This ain't Chasing 80!!

After a fairly mild start to this winter season February has really kicked it up a notch! We had another 5+ inches of snow today and I'm getting a bit tired of all this. The forecast 2 days ago was for upper 30's and rain but (surprise) the weather dudes got it wrong again. I know, I know...it could be worse. We're not in Boston after all but this is a bit much for me, I'm ready do be done with winter. Folks are even complaining in the Key's because it's only in the 60's and windy...aww shucks.

2/21/15 totals

The Thompson Road Cabana Club is officially closed today. Note the diving board for the accumulation for the week.

Closed for the season

The real reason for this post is to point out a few new features we added to the blog. If you look at the bar on the right of this page you can see the following.

1. Added a link where you can enter your e-mail address to get notified when we add a new post. This way you don't have to just check the blog to see if there is anything new.
2. Added a link called Follow Us. If you click on the link you will be taken to our Delorme page with a map showing where we have been and where we are now. I left the In Reach on when we left the boat and it looks like it lasted about 4 days before going dead. Hopefully the boat didn't move around as much as it looks like on the map. I can only assume the signal is degraded a bit by being under a metal roof. It should be more interesting as we begin to travel.
3. I also created a map that shows where we have been. If you click on the map it will open in a larger page where you can click on a marker to get info of where we were and when. I'm looking forward to filling up the eastern US with our markers.

So that's about it for now. Pretty sure I haven't done 2 posts in the same week when not traveling. Not much else to do on these snow days. I'll leave you with a few pics from our trip to the Key's (where it's now only 70 degrees). The first 2 are from the Sunset Grille in Marathon.

Seven Mile Bridge

Sunset over Moser Channel

Next is another attempt to be artsy. This is a shot at the Green Parrot bar in Key West. We were there for Jill's birthday and Glen David Andrews from New Orleans was playing. The artsy part was of his bone resting on the table, I only later noticed the picture of Fats Domino keeping an eye on them.

Do you see Fats?

Until next time....

Two fer One!

Well, not really but I thought I'd give a quick update on what we've been up to for the past month or so.

After Christmas our next regular trip to the boat would have been mid January. The restaurant was closed for the month and no real projects were calling us so we opted for plan "B". My sister Kathy's birthday is mid January and she expressed an interest in getting away for a bit since it was a special birthday (the kind where you change numbers). I suggested our friends Mike & Gretchen's condo in Panama City Beach as an option and she was all in! The plan evolved to a few days in New Orleans since she had never been there and then a few days in PCB before a stop at the boat on the way home to check her out.

Sorry, no pictures to share from NOLA as it was a bit cool and damp. We covered a lot ground in 2 days, saw the Quarter of course as well as some time uptown, Magazine St,  and dinner at one of our favorites Jacques-Imos and a Ramos Gin Fizz at Tujague's. It was a short stay but I think Kathy will be back. I know we will...in April!

Next we headed East along US 90 on what we like to call the Gulf Coast pub crawl. I had the bright idea to take the Dauphin Island Ferry to get over to Gulf Shores and lunch at LuLu's. Turns out we got to the island just before the start of their Mardi Gras parade and wouldn't make the ferry until 3:30 if we waited...we didn't. Took the long way around Mobile Bay and got to LuLu's for a late lunch after a stop at Billy's seafood for a few pounds of Royal Red shrimp (taste like lobster!)

Eventually we made it to the condo and crashed pretty hard. We spent the next couple of days checking out the area going as far as Apalachicola and having a few oysters at Boss Oyster House.

Sister Kathy & Bro-in-Law Ron at Boss

After the oysters we walked around town a bit and along the waterfront. We saw an eagle across the river although I couldn't get him to look at the camera. I also tried out my artsy side with some shrimp boat pictures.

Shy Eagle

Artsy Shrimp Boat

We also found a nice lunch spot back in Panama City and right on the water called Bayou Joe's.

Bayou Joe's

We are definitely looking forward to seeing these places again when we head that way with the boat in the fall.

Back at the condo we got to spend a bit of beach time as well as a fantastic dinner with the Royal Red's. The sunsets are pretty spectacular in this area as the beach faces west/southwest.

Pelican looks for dinner

Alas we had to head north but spent a night at the boat on the way home to show our guests the new digs. All was well at the boat and they got introduced to the fantastic food at Patti's 1880's. It was a bit cool and damp at times but all in all a great trip. Happy birthday Kathy!

Jill and I weren't done traveling just yet. Since her birthday is the 31st we decided to fly down to the Keys for a long weekend birthday celebration. We spent a couple of days in Marathon and checked out marinas we hope to be docked at this time next year. We also met several fellow boaters (and Bloggers) living the dream in the Keys. Next we went to Key West for Jills birthday and checked out a few marinas there as well as several bars...it's what we do. I'll dig up some pictures of that trip for the next installment.

We made it back down to the boat for a long Valentines day weekend. Not much going on but the restaurant is back open and we met some more dock neighbors. Really looking forward to Summer down there. In fact, I'm looking forward to Summer anywhere! I've shoveled snow the past 3 days and the high tomorrow is expected to be 7!! This sure ain't Chasing 80!!

Till next time....