September Song (going after the big one) out
Bob


Another visitor to our slip

Time to work

Happy New Year!

As 2008 comes to an end, I give thanks for a fabulous year on September Song and the wonderful time Me, Stephanie, Godiva, Cassie and of course Pica (RIP, we miss him)have had. We have so many wonderful memories of all the time we have spent on the water, the quiet times at anchor, the places we have traveled to and explored, and the people we have met along the way. It has been a year that dreams are made of.
We look forward to 2009 with excitement and anticipation. We have so many places yet to explore.
I hope you enjoy sharing our travels as much as we enjoy sharing them with you.

September Song (looking forward to 2009) out
Happy New Year
Bob, Stephanie, Cassie, and Godiva

Pretty fish

Everyone ready to blow their shell horns as the sun sets for the last time in 2008

My love waiting for sunset

The sun says goodbye to 2008

A day for us kids

Today Mom and Dad promised to take us to a beach. We finally left after waiting and waiting. The trip was neat and we were so excited we almost fell in. The wait was worth it. The beach was great and there were some nice people that didn't mind us splashing. One guy had a hot dog but wouldn't share no matter how cute we looked. Dad and mom did share some of their snack. It was great playing in the water and riding in Half Note. When we got back we were so tired we had to take a nap. Then we got an ice cream sandwich. Thanks, Dad! It was so much fun, can we do it again tomorrow, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. Dad was getting his fishing stuff ready when we got up from our nap, so I think he wants to go fishing tomorrow. Maybe he will take us with, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, we promise to be quiet and not scare the fish. Cassie promises not to chase them, PLEASE Dad.

September Song (PLEEEASE, PLEEEASE Dad) out
Godiva and Cassie


Are we there yet Dad? Hurry up!

Where are those little guys

Totally tropical Mom

We watched the sunset with Mom And Dad. It was cool. A bunch of people made funny sounds with shells after it set

Yes! Snapper for dinner

Today we went to the fishing hole. I think the fish were hungry. We went through 16 dozen shrimp! We caught three kinds of snapper, grouper, jack, eel, pig fish, yellow fin, and some other fish we couldn't identify. On a scale of 1 to 10 it was about a 12. Tonight Stephanie sauteed snapper in butter and wine sauce. Nothing quite as good as fresh caught snapper, especially the way Stephanie prepares it. After I cleaned the fish we relaxed on the aft deck with a cool drink. Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming.
We finished the day with cocktails on the front deck and were treated to another beautiful sunset, shell horns and the GREEN FLASH. This is something you only see a few times in your life. For those of you who don't know what a green flash is, it's a flash of bright green just as the last part of the sun disappears on the horizon. It only lasts for about a second, but it is something to see. What a day!

September Song (If this is a dream, DO NOT DISTURB) out
Bob


The happy fisherman

This is what happens to the fish you are reeling in when a bigger fish tries to eat it. That was a 13 inch Snapper. how big do you think the other fish was?

We ate this one for supper

Bryan with a big one

Me reeling in a hog grouper

We had this one for dinner also

Larry, Bryan, and Ted on Bryan's boat

Four foot eel with big teeth

I got the big one

Is this Paradise or what?

Another perfect end to another perfect day

What you do at sunset in the Keys

In the Keys it is a tradition to blow your shell horn at the exact time the sun disappears into the water. Well, it doesn't really, but it looks that way. Everyone gathers on the decks of their boats, and at the exact moment, the horns all sound off. It's pretty cool, but I guess you would have to be here to appreciate it.
Today we went to the Dockside Bar and Grill for their once a month pig roast with two other couples from the Marina. The pig was good and the company was great. After the pig roast we put Half Note in the water and checked out the harbor.
Tomorrow a few of us are going fishing. One of the guys came back with a bunch of snapper and promised to show us the hot spot tomorrow. Fish for dinner tomorrow night. (I hope)

September Song (off to the fishing hole tomorrow) out
Bob


A visitor to our slip

We pigged out on the pig roast

That will be me tomorrow

Some dress for the occasion

Our next door neighbor with an unusual shell horn

September Songs official conch horn blower

The end of another perfect day