This year Christmas for us was different to say the least. This year is the first time in our lives we have spent Christmas away from family and a house on land. Then on top of that to be in Ft Myers, Florida with no cold and snow. SEASONS has a little decorated and lighted tree. We gathered shells from our beach walks and I have some extra shinny boat hardware we hung on the tree. No need to go overboard with decorations for the season because what do you do with all that stuff once Christmas is over? We will save a couple of the ornaments and the rest including the tree will get recycled.
Our friends Pete and Mary were visiting his parents in Ft Myers for the holidays so it was great to catch up with them and enjoy a pre-Christmas dinner at their house.
We had many phone conversations with Family and Friends on Christmas Day, enjoyed the warm sunshine and took a 5 mile walk around the quite streets of Ft Myers.
Boaters have a tendency to band together wherever they are and we were invited to a Christmas day potluck on the docks at Legacy Marina. We met wonderful people, had fun conversations, and great food. Its a small world in the boating community when we met fellow Chicago to Mackinac racers and shared stories of past races.
Our trip to Naples, FL was a little bumpy on the Gulf and there were some pretty good waves over the bow. SEASONS has stabilizers which help in slowing down the roll of the boat a lot. We were greeted at Gordon Pass (the entrance to the Naples Inter-coastal Waterway) by long time friend Bob and his daughter on board his powercat SOCIABLE. By the time we arrived at Naples Yacht Club the weather had settled down.
Both of my son’s Greg and Garrett flew in for the holidays. It was fantastic to spend some time with them. I know they enjoyed a break for the cold weather up north.
We spent New Years Eve on the beach with our toes in the sand. And of course the last sunset for 2018 did not disappoint. Dorothy and I wish all the best for you in the New Year.
SEASONS underway 
Hi Brian.
Interesting post regarding your crossing of the gulf. We encountered very similar conditions on our crossing from Apalachacola to what we intended to be Ft. Meyers/Marco Island. Watched for what looked to be a decent weather window. Picked our day and within 1 hr of entering the Gulf we encountered southeasterly winds of 30kt and seas 6+ feet almost right on the bow. NWS had predicted winds to be easterly 5-10kts and seas 2′ or less. Did not want to attempt turning broadside to those seas and head N-NE so we banged it out straight E to get back in the lee of the coast. Very unpleasant 3-4 hrs of spray over the bridge but LaNostra was more up to it than we..but what choice.??? Finally tucked into Steinhatchee for the night. Next day seas were as flat as a bathtub and we made the run all the way down to the Keys.
Learned the oft-stated comment: Look for the right window and then wait another 24hrs. That was probably the roughest conditions we encountered our entire 10yrs and 15,000+ mi. cruising on her.
27yrs of flying airplanes taught truth in the statement…You never beat Mother nature. She merely “lets you off” until the next time.!!!!
LikeLike
Happy New Year to you, Brian and Dorothy! Nice to hear that Greg and Garrett got down to see you, and you even had a visit from Sociable. It has been great reading your posts and look forward to seeing them in 2019. Safe travels and continued adventure!
LikeLike
I’m having fun reading along. Maybe I should quit this doctor life!
LikeLike