Mar 21 - a huge bonus

The really, really, nice thing about being retired are those unexpected and unplanned days that just turn out to be a delight.  Yesterday was like that.

It didn't start out quite that way.  John had to cancel due to the flu.  I decided to start up the little Whaler because Jason & Kim wanted to go for a ride ... battery dead (expected), gas line squirting gas (unexpected).  I'd put off buying the new battery, could have used one of the Hydrasports batteries, but of course those were both in the other boat.  The squirting gas line ... well, that's a non-starter.

Just to see if the motor would run, I pulled and pulled and pulled the recoil starter with no luck.  Then I turned on the key and it started first pull.  Duh.  Ok, since it's running, let's get this fixed.  I went to Walmart and picked up the new battery and a replacement gas line, installed both and fired 'er up.  No problem.  Ok, I'm ready.

Jason, Lo and Kim arrived just after 11am and the immediate priority was getting a hitch rack installed on their car.  It appears that Lo and Kim have done way, way too much shopping ! 

The 1 1/4" => 2" adapter wasn't inserting all the way due to a metal punch-out and Jason figured that we could drill that out.  I wasn't so sure but after trying to chisel it out without any success, he used the trusty Dewalt drill and that did the trick.  It took a small knock with the hammer to get the adapter in, but now it's clear.  We then put the rack together (isn't Harbor Freight great ?), and he's ready to roll ... well, not quite.  Since all that luggage could get wet, we went to Home Depot and picked up a large storage bin to fit on the rack and some ratcheting tie-downs.  I picked up water softener salt while we were there; I'd been forgetting about that for a while.

The bin installed and tied down, I washed the Harley.  It hadn't moved since the fall.  Kim wanted a ride.  It was time.

I took a quick run over to Sammy's gas station, as much to get it running smoothly as to test out my own ability to handle the thing with my shoulder issue.  A little rough at first (the engine), it was soon purring.  My shoulder wasn't a problem.

Kim and I then headed out, out Pioneer Trail and Turnbull Bay road -- the same route that I'd taken with Angelika and Bill, but we also drove all the way through the Venetian Bay development, which is simply huge.  It's the first time that I've driven through that.  We returned on SR44, and by the time we were home we'd gone about 20 miles.

Jason & Lo & Sandy were sitting out front, enjoying the warm sun out of the cool breeze in the backyard.  Jason, Kim and I, along with Abby of course, got organized and went out in the Whaler which started immediately and ran well, no doubt delighted to be in-use.  It will definitely get more use next week with Jeffrey and Emma.

We landed on a beach and did a little exploring, saw schools of fish and hermit crabs, huge horseshoe crab shells and a few large live conch.  Abby got some almost-but-not-quite-swimming.  Back home, Abby got a wash down.

We sat around and chatted for a while, out and in, then went to Gnarly's for dinner.  Sandy had the Polynesian Mahi Mahi; Lo had the flat-iron steak; Jason & Kim had the Mac & Cheese & Shrimp (huge number of large panko-encrusted shrimp), and I had the Osso Bucco, yes, again.  It was very good, again.

We also had some bridge-beer.  Yes, when the bridge on the north causeway lifts, beer is 25 cents.  How could we resist?  Four beer for $1.  They were even good beer -- what we'd been drinking anyway.

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Whoops -- sidetracked for an hour !

All in all an excellent day.  The weather was perfect for the activities; I finally got the Whaler and Harley out and about; good times with good friends.

Today ... off to see cousin Bev & Bruce. 

Onward !