Blog of Events & Happenings

We moved Apolonia (the 37’er) to Fort Pierce Marina last week as we were having trouble getting a comfortable slip at Nettles Island Marina for the boat.  Fort Pierce is a great area, with lots to do and it is only 30 minutes from the Condo.  And the slip we have, a fixed one at the north side of the Marina, gives us easy access to the boat, walking distance to many restaurants, two nearby farmers markets a week, nice dog walk area, as well as a theater that showcases stand-up comics and good music.  Last weekend proved to be fun on the boat there so we think we’ve made the right choice, and we have enjoyed this marina several times on our trips to the Bahamas.

The new transmission and engine are in and running.  Here is Paget after sea trials this morning.  We have to rework the propeller a bit to get the correct RPM out of the engine.  This is being done tomorrow.  Early next week we’ll put her in her slip at Nettles Island Marina.  We’re anxious to get her cleaned up and touched up for some fun.

After the Aquia group joined us in mid February, we continued to have a busy but fun time.  On the 23rd we had the annual block party for Club Side Villas, where we enjoyed a bar-b-qued pig and plenty of other food, all with great music and camaraderie.  Following that, Rob and Kathy Laird, Canadian boat travel mates from 2013, stopped by for a week.  They had decided to sell their sailboat and are leaving it at Nettles Island Marina.  We drove them to Orlando after showing them the sites so they could settle in back in Canada, crossing their fingers for a quick boat sale.  On their last days they even considered buying a home in Florida so we gave them the tour, including showing them the showcase place that Gary and Pat Ralston bought.  After the showing, the six of us enjoyed sunshine and lunch at Mulligans in Vero Beach.  And during this time we did not fail to join our Trivia group at Shucker’s Restaurant for the Monday night Trivia.  All in all a great February with temperatures in the low 80s.  I’m smiling.

We noted that within our Ballentrae Community in Port St Lucie, 3 homes had people that were also neighbors in the community of Aquia Harbour in Stafford, VA years ago.  Bonnie Scanlin was going to have John and Jane Malatak, former Aquia neighbors, now living in Tennessee, stop by for a visit.  She quickly found a host of other past Aquia neighbors that now live in Florida, and we planned an “Aquia Harbour in Florida” get together.  Held at the Bolin’s and Bonnie Scanlin’s place, it was a blast.  We caught up on activities and all those old age aches and pains, and realized we still remembered how to enjoy a Bloody Mary.  The group included:  Randy and Barbara Semper, Bonnie Scanlin, Darrell and Claudia Edgar, Fred and Dorene Hall, Terry and Brenda Tychan, Brenda’s sister and husband Erin (Erin’s mother from England was visiting them),  Sandie Doucette, Joe and Sandy Laverine and John and Jane Malatak from Tennessee.  We also realized that most of the group were also members of the Aquia Harbour Yacht Club, with 6 of the group being a past Commodore of the club.  Bonnie Scanlin sponsored cocktails at her place and Carey Bolin fixed dinner for the group at the Bolin’s place a short walk away.  The out of town people were spread out between the Bolin’s, Tychan’s and Bonnie’s place for the night.  A great time to catch up with good friends!  We just may do it again next year.

Finally!  The work we’d planned is complete and we have Apolonia (the new one — 37 feet) in her slip at Nettles Island Marina.  We’re working hard to get her cleaned up and ready for her first trip, probably one to the Bahamas.  The last couple weeks have been good to us including time with Gary and Pat Ralston, good Virginia friends who now live down here; more trivia at Conchy Joe’s Restaurant with a good group we’ve met; and planning an Easter visit to Florida for Lauren, Cynthia and the grand kids.  All smiles here.

Just one more major project to complete … finish the install of a new engine and transmission in Paget!  Coming soon!!