We have been back for a little over two weeks and myself, dad and mom are getting our energy back. It took me a good ten days before they could get me even near the boat. I was more than happy to be back on my home turf! Slowly, but surely we have been taking stuff off the boat and bringing it upstairs…as the neighbors comment on Moondance getting higher in the water…
A few days after our return, I was so happy to see Fin’s owners, Phil and Lynne again! They came over a few times for dinners and docktails here on our lanai, but eventually they left…I’m hoping we will see lots more of our looper friends in the near future…
In the meantime, it's life as it's lived here at Burnt Store Marina and Punta Gorda, FL...
In the meantime, it's life as it's lived here at Burnt Store Marina and Punta Gorda, FL...
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| My Dragonboat Team's Jingle Bell Paddle in our Marina |
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| What we do best after paddling, spending time together at Cass Cay Restaurant in our Marina |
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| Tom and Valerie in the foreground with Minnie who we visited with in Oswego, NY in the back |
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| Mike talking with Vic and Bev who we visited with in Canada |
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| Showing Punta Gorda to Phil and Lynne |
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| Phil with Yarn Bombed Santa at Punta Gorda's Farmer's Market |
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| Figgy, my darling hairdresser's dog |
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| Steve, our neighbor was entertaining at Cass Cay, so we took Lynne and Phil to hear him. |
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| Fred trying to annoy Lily who can't hear him...It's been too funny!!! He belongs to Tom & Val |
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| Val having fun as always!!! |
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| Looking forward to seeing Milena and Bek's tree in person...It's sitting in my old red wagon. |
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| Mike with our latest elf, Ella...Can't wait to see all of them!! |
(Mom doesn’t think I understand when she starts throwing a bunch of stuff on the extra bed and has the suitcases out, but I know more than she thinks I do!) They are packing for us to go on a road trip this time…I overheard her talking to Bekka and Mike. It seems we are driving to Indianapolis first.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Bek and Milena and even that silly dog of theirs Houdini!!! It seems he and I will be staying with Jill and family again which is fine with me…they are dog lovers and I love them almost as much as Houdini does!
Mom and dad will be flying with Bek and Milena to San Diego to spend Christmas with Mike, Katie and Ella…so it’s going to be a Happy Christmas for us all!!!
Dad finally put together his statistics for me to share so here goes:
We were gone for 224 days
- Covering 5437 miles (not counting the miles getting into and out of places)
- Traversing 112 locks (most locks in one day were 12 on Trent Severn Canal)
- Using 3052.8 gals diesel at an average of MPG 1.78
- Needing 27 pumpouts
- Anchoring 7 times
- Staying in 87 marinas
- Docking on 9 walls
- Traveling 103 days out of the 224
- Averaging 52.8 miles a day
- Tallest Lift Lock was the Whitten Lock in Tishmingo County, Mississippi at 84’ (lowest was a couple of feet)
- Our port engine usage 641.9 hrs & starboard engine usage 652
- Butcher’s Bill is a Navy term
Here's Moondance waiting in our Burnt Store Marina home port for our 2017 Adventures
I understand from mom and dad that in 2017 we will be going on more trips, but they will be shorter… We really have the cruising bug and are looking forward to our next adventures.
Hope some of you will join us, either on Moondance or on your own boats…
Happy Christmas, Hanukkah and a Very Blessed 2017 to All!
"The Moondance Crew"
Lily, Deby and Mike
