Mar 15/16 - let's see ...

I'm playing catch-up again ! 

On the 15th I rode.  It was hot, hot like a furnace riding on US 1.  Alister and Carol arrived around 4:30, I think, and a while later Jim and Sheryl come over and we had dinner in the dining room -- a rarity.  Panko encrusted Mahi Mahi and asparagus both hit the grill while Sandy did brown rice.  Cassie went crazy with the extra company but no more crazy than she goes with Sheryl all by herself.  I don't think that she'll even miss us when we go to Italy !

On the 16th, Alister headed to Orlando to play golf while the rest of us went boating.  It was a hot day on the water; amazing how quickly that changes.  The water temperature was showing 76F while the tide was going out; later 70F.  Once the water temperature climbs, the weather quickly turns to summer.

We didn't go out to the ocean, even though it was fairly calm.  We did spend a lot of time on the island and then headed north to Caribbean Jack's for lunch.  I'll have to remember how long it takes -- one hour from the island and then 1.25 hours all the way back.  That depends, of course, on how fast and which way the tide is running.  We were back at the marina around 3:30.  Their deadline is 4:00 -- I'll have to check on that to see if it's hard and fast.  We'd like to take some longer trips.

Somehow we lost Cassie's orange Chuck-it ball.  She'd run to catch up to Sandy and Carol carrying the ball but then when we traversed the area, it was no-where to be found.  It's pretty hard to miss that bright orange ball but we did.  Perhaps it was eaten by a shark ?

Before we got as far as the island we were stopped by the Coast Guard to do a safety check.  We've been boating in this area since 2006 and this is the first time.  I had three separate oh-ho moments after they did their routine boat and driver identification and papers -- he wanted to see FIVE adult life-jackets -- oh oh -- do I have five ... yes !  I've got six.  Whew !
Next, a whistle or or horn ... yes !  I had a whistle in my flare kit and of course I've also got the boat horn ... whew !  Next, a fire extinguisher ... do I have a fire extinguisher ... yes !  Whew, I'd forgotten.

All of this stuff is in the head.  When I bought the boat, I researched what I needed by law and properly outfitted the boat.  Thank goodness ... but I should probably be reviewing this stuff regularly a) so I know if there is any change in requirements; b) so I know that everything is current and working (like a fire extinguisher); and c) so I know where to find things should I need them in an emergency!

The reason that we need the fire extinguisher is that we've got an enclosed gas tank.  We only need the flares, if memory serves me correctly, if we're out in the ocean.  They didn't check lights, because they're only required at night ...

The Coast Guard crew was very pleasant.  They loved Cassie, of course.  We chatted with them a bit.

We did have a great day on the water.

Before boating, I had my first session with Jessica.  My shoulder still hurts.  That's life.  We worked on a few things, nothing really really intensive; I didn't have sweat pouring off me like my workouts had become with John.

Today, St. Paddy's Day, we intend to hit Flagler.  The party there is from 5pm to 9pm.

Onward !