1st week back in Bradenton

So picking up on Sunday (9/13), Mark and Deb did drive up from Punta Gorda and we had dinner at the Oak and Stone.  Can't go wrong with pizza and beer.  After dinner we took a short walk around downtown and then came back to the boat.  Mark and I sat out by the pool, under cover, for a cigar.  It has rained everyday so far.   

On Monday morning we went to take a look at Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness.  If we are going to be here for 2 months, we are going to need to do something more than just walking.  We decided that Planet fitness would be OK for us.  When we got back to the boat and Marcia found another Planet Fitness that was just as close, so I drove down to look at it.  It was a little nicer, so we went ahead and joined.  Did some more cleaning and putting away on the boat and took it easy the rest of the night.

So on Tuesday we made plans to meet up with some friends for lunch on Siesta Key.  Turns out that Nancy and Bob Reece read our blog and they were on vacation in Siesta Key.  We met them for lunch at the Turtle on Little Sarasota Bay.  Was a fun place on the water to have drinks and lunch.  Was good catching up with them.  Sorry but for some reason we did not take any pictures, must have been having too much fun.  After lunch we walked around Siesta Key and checked it out.  Back at the boat we were wore out so it was again and easy night.

We have started using our membership at Planet Fitness.  Not exactly BARC (Blue Ash Rec Center), but we are getting used to the equipment there. After lunch I went outside to do some cleaning.  As I was putting something away in the engine room I discovered that our Port head, toilet for those that do not speak nautical, was continuing to run and not pulling a vacuum.  After removing outlet hose from the pump, removing the duckbill valves, and washing waste off my hands and bilge, I was off to West Marine.  New duckbill valves installed, and no difference.  Pump just runs.  Now to remove outlet hose, remove pump, remove inlet hose, removed duckbill valves, wash waste.  Culprit found, peanut stuck in duckbill valve keeping if from sealing.  Everything back together and we are now good.  Lost a gallon of sweat, pint of blood and 1 7/16 wrench.  Yep - the fun part of boating.  Sorry so graphic but believe me it was worse in person.  Pretty wore out after all of that.  Think it goes without saying that I will not be eating a 1/2 bag of Cajun trail mix on the boat anymore.

Thursday we made plans to visit a house and town house complex with our realtor after the gym.  The house we went to see just received a an offer, but we went to check it out anyway.  It was out of our range, but thought it would be good so see anyway.  We did like the house, but as stated, out of our range.  We did drive over to look at the other community, but we did not care for it.  Biggest issue is it is not on the water.   After dinner we walked the other docks and met some of the other live aboards.  Everyone seems real nice.  

On Friday, Greg and Rhonda drove up from Ft. Myers to visit and have lunch.  We met them a year ago in Green Turtle Bay.  Although we have not seem them since Demopolis, I talk with him almost every week.   We walked over to Pier 22 for lunch.  After lunch we sat on the boat for a few hours and got caught up.   

Saturday was predicted to be no rain and low wind.  We took the opportunity to get  the dingy out and explore a little bit.  We planned to take a ride to Woody's and check it out.  We had the fore thought to text Lisa and Steve to see if they wanted to meet there.  We met them there and we had a great time.  Definitely on the list of places we will go again.  Good food, cold beer and great service.  

After lunch and a few "pork chops", we invited Lisa and Steve out to take a dinghy ride.  We cruised through the canals of the Inlets and viewed a lot of the houses and boats.  After dropping them back off at Woody's we went back to the boat.  It was such a nice day, especially after all the rain we have been having, that we decided to go to the pool for awhile.  We hung out with another couple from our dock, and ended eating dinner at the pool with them.  Thanks for the hot dogs Brooks and Sandy.  Just before dark we got back to the boat in time to put the dinghy up.  It was a full day and it finally felt like we were back in Florida.  FYI, anyone coming to visit, Woody's will be on the list of places to go.

On Sunday came the wind.  Winds were blowing with gust up to 40mph.  Glad we got the dinghy ride in yesterday.  We had heard about the Flea Market close to the boat, so we decided to go check it out.  Been a long time since I have been to a Flea Market, and now I remember why.  It was still pretty cool.  We walked the whole market and bought just a couple of things.  They did have a fresh market, so we bought some fresh corn on the cob and some peppers.  I braved the wind and grilled hamburgers on the grill at the pool.  All in all it was a good 1st week.

You can see the wind in the palm trees while I was trying to grill.

 

1 Year Loop Anniversary

 We arrived back at the boat in Bradenton, Florida after being home for about 2 months.  It truly is a coincidence that we left on September 11th 2019 and our 1st full day back on the boat was September 11th 2020.  Covid has definitely dealt us a blow on this trip as we are sure it has affected everyone.  We are planning to stay on the boat here in Bradenton for the next 2 months, planning to go home in November for the holidays.  

Leaving on 9/11/19

We think of our loop trip in 3 segments so far.

1. River systems to Chattanooga, Looper Rendezvous, Tom Bigbee to Mobile, Gulf crossing to Punta Gorda. (Sept.-Nov. 2019)
2. Punta Gorda to Key West, The Keys, The Bahamas, Bahamas back to North Palm Beach. (Feb-March 2020)
3. North Palm through Lake Okeechobee, Ft. Myers up to Bradenton. (June-July 2020)

We are still planning to continue our trip up the East Coast and Great Lakes beginning in April 2021.  We have missed our weather window until next year due to Covid.  Hoping things get back to normal soon so we can continue.  Oh, not the "new" normal.

So we drove back down to the boat on Wednesday and Thursday, the 9th and 10th, stopping in Valdosta for the night.  We got to the boat around lunch time and unloaded the car.  Amazing how much stuff we cart back and forth.  After unloading, we decided to do a Walmart grocery run.  Timed it perfectly so that we got to the store in the height of the massive thunderstorm.  Walmart is actually cold when you are soaking wet.  Back at the boat we spent the rest of the day putting things away.  Friday was spent cleaning and continuing to put everything away.  Nothing too exciting, but we were happy that everything on the boat seemed to be OK.  

On Saturday we went to an open house to look at an area that we were interested in.  Short story is we both like the house but the water access would not work due to an 8 foot bridge.  We were bummed.  Lisa and Steve Bell came over for happy hour on the boat and we went to dinner at Pier 22, here at the Marina.  After dinner and back on the boat Steve and I had a bourbon and Marcia made Moscow Mules for her and Lisa.  Oh yeah, I might of had my 1st cigar since being back down.  I know, I am amazed at my self control as well.

It has been raining here all day (Sunday).  Mark and Debbie are driving up from Punta Gorda and we are going to go to dinner, most likely at Oak and Stone.  Not much happening yet but will try to post about once a week to keep everyone up to date.

On a sad note,  just before we came back down, our dog Port crossed the rainbow bridge. He was 14 1/2, had a great life and will be missed.