Trip to Connecticut (Posted 4/28/2012)

After our last posting we spent a few more days in the St. Petersburg Beach anchorage.  Linda's stepsister, Diane, came to visit us and we all had a really good lunch at the Hurricane Restaurant on the beach.  We then sailed just a few miles across Boca Ciera Bay and anchored off Gulfport for a day and then went into the Gulfport Municipal Marina and prepared Enchantress to leave her while we were in Connecticut.  On Friday, April 13th, we took a shuttle to the Tampa Airport and flew up to Connecticut to visit Amy, Mark, Olivia and Laura.

We brought nice spring weather up to Connecticut with us.  Unseasonably warm!!! It was so nice that we all went for a 2 mile walk and shot off Mark's rocket at a school playground on Saturday and on Sunday we went for a 3 mile hike along the Farmington River, had lunch, and played miniature golf. NOT usual actvities during an April trip to Connecticut!

Here is are photos of Linda with Laura and of Amy, Olivia and me on our hike along the river:

We took Laura and Olivia to dance class one evening.  Here is a photo of them tap dancing:

There was a lot of shopping for clothing for the girls.  They are so well-behaved that it is a pleasure taking them places.  They had the week off from school for Spring Break so we were able to spend all of the time with them.  We babysat for them while Amy taught her classes at the college. We stayed with them one evening so that Amy and Mark could have a "date night".  And one day we took them to see the new "Chimpanzee" movie which was great and the girls really enjoyed it.

Linda and I were able to have dinner out one evening with Jerry and Linda Gaylord.  I worked with Jerry at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company about 30 years ago! Hadn't seen them in quite awhile so we enjoyed catching up and having them meet Linda for the first time.

Mark's parents, Jerry and Kathy came to visit the next weekend and we all went out for lunch (oh yeah, and ICE CREAM). :-)

We took credit for bringing the great warm weather up from Florida with us.  But one night it was actually a bit too warm in the house and Amy had the windows open and ceiling fans on.  As I kissed Laura goodnight she was too warm and she said, "Papa, I think you over did it and brought TOO MUCH nice weather!!"

We flew back to Florida on Sunday, April 22nd.  It was a great trip as usual.  We, of course, constantly lobby for Amy to give in and move to Florida.  We now have Mark and Laura voting with us for them to move to Florida but Amy and Olivia are voting against it.  Hmmm....4 to 2 vote but obviously NOT a democracy! :-(

We had the diver come to the marina before we left to clean Enchantress' bottom and then sailed to Maximo Point Park anchorage in St. Pete.  As always, a beautiful anchorage just off a really nice park and palm tree beach.  We went ashore for a long walk in the park (going to have to do a LOT OF WALKING and eating a lot less calories to make up for all the extra food we ate in Connecticut!!).  The next day we sailed across the mouth of Tampa Bay and back to our "summer home" anchorage off Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island.  We will hang here for awhile and cruise in this local area.