Air Show

We went to an air show at Tyndall Air Force base this weekend. It was a good time. Sharon got a bad sunburn. She is feeling it real good right now. I stayed in the shade and didn't get it too bad. Some of the planes were absolutely amazing. I sat inside a huge cargo plane and was amazed at the amount of space inside, and the amount of wiring attached to the hull inside. I guess being an electrician I notice things like that. It would be fun to wire one.

We were asked to post more on what it is like to live on a boat, so in an upcoming post  I will try to give you an idea of what it is like. I will try to put some pictures with it. This is actually more challenging than one might think. It will take some thought to be able to find a way to convey how it really is. It is not all fun and games. But it is by far worth the trouble.

Two weeks from tomorrow  we meet Sharon's family in New Orleans for a 5 day cruise to Mexico. We have never been on a cruise and are looking forward to it. After that we will return to Indiana to work for two weeks, then come back to Florida bringing a couple of friends with us to go sailing for a few days before taking them to San Antonio Texas to meet up with Rachel (our daughter). She will take them down to Mexico, and we will return to Indiana to work for a few weeks to build up the cruising kitty before returning to Morgan and setting off again.

 It is hard to tell from this pic, but a guy landed an airplane on top of a motor-home at 90 mph. The motor-home then stopped, then started again. When it got back up to 90 the plane took off again.


We are excited about this cruise for more than one reason. As you know when we left Kentucky Lake we sailed down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. We exited the Mississippi at mile number 92 into the industrial canal. The cruise starts in downtown New Orleans and goes out into the gulf, and on to Mexico, so we will get to see the rest of the Mississippi river all the way into the gulf. I believe it is mostly just swamps from that point on, but it will be nice to see the rest no matter what it is.

Beautiful day

It was another beautiful day here in Florida, mid 70s and sunny. Tomorrow is going to be 79 and sunny. I was sitting on the dock grilling fish when I took this picture. It was one of those moments that I just felt so happy, content, and just right with the world. It's hard to explain other than it just feels right, like everything is just the way it is supposed to be.

The herb we use the most is cilantro, so Sharon decided to grow her own. She planted the seed for these about two weeks ago. It is nice to have something growing on the boat besides barnacles.

Back in the marina

We returned to the marina on Saturrday afternoon. We stopped by Pier 98 to pump out. It took a while as their pump wasn't working that great. Sharon has been true to her word and done all pump outs so far.

I spent the whole day messing with stupid government stuff. It took four trips to the tax collectors office to get Morgan changed over to a Florida title and rego. Tomorrow I have to get new numbers to put on the hull to replace the Indiana numbers. Next week I will do Rosies title. I couldn't do this time because we have only had her done for just under six months. If I wait till next week when she is six months old I won't have to pay sales tax on her.Have I mentioned lately how much I love government.

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

We left the marina today to go for a sail. I think we will stay out to about Saturday or Sunday. It was a beautiful day, mid 70s, sunny, about a 10 to 15 mph wind. This was the kind of day made for sailors. We left about noon after Sharon finished school. We sailed south east from where we were down into East Bay.

Just beautiful.

 

 I took this picture while Jimmy Buffet was singing "Son of a Sailor". I clicked it just as he was singing the line "I'm glad I don't live in a trailer". I couldn't have agreed more. I have not been able to find the words to adequately explain to someone the joy, happiness, and peace one finds while sailing.

We left Rosie at the marina. It was weird to look back and her not be there.

New Screens

These are the screens I made for Morgan. I think they are going to work out pretty well. The chain that I sewed into the hem is stainless steel so it's not going to rust. My though for making them like this is that they will be easy to roll up and stow away while underway. Storage on a 25 foot boat is at a premium. The screen is also very tight knit screen designed to keep out no seeums. I hope it works.

Sunday Outing.

After church today we went for a drive to check out the touristy part of town (Panama City Beach). This is called Wonderworks. Across the street is the Ripley's Believe it or not. It would have been $41 each to go in, so we just looked at the outside.

Pretty cool looking isn't it.

We then went to Pier Park and walked around.

This guy probably thinks Sharon is taking his picture. Pier Park is about like the downtown of a small town. It is loaded with tourist junk shops. Living on a boat saves you money in places like this as you don't have anywhere to put something if you bought it, so you don't buy anything.

We had a nice walk along the beach. Lots of spring breakers out.

When we got home we had baked potatoes, New York strip, sliced tomatoes, and salad. Truly a meal fit for a king.

After I took the picture of my plate I took this pic of Sharon. I asked her why she always give me the same disgusted look? She said "Oh, do you want me to smile?" I said of course.

