Sunday (first day of 2023); not much done.
Dan starts prep’ing for his Wednesday departure
to Stuart, FL. Monday morning Dan finishes
packing for his Wednesday AM flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Then he drives to daughter Rebecca’s house in
Silverdale, WA. This is needed because grandboys
are still out of school & parents, Rebecca & Raymond, go back to work
Tuesday (ie they need a babysitter).
So Dan spends all day Tuesday grandson sitting. One nice thing about the grandboys at this
age is that they now sleep-in until about 0830😊 After breakfast is followed
by video (as they call their computer pads).
Then it is off to Insight Climbing for indoor rock climbing. After almost two hours of burning-off energy
it was home for late lunch, outdoor activity, and vids before Rebecca & Raymond
made it home.
Indoor rock
climbing gym | Insight Climbing & Movement | United States
Wednesday, 04JAN, at O-dark thirty Dan got up, threw his stuff
in the car, and headed to SeaTac airport.
The purpose of the trip is to attend a “Interment” and “Celebration of
Life” for Dan’s good friend, fellow Coast Guard officer, & Academy
Classmate Jim Spence who passed away in September. Although a sad occasion, it will also allow
Dan to spend time with his best CG friend Jim Van Sice and his wife Clarke, as
well as visiting several other CG Academy Classmates who now live in the Miami
metro area. Everything goes well driving
to SeaTac and getting to departure gate.
But due to heavy thunderstorms on the east coast of USA many, many
flights diverted to Florida (no thunderstorms there?) to land. So our departure is delayed for 8AM until 1:30PM☹. Land at Ft
Lauderdale at 10PM, picked up by Jim Van Sice, and get to Jim & Clarke’s house
at midnight.
Thursday Jim & Dan
have lunch with Jim’s son Wade at Charlie’s bar & grill.
Charlie's Bar &
Grill - Restaurant in Stuatart, FL (ilovecharlies.com)
Then Jim, Clarke & Dan drive to the Eldridge’s (kevin & karen) in Tampa for dinner, to spend the night. Kevin Eldridge is another Coast Guard Academy Classmate and friend who we will free load off of for the next couple of days. Great conversation till midnight.
Friday AM off to Jim Spence’s
interment at Florida National Ceremony, Bushnell, FL. As always these ceremonies at the Nation’s
National Ceremonies pay due respect and honor the service of the deceased veteran.
Then back to Eldridge’s
before going to Jim’s Celebration of Life at Heritage Isles Golf Club, Tampa,
FL. Note - Spence was an unpaid worker
at the golf club in return for “free” tee times. Although a somber occasion, there was lots of
reminiscing and fond tales of Jim and his adventures with everyone in the room.
Saturday AM we finally
departed the Eldridge’s.
Then hit the road to have lunch with two Jim & Clarke’s friends
Jackie & Billie Belden in Siesta Island, FL. We had a great alfresco lunch around their condominium
pool. Back on the road again to Van Sice’s,
arriving around 5PM. Later that evening
Jim & Dan hit the hot tub to recuperate and shoot the breeze until bedtime.
Sunday,
08JAN, somewhat a day of rest. Jim &
Dan spend most of day sightseeing around the Stuart area; Hobe Sound Beach;
Stuart Beach & Sea Side Café (great Cuban Sandwich); plus Stuart during “snow-bird”
season has live outdoor music on Sundays; last stop was St Lucie locks; and home
to BBQ dinner with sides.
Seaside Café
| Martin County Florida
Jacksonville
District – St. Lucie Lock and Dam (army.mil)
Monday 09JAN, Dan &
Jim meet another CG Academy Classmate Guy Motzer at Loxahatchee Blueway for
four hours of kayaking (over four miles).
Great day on the water and then home for BBQ burgers and sides.
Tuesday late AM Jim
takes Dan out on a “powerboat” tour of local intercoastal waterways. Turns out Jim belongs to Freedom Boat Club
where your membership allows you the use of different power boats on a
reservation system (so no need to own your own boat).
As the
ad says - Freedom Boat Club – the world’s largest members-only boat club – was
founded in 1989 in Sarasota, Florida. Today, the Club's 360+ locations welcome
hundreds of members to the docks each day to enjoy a day on the water while we
take care of the rest including fueling, cleaning, maintenance, and more.
Freedom Boat Club
Then back to the house to rest up for dinner at Sailor’s Return
Restaurant (Dan’s turn to treat). Excellent
local sea food restaurant for al fresco dinner.
NOTE – because this is high season for snow-birds almost all restaurants
require dinner reservations almost every night of the week☹
The Sailor’s Return Restaurant in Stuart Florida (772)
872-7250 (thesailorsreturn.com)
Wednesday, 11JAN, devoted to washing clothes
& packing to catch early evening flight home to Seattle. Wake up to news that one of the FAA computer systems crashed & is
rebooting , causing thousands of flight delays.
Thankfully system is restored & Dan’s flight leaves on time; and he
gets home to Corrie & dogs right before bed time😊
