Author: Phil

I’ve kept this blog to record what Carey and I have done over time.  I became very lazy and did not keep this up between Jan and Jun 2024.  To catch up I’m going to do a little short hand writing to capture a few of the highlights during this six month time frame.

• In January we had a quiet month visiting with Jack and Ann and spending lots of time in the sun room with the fire place and staying quiet.
• In February I had cataract surgery and started to work with the eight marinas in town on some marketing efforts they needed.  Carey was heavily involved in her breast cancer recovery.  At the end of February I fell and collapsed a lung, starting a 3 and 1/2 week stint in Mary Washington hospital.  This was a scary time and I’m lucky to made it through the time.
• In March and April I did the follow up and recovery from the fall, Carey spent a great deal of time with doctors and the cancer recovery period.
• In May I was back in hospital for pneumonia and sepsis … a second bad period.  I believe I left MWHC with pneumonia and then sepsis finally caught up with me.  Tappahannock hospital “fixed” me and I came away feeling great.  And I’m getting better.
• In June we worked on the boat and handled the arrangements for the June Potomac River Festival Boat Parade that I had to cancel due poor weather.
• That’s a quick summary of Jan thru June 2024.
• Now I’ll try to get back in the mood to keep up with our schedule.

December started out mild.  The sun is shining and the wind is light so the 50 degree temperatures feel pretty good.  I’m getting the boat ready for the winter months and also continuing hope that the 37′ Maxum, Apolonia, will sell soon.  It has been on the market for six months and we’ve had two contracts that have not finalized because of a possible issue with a couple of the stringers.  I’m getting a yard to investigate whether there is a real problem, and if so, how much of an issue is it.

We made a trip to Manassas to visit with Jack and Ann and enjoy a 1950/60s music revue at the Birchmere Club in Alexandria and I attended the installation of a Historic Marker at the end of the Point in Colonial Beach commemorating the Oyster Wars of the 1950s.  One man was shot and killed in Monroe Bay during these “wars,” where Maryland and Virginia residents fought over the oyster beds in the Potomac River.

 

Carey spent a good deal of time during the month decorating the home for Christmas.  She is a real pro — see a few of the pictures below.

And we also attended the 50th Anniversary of the Colonial Yacht Club, a club we rejoined after returning to Colonial Beach.  They have new members that are fun and exciting.  We are enjoying the time with them and are looking forward to more events in 2024.  They talked me into being the Vice Commodore, even though I’ve been through this yacht club bridge drill many times before.  It should be interesting and not too time consuming.

 

At the end of the month we enjoyed a trip to Annapolis for Christmas with the grand kids.  Cynthia was able to get the day off, even though she is has very junior seniority at her new job in her new professional, a registered nurse.  We enjoyed a great day with presents and food.  We made the decision to do a variety of fondu; meats, vegetables, cheese, and fruits.  The grand kids really enjoyed it.  And we finished off the month with a New Year’s Eve party at the Ice House.

It seems like many days are taken up by doctors appointments but we are still sampling the restaurants and activities around the town.  It was the right decision to move back.  We’re active and love it.  As members of the Colonial Yacht Club we helped the club put on the Annual Rockfish tournament in mid November.   Bill Bowman held the Boathouse Marina’s annual  BBQ cookout and we enjoyed socializing with all the boaters at the Marina.  Most of my time this month was organizing the Annual Colonial Beach Lighted Boat Parade that took place on the 25th of the month.  It has been a reoccurring event for a while in the town and at times we have trouble putting together more than a few boats.  We made it to 10 boats this year and all of them were really decked out.  It was fun and we had a large spectator crowd.  Hopefully we are on the road to a larger and larger boat count.

 

We also had a great Thanksgiving, just Carey and I with a large Turkey and all the trimmings.  We usually did the solo events while traveling on the boat and we enjoy it.  This year we’ll be with the grandkids in Annapolis for Christmas and we’re looking forward to that.  We also enjoy the local restaurants and our friends that like to join up at them for fun and entertainment.  Below is one view of the Icehouse Marina Brewery & Kitchen with the crowd playing trivia.

And at the end of the month the town decorated Town Hill along Washington Ave that makes the town look restive and ready for Christmas.  A short video below shows its look

October was an eventful transition month from summer to fall with a variety of events.  I sprained my knee on the boat and for the month was heavily involved in physical therapy to strengthen the mussels and get me walking straight.  Carey continued her effort to handle the two hormone medicines the doctors prescribed to reduce the chances of a recurrence for breast cancer.  Noi, the greeter and part owner of our favorite restaurant, Oom Boon passed away and many from the town gathered to say goodbye to a person we all cherished.  Barny and Ginger came for a week’s visit on the 16th and we enjoyed their visit by showing them the town, catching up on each others activities, and an overnight boat trip to Point Lookout in Maryland.  We also enjoyed a fantastic weekend celebration of the Colonial Yacht Club’s 50th anniversary.  Three events from Friday to Sunday helped us celebrate the event, and was notable for the absolute fantastic coat and tie evening dinner and dance held at Monroe Winery, just outside of town. We also attended Brad’s funeral in Manassas, a friend and retired Navy Commander who has been living in assisted living after a car accident that left him mentally handicapped for many of his later years.

15-17 July — With CYC joined a cruise to Solomon’s Island for the weekend.  We enjoyed the comradery of good friends and an amazing marina in Solomon’s.  After the weekend, we moved to Washburn’s Boatyard to complete some work on BenjOllie.  We stayed three days and fixed a broken tachometer, but little else.  However, it was a very nice and relaxing couple days.   We enjoyed the time aboard to get a better feel of the boat.  We’re loving it.

28-30 July — The very next weekend we boated down to Coles Point Marina for the PRYCA Float-In.  It was a good time but very hot.  I did not take any pictures.  Should have.  A full weekend of events but done slowly due to the heat.   We completed and watched a variety of events. WYA, the club we belonged to, won 2nd place for the club competition.  For most of us a bit long on years, landing in second place among younger competitors felt good!

30 July — 2 Aug:  Sunday morning, after the Float-In we headed out on a 5-day trip with a few old boating friends.  Nine boats were in the group and our first stop was Regatta Point Marina in Deltaville, VA.  We spent a relaxing three days telling boating stories and enjoying the marina, town, and our friends.  Carey and I had to return after Regatta Point for medical appointments, while the remaining boaters headed on to York River Yacht Haven for another 3-day stop over.  We headed back home stopping at Dennis Point for one night on the way to Colonial Beach.   Great trip.

29 Aug – 5 Sep:  Most of August was taken up by local events and doctors’ appointments.  During this time we were getting ready for a week trip, starting 29 August, to Crisfield, MD on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.  It is the Labor Day weekend blow out celebration for the town and includes work boat docking competitions, crab picking contests, music, and food.  A real treat and we went along with about 9 boats from WYA.  You’ll see some pictures of the event below.

9 Sep:  The Colonial Beach Music Festival was on a bright and beautiful Saturday afternoon.  It was a beach music festival of southern shagging music and dance.  People gathered on town hill under tents and in lawn chairs and danced on real sand poured on top of section of grass.  4 bands keep us dancing all day.  The only negative was a big thunderstorm late in the day that stopped the Catalina Feature Band from playing.

20 Sep:  The Annual Karaoke Competition in Colonial Beach was held at the Icehouse Marina, Brewery & Kitchen this Wednesday.  A large crowd came out to hear the final 13 contestants.  Fun was had by all.  This is a town with a bunch of stuff always going on.

 

Enjoy some pictures of the events below.