Christmas Eve day 12.24.09

We had a great night ..never used the generator…just the opened engine compartment. The sun was shinning in before it got too cold in here this morning.  I heated the water bottle (bird cage warmer) at 1am and it held most of the night.

We anchored near shore so we would get the sun as early as possible. It looks like we are really in the bushes ..but we’re not.

I am trying to train Raisin to use a carpet on the front deck for her daily business.  Many times we have to anchor where there is no place to go ashore.  The carpet is from the front porch at home…and  she has used it when it was raining, so it’s already scented. I thought I was in for a long sit and was getting prepared to out wait her…..she used it before i could get my coffee and cushion in place. This will be our daily routine. …and a trip ashore later.

Jim was over-board for a swim about 9 am. …air cool..water invigorating….at least that was the term I used until I got in…COLD..was more like it…but once in it was nice…so a good scrub and shampoo was in order. Now we are both squeaky clean.

We watched to see how the sun came over the trees and decided we’d only have to wait 15 min more if we moved to the center of the run. No phone signal or internet this close to the trees… so Jim used the dingy to push us into place.

I spent an hour or so cruising in the dingy while Jim was on the computer.

These buzzards didn’t mind my picture taking…

but I had to follow this heron down the run before he allowed one.

The sun is down…and it’s cooling off. I need to start closing up. Merry Christmas every one. May this one be the best every.

Hontoon Island, Fl 12.22.09

We arrived at Hontoon Island before dark. There wern’t any boats in the slips so we decided to try backing in. It might not sound like much to those with to engines or bow thrusters but a single engine is lots of fun and learning.  Jim did a great job..didn’t dump me in the water or bang the dock..he’s really getting the hand of this thing.

We had a nice warm night. So glad Debbie reminded me it was going to be cold again.

I was up early and walking Raisin so I took a picture of our boat…I told Jim I was labeling these photos  “our boat”  and

and “our next boat”    a Marine Trader 36S.  Only 9 ft longer than ours..but what a beauty.

The only way onto Hontoon Island is by boat.  Here is the electric ferry that brings all the visitors over. A large battery bank and solar panels keep it running.

After visiting with the owner of Bold Eagle, we headed to Silver Glen Springs.

We saw a few nice gators on the way…this one wouldn’t even look at us.

but this one looks like he’s grinning…

It is so peaceful in the springs…only one other occupied boat here. All the big houseboats that were here all summer have gone. I wonder if anyone will be in tomorrow.

We have the generator all set up for extended running if it gets cold tonight. I don’t think it’s supposed to be too bad.

Merry Christmas….from Slow Motion..on the river

We launched at lake Monroe Park on Tuesday morning. Everything went well..the adjustments Jim made to the trailer worked the way they were supposed to.

Jim took the truck and trailer to the house and our friend and neighbor, George, gave him a ride back to the boat. By the time they arrived..I had all the vinyl sides in place and the dingy aired up. Jim had already loaded the bike, gas cans and “grocery dolly” while i was was filling the water tank and jugs.

We only one bike so one will ride and one walk. The bike can tow the dolly. Last time in “No Name Harbor” in Key Biscayne, FL..we had at least a 3 mile hike to get groceries…to the store isn’t bad..but lugging 4 bags each got pretty tiring. ..so we’ll give this a try.

We got underway about 1:30 pm…not much wildlife on the river today. We spotted one Manatee…You can just see it’s nose as it came up for air…

 

and then it’s back as it submerged again.

We spotted the flat wide ripples before we saw it. We just shut down and drifted until it broke the surface. Once we were sure it was completely away from us we continued on.

Did see one nice gator..

We’ll be stopping at Hontoon Island for the night. Going to be cold and we can plug in and run a heater.