So she did. If she looks happy, it is fake. Don't believe it.

Rant

Why I dislike the government. I had read that if we kept the boat in Florida water for more than 90 days that we would have to register it here. I went to the tax office the other day to find out for sure. Yep, it is true. So I have to change to a Florida title, then if we go back to Indiana (or any other state) for more than 90 days, I will have to change the title again. This could only make sense to a politician.  The only good thing about it is that Florida registration is cheaper than Indiana because they have an antique vessel registration here. It's only $5 per year. The title change is the hassle. Oh well, I'm in warm weather and clear water. Things could be worse.

Under The Oaks Park

Me sewing screens for the hatches.

Getting ready for the no seeums.

There is a park across the street from the marina that we are at called "Under The Oaks Park". It is absolutely beautiful, and has a trail along the perimeter that is .6 miles long. We walk two laps everyday. I think next week we will start doing three. It is the nicest park I have ever seen, and with Live oak trees. I hadn't seen any of these until we got to Ocean Springs Mississippi. I think they are now my favorite tree.

One of the many squirls wanting food. I had a bunch of these guys just come right up to me. I guess people walking in the park feed them regularly. They are definitely not afraid of people. I had one follow us almost all the way around the trail. Hey Rodney, do you want some for your lake house? I'm sure they would love it.

More of the trails.

Now why didn't they have things like this when I was a kid? This thing is huge. At 52 years old I played on it just the same. Sharon says I'm just a big kid anyway. I would have loved to have gotten the contract to build it. That would have been as much fun as playing on it. Like getting paid to play.

Sharon didn't want to play. Actually, she did yesterday, but she said once was enough. That is the difference between boys and girls. This place could entertain a boy for at least three years.

Awesome!

Slideshow of our river trip

Road Trip

Duh! Those are the only kind of people who get married.

Look out little sailboat!

We took a drive today after church. We drove down to Apalachacola Florida. We are thinking of moving Morgan down there at the end of the month. We also looked at Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe. We will see. It was fun to see some more of Florida.

Look at the picture above of the sailboat anchored in front of the barge. I wouldn't want to be on board that one. Made me nervous, and I was in the car.


Hey Rachel, I saw this (picture #1) in the library and thought of you. Maybe you should check it out. Actually, it was mom's idea. I am much to nice to think of something like that.


We were walking the docks in Apalachacola and ran into some other cruisers (Mike and Amanda) who we had met in Ocean Springs MS a month ago. They are planing on leaving there tomorrow morning. Maybe we will catch up with them again somewhere else.

Mike

Marina in Parker Florida

Morgan docked in Panama City.

All of the above pictures are of the marina that we are at in Parker Florida, a suburb of Panama City. Today was another fantastic day. I am glad not everyone knows how great it feels to live on a boat in Florida in March. Otherwise it would be so crowed down here you couldn't move. The weather was fantastic today, we had grilled fish for supper. I don't think I could be any happier right now.

I think I will start sanding the deck tomorrow in preparation for painting. I can't wait to get it painted so the outside of Morgan will look as good as the inside. We spent so much time refitting the interior, but not much on the outside. Once I get this done I will be as proud of the way she looks on the outside as I am of her interior.

I submitted an article to Small Craft Advisor magazine this week. I hope they print it. Time will tell. I am thinking of writing a follow up article for Living Aboard magazine to the one they published before and see if they will print it. I am half way through with one I am going to submit to Good Old Boat about Morgan's refit.

Life is good,

Mike

14 Days Straight

Me on the beach looking goofy, I don't know what I was thinking.

Ah! laying on the bow in shorts, listening to XM, with cold drink in hand, flying the spinnaker. It doesn't get any better than that.

The weather man said today was the 14th day straight of high temps over 70. That is what I have been looking for, and how sweet it is. We have met some really nice people since we have been here. Lots of people living on their boats down here. It seems funny to be in a place where you are not an odd ball for living aboard. I like it.

We found block ice today! It took almost a week to find. It lasts so much longer than cubed ice. We can go two weeks without having to buy ice to keep the cooler cold if we have block, every other day if we use cubed. We are finding where everything is around here now. We rented a car last Friday, and drove back to Ocean Springs to get our car.

I have been working on making screens for the hatches the last couple of days. It amazes me how fast time flies. I read once about a cruiser who was asked "What do you do all day?" His answer was "I don't know, but it takes me all day.". That's how I feel. I start the day with a goal, I get about half of it done and wonder where the day went. I am not complaining mind you. I am loving it.