Bethlehem Star

December 21, 2020 - Looking Southwest from 257 Lido Drive

Night Sky Over Peace River December 17, 2020 - Photo by Kevin Lee

New Dinghy and Motor

 A friend of ours, Tim Crimmins, offered us a dinghy that someone had given him over ten years ago. Tim had never taken it out of its bag so he didn't really know what he had. Tim said we could have it with one provision: If we took it out of the bag we couldn't give it back!  Taking a chance we became the new owners of an Avon Red Start 8 ft dinghy.  Goodness knows how old it is but it didn't leak when we inflated it.  It is as small a they come but Lickity Split can't carry anything larger.

I constructed a motor mount for the dinghy and we bought an electric motor that Joanne has fancied ever since she saw it at Ace Performer (https://www.aceperformer.com/) in Fort Myers where we bought an inflatable kayak.

 

Under Way in Red Start

Motor Mount with Transom WillFit Adapter - Motor Down

Motor Mount with Transom WillFit Adapter - Motor Raised

The Bixpy motor & battery package includes the motor, battery, battery charger, controller with wrist strap and magnet. Place the magnet on the battery to activate the system.  The Transom WillFit Adapter includes two handles; the short one is installed. The motor pole can easily be raised/lowered through a number of positions from 0 to 90 degrees.  

                                                             Test Drive in the Canal

We hope to putter about in Pelican Bay New Year's Eve where we will visit with other PGIslanders and slip into Mantee Hole for a look-see.  

Gardens AGlow - December 17

 Garden Glow with the PGIslanders

Peace River Sculpture Gardens - Photo by Kevin Lee

PGIslanders - Photo by Kevin Lee

                                                                                Joanne

IYC Christmas Trees

 

Members Tree

Water Aerobics Tree

Lighting of the Fleet

 

Lighting of the Fleet at IYC December 10

Friendship Force in the Park December 6

 

Post Card Lane

Marie the Centenarian - A Wonderful Celebration

My Mom, Marie McDermott, celebrated her BIG 100th in fine style.  She started the day attending 8:30 Mass at Sacred Heart Church where everyone sang Happy Birthday to her.  Father Stephen Olds greeted her warmly and said the Mass for her intentions.  

At noontime, she zoomed with our entire family.  Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren lit up the airwaves in conversation from Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Florida, etc.  At 2 pm, she celebrated at South Port Square Town Hall (where she resides) with 30 of her friends at a Cocktail Party complete with piano and songs from every decade of her life.  

The Grand Finale was a 6 pm at the Isles Yacht Club.  Fourteen family and close friends enjoyed a sumptuous champagne toast, prime rib dinner and chocolate birthday cake.  There was a wonderful slide show of her life created by son-in-law, Al Kuhnen.  A beautiful picture of her youngest great granddaughter, Lana Spanbock, was shared with everyone.  It was particularly meaningful because Baby Lana was dressed in Marie's original 100 year old Christening dress and hat!  As the party came to an end, we again sang Happy Birthday led by the Isles' Duo and had a parting dance.  All and all, a perfect tribute to wonderful Lady and inspiring Mother.

Mom standing with her poster about her life

Wonderful Slide Show created by son-in-law, Al Kuhnen

Champagne Toast

Beautiful grand-daugher, Michele, did the toast

Birthday Cake with Nephew, Jake Hickton

Mom with daughter, Joanne

Jake & Claudia's gift - new hat, animal print scarf and shades.
The New 100 Look!

Cayo Costa After the Storm

 Eta, a near miss for Punta Gorda in early November, almost pushed the sea over our seawall and into our backyard. Cayo Costa was not so lucky; the park's floating dock was damaged. We took advantage of our nice weather to run down to Pelican Bay November 20th to find the floating dock surrounded with yellow tape. 

Upon calling the ranger, Joanne found that we could use one of the slips on the fixed pier.  This was our first time to dock at the park dock other than by dinghy.  We chose a slip next to the floating dock that we soon learned that the tour boats were now using. Not a problem as they were not operating that day. Before we left a few hours later, the rangers had affixed a "Service Boats Only" sign for the slip. 

After riding over to the beach, we walked about a mile along the beach. You can see the line shells washed far up on the sand in the photo below.  After walking back to the dock, we left to  anchor in Pelican Bay for a beautiful sunset and cool evening.  

The wind picked up to put white caps on lower part of Charlotte Harbor for a breezy ride back home on Saturday morning. 

Lickity Split at Park Dock

Many Shells Newly Washed Up on Beach 

Driftwood On the Beach

     

Sunset from Anchorage

Sunset from Anchorage

 November 17 - Fourth Farm to Families Food Distribution for Charlotte County.  Once again Lions, Vincentians and other volunteers manned and womaned our distribution of food boxes one this beautiful morning in Franz Ross Park.  Over four hundred families received food boxes this morning. Many more boxes were picked up by local food pantries. Charlotte County provided a forklift and driver as the Oakes Farms semi was not equipped with a lift gate.

County Provided Fork Lift and Driver

Volunteers 

  

A New Roof

 A New Roof for Our House - Our roof was damaged by hurricane IRMA three years ago. We had no leaks but a number of tiles were cracked.  We didn't know or even suspect any damaged until we had the roof cleaned a little over two years ago. A year later the insurance company settled for about $75,000 for a new roof. On November 5th, the city building inspector signed-off on the roof completion. All that awaits is a new solar panel for the hot water heater. 

October 22nd

November 6th

Lunch at the Village Brew House

 

Our PGIslanders Boating Club organized a lunch cruise to the Village Brew House in Fisherman's Village today.  Check out our friend, Kevin's pictures below!

Approaching Fisherman's Village in our boat, Lickity Split
 Rob on the Foredeck

Docked at Fisherman's Village

At the Village Brew House with our boating friends

Friendship Force Zoom Trivia

 The Western Michigan Friendship Force hosted a Trivia via Zoom Thursday evening, October 14. 

Helping to Build a Habitat House

 Richard Helps to Build a Habitat for Humanity House - Framing Day

Framing Day Team 

Nailing a Bracket

Raising a Frame

End of My Framing Day

Bleu Kitty makes the Local Punta Gorda Magazine, Isles Life

 Check out the article that appeared in this month's local magazine about our dear kitty.

Blessing of the Fleet

 

On Saturday, October 10th, we participated in the Isles Yacht Club Blessing of the Fleet.  Seventeen boats made their way up the canals for the traditional blessing, salute from the officers and cannon fire!  We decorated with signal flags and pennants from all the yacht organizations we've ever belonged to here and in the Houston area along with pennants from places we've chartered, e.g., Croatia, British Virgin Islands, etc.  Our cruising buddies, Jackie and Bob, helped us and later we enjoyed dinner with them and our friends, Diana and Joe.  What a fun day!

Letter to Editor

 Letter to Editor 

 Submitted September 16th, 2020    Printed October 14th, 2020 

Cruise to Blind Pass Englewood

We finished off the month of August with an early morning drive to Blind Pass.  It is a lovely beach at the end of Manasota Key past Englewood Beach.  The water was loads of fun because it was more stirred up than usual.  We had a great time ducking the waves and floating over them!  At this time of year, arriving early is the way to go.  We left around 11 am when the sand began to heat up.  It's been a hot summer here.  We've been told that it is the hottest summer on record in Punta Gorda.