We attended a Cruisers' Meeting at the Marathon Yacht Club on Good Friday evening, and met several member couples who were seated at our table for dinner afterwards. The Commodore introduced us to all the attendees, and some suggested that Pat have the job of leading the singing of the National Anthem at the monthly outdoor Flag ceremony on a regular basis after hearing her sing it earlier in the evening.
On Saturday morning we headed north to Naples, to visit with our friends and next-door neighbors, Ernie and Kay, for Easter week-end. We always have a great time with them, and their hospitality is outstanding. We had dinner at "Su's Restaurant" with them and our other neighbors, Tony and Evelyn, who were still in the Naples area at their winter rental. After dinner we went back to Tony and Ev's for a game and dessert.
Easter Sunday was warm and beautiful, and again the Mass at St. Agnes Church was a most moving service. The music ministry at this church is far above the norm, and the talent of both the choir and the soloists is breath-taking. Father Bob, the pastor and Mass celebrant, was assisted by a Deacon who was 95 years old! Florida living certainly agrees with him!! We had dinner that afternoon at a country club with Larry and Joyce Santangelo, who are our former neighbors, along with another couple, the Gallaghers. After dinner we all headed back to Ernie and Kay's house where we were introduced to the game of " Train Dominoes", which we played for several hours. We were definitely the novices at this game, which seems to be widely popular in Florida currently, and luckily the group had pity on us, so we did not place bets as is usually the case. Kay gave us a game to take with us to practice on, and by the time we get home we expect to be ready for some great games on our back decks this summer.
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The three great explorers; Tony, Ernie, and George landing on Marco Island
A pod of Dolphins surrounding a school of fish - it is lunch time.
The great white hunter with his catch of the day.On Monday morning Ernie and Kay took Tony and Evelyn and us out on their boat. It was a beautiful day, and Ernie beached the boat on a lovely island spot off of Marco Inlet. We brought our beach chairs, umbrellas, drinks, and sandwiches, and even Casper, their dog came! We had a lovely afternoon with dolphin swimming along the beach, and Tony, the avid fisherman, found a conch in the water right next to the boat. Later that evening Kay had a wonderful sparerib dinner for everyone, but after this weekend of sun and fun no one's body could accommodate any more desserts!
We headed back to Marathon on Tuesday, and spent the next several days doing boat chores, cleaning, paying bills, etc. On Friday afternoon we had phone call from our long-time friends, Charlie and Helen. When we asked where they were, they said that they had spent several days in Key West, and were at Bahia Honda State Park, not very far from here. They asked if they could stop by, and since we had not seen them since they traveled with us on the boat from Chicago to St. Louis in September we were delighted to be able to see them! It turned out that they had been trying to reach us on our boat phone (which we had not been using here) instead of our cell phone. When they arrived we invited them to stay aboard for the night and to have dinner with us at the Marathon Yacht Club that evening. They happily agreed to do so! We were also going to meet our friends, Werner and Grace, for dinner along with other friends, Tom and Diane Kellers, who had driven down from northwest Florida to stay with the Lohmanns, and to visit with us for the week-end. All eight of us had been members of the Bristol Sailing Club some 30 + years ago, so it was a great surprise reunion!
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We headed back to Marathon on Tuesday, and spent the next several days doing boat chores, cleaning, paying bills, etc. On Friday afternoon we had phone call from our long-time friends, Charlie and Helen. When we asked where they were, they said that they had spent several days in Key West, and were at Bahia Honda State Park, not very far from here. They asked if they could stop by, and since we had not seen them since they traveled with us on the boat from Chicago to St. Louis in September we were delighted to be able to see them! It turned out that they had been trying to reach us on our boat phone (which we had not been using here) instead of our cell phone. When they arrived we invited them to stay aboard for the night and to have dinner with us at the Marathon Yacht Club that evening. They happily agreed to do so! We were also going to meet our friends, Werner and Grace, for dinner along with other friends, Tom and Diane Kellers, who had driven down from northwest Florida to stay with the Lohmanns, and to visit with us for the week-end. All eight of us had been members of the Bristol Sailing Club some 30 + years ago, so it was a great surprise reunion!
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Charlie and Helen
Tom
WernerOn Saturday we took all of them out for a ride on the Gulf and through Boot Key Harbor with lunch on "Reflection". It was probably our warmest day on the water, and we were grateful for the light breeze which came up later. After we returned to the dock, Charlie and Helen decided that they would return to their winter condo in Fort Lauderdale after our great "spur of the moment" 24 hour visit together, and the other two couples headed back to the Lohmanns' house to relax before our dinner together scheduled there for later that evening. We had a great time sharing stories and catching up with each others' lives over cocktails, a delicious dinner, wines, and dessert. We even talked by speaker- phone to Judy Hagerstrom, a very special person to all of us who lives in Lancaster, Virginia. It was terrific being together again!
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Opening of the Southernmost Air Spectacular
Blue Angels at the ready.
Team RV Airshow planes - they are all home built.
C17 Globemaster
F18 Hornet
101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles"
"Fat Albert", The Blue Angels support aircraft
The Blue Angels flight leader heading for the runway.
Diamond formation.
Passing review
Flying just a few feet apart
Up and over, down and around
Fleur de Lis
At attention after the performance..
On Sunday we attended the Air Show at the Naval Air Station in Boca Cheeca, where the Navy's Blue Angels were the special guests. The show was very-well programmed and we saw a constant flow of air-craft of all types from many different eras from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. We had great seats right in front, and from our pictures you can see that we were close to the action, and that we really needed the ear-plugs they gave to us as we entered!
Monday was "Packing Day" as we are heading home tomorrow after almost 4 months away to check on Pat's mother and our house, to keep some doctor/dentist appointments, and to see Pat's brother, our nephew, Ken and his wife, Nancy, and any friends we can connect with on this short stay. On our drive north we will also visit George's sister, Pat, and our brother-in-law, Al, and nephew, Chris, and his wife, Angela, with their children who all live in Richmond, Virginia. We will be flying back to Marathon on 4/25 to continue the last part of our "Loop" journey up the east coast. Though we have absolutely loved our sojourn here in the Keys, it is time for "Reflection" to be on the move again, and for our wonderful adventure to continue!
Monday was "Packing Day" as we are heading home tomorrow after almost 4 months away to check on Pat's mother and our house, to keep some doctor/dentist appointments, and to see Pat's brother, our nephew, Ken and his wife, Nancy, and any friends we can connect with on this short stay. On our drive north we will also visit George's sister, Pat, and our brother-in-law, Al, and nephew, Chris, and his wife, Angela, with their children who all live in Richmond, Virginia. We will be flying back to Marathon on 4/25 to continue the last part of our "Loop" journey up the east coast. Though we have absolutely loved our sojourn here in the Keys, it is time for "Reflection" to be on the move again, and for our wonderful adventure to continue!
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