Amazing January Weekend

[Hampton]

I aplogize in advance to the guys up North.

This weekend, I had one night off - Sat. The weather forecast was 50% rain, light winds, mostly cloudy, but warm (50's at night, 70's during the day). We got up Sat am, packed, and headed to the dock. We loaded up and headed to the local barrier island (Shell Island) by noon, dinghy and all - first time in many months to go to our favorite spot.

I jumped in to my waist to set our stern anchors. It was tolerable, but only barely. Kim and Jason and Tyler of Aarrhh & Aarrhh joined us in their 370. We had visits (afternoon only) from Tommy and Audrey in their 500, Eric and Carolyn by dinghy, and a few others. We went for a great walk, built a fire on the beach, took some spectacular photos of sunset (pending - I'm at work). Jason's photos are incredible (he was in a special place this weekend - you'll have to ask him).

The sunset was the best I've ever seen. It was so crisp out, that it appeared that you could see the sun through the surface of the water after sunset. The sky had some very deep gray colors along with blue and red. You'll see in a day or two.

My wife and I had a great time listening to music and watching a movie, and walking on the beach. We took a dinghy ride to a secluded cove to watch wildlife (no, not that). There were deer and racoon tracks on the beach. There was no rain. It was mostly sunny, off and on. Today, we had visits from 2 more boats and Eric/Carolyn by dinghy again. What a great weekend.

The only thing missing was sea life. It's pretty baren this time of year. But, we did see young dolphins with their mothers.

 

[everthing's irie]

We were out this weekend as well. High 50's rain ended by 10am saturday, sun came out. Us a a couple of other Searay owners.:thumbsup:

 

[Henry Boyd]

John,

That's just not fair.

 

[boatrboy]

You guys are killing me! I had to broom the snow off the cover last week... At least I went to a local boat show this weekend and sat on a 33da with the sales guy for a half hour.

 

[Nehalennia]

Joh,
I'm glad you got out there. Also I'm glad to hear your CO detector worked. That may have been the warning signal that many of us aren't so lucky so enjoy that time....for the rest of us.

It snowed here today. Only 1/2" and nothing stuck to the street, but if our family was feeling better we may have gone out for a small cruise. Seems like this winter the planets aren't aligning.

As I said last week and the week before that.....maybe next week

 

[Hampton]

Joh,
I'm glad you got out there. Also I'm glad to hear your CO detector worked. That may have been the warning signal that many of us aren't so lucky so enjoy that time....for the rest of us.

It snowed here today. Only 1/2" and nothing stuck to the street, but if our family was feeling better we may have gone out for a small cruise. Seems like this winter the planets aren't aligning.

As I said last week and the week before that.....maybe next week

Hang in there. It'll work out soon.

 

[Aarrhh & Aarrhh]

I managed to take over 300 pictures this weekend!! Here are a few, I'm still sorting and picking out my favorites!!!

Sun set!

Warm feet!

Shell's Island at sunrise.

Aarrh & Aarrh at sunset.

 

[chuck1]

Cool pictures!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hampton]

I managed to take over 300 pictures this weekend!! Here are a few, I'm still sorting and picking out my favorites!!!

Sun set!

Excellent job, Jason. Thanks for the one of my boat. That's a nice angle. Now you guys can see why we back up to the island - almost a step off.

 

[Vince_nj1]

It was 16 degrees outside today, my highlight was watching a show on HDNET with a few dumb girls wearing bikinis while they rode a big bananna somewhere in the Caribean.

I'm ready to re-locate. I hate the winter.

 

[Hampton]

It was 16 degrees outside today, my highlight was watching a show on HDNET with a few dumb girls wearing bikinis while they rode a big bananna somewhere in the Caribean.

I'm ready to re-locate. I hate the winter.

Girls gone wild?

 

[rondds]

John
You need to blog stuff like this. Sounds perfect. Thanks for sharing.

 

[trit21]

John,
Where do you keep the dink on your 340? On the swim platform or someplace else?

 

[Hampton]

John,
Where do you keep the dink on your 340? On the swim platform or someplace else?

I haven't figured it out yet. Apparently, no other (relatively) new 340 guys have either, or if they have, they haven't shared. We drag it 50' behind the boat when traveling to and from the island (2 miles). Over night, we leave it as pictured. For long trips, we deflate it and store it on board. I'd like to get some davits. I'm waiting for the perfect solution.

Back at the dock, we drag it up onto the floating finger dock to starboard and put the custom cover on it.

 

[osd9]

I spent a few hours on my boat today also.......making sure all the winterization is in good order, the oil pan heaters were working, the ice-eater was not fouled, the winter canvas was intack, winter, winter winter....etc,, etc...:smt089

I'm driving down to Key Largo in three weeks...can't wait to be on, or actually under, the water again....:thumbsup:

 

[Dancin Dave]

Thanks John, it was warmer than usual yesterday. I spent sometime on the boat myself. 36 degrees.

 

[Kameroo]

...The only thing missing was sea life...

Well, that answers my next question about the perfect date on the boat. Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[Banagy]

Great pictures. It will keep us dreaming. Temp last night three above and a high of fourteen and down to five tonight. The pictures have given us warmth.