Crew Repair

June 21 - 30, 2013

 

When we think about living on a boat, we usually think about the ongoing maintenance of the boat.  But, we also have to keep the captain and crew in good repair.  This is the summer of my repair!  

 

On June 21st we were on our way to Barnes Jewish Hospital at 6:30 AM.  I was thrilled to be one of Dr. Wright's first surgeries of the day.  Everything went well and by noon I was in recovery with two new knees.  The nurses and aids in the orthopedic department were the most upbeat I have ever encountered in a medical facility.  And, they had an endless supply of medications to take away even the slightest twinge of pain.  Brian and Jennifer came for visits at alternate times.  I would try to construct a sentence only to fall asleep after a word or two.  When I woke up, I was irritated that Brian was reading his iPad.  I didn't realize how long he had been patiently waiting for me to resurface from my drug induced break.  No good deed goes unpunished. 
 

Dr. Rick Wright was my surgeon. He is a sport's doctor and orthopedic surgeon. His office walls are covered with photos of the different teams and players that he works with.  As he entered the exam room for our first meeting, I greeted him by saying "You may not be the right doctor for me."  He gave me a look that said "Lady, what is wrong with you?"  I pointed to the walls of sports figures and informed him that I'm not an athlete.  No smile -- not amused -- he's a surgeon.  As the exam ended, I asked if I would run like a gazelle when this was over.  He said "probably like an elephant".  I decided that meant graceful -- not fat and lumbering!  In spite of our first meeting, he did an excellent job of installing my knees.  I guess he doesn't hold a grudge!  

 

Surgery Friday morning -- sent home Sunday morning.  A nurse comes to the house to check on me twice a week and a physical therapist comes three times.  They have both declared that I am doing exceptionally well.  I asked if this is their pep talk, but they both assured me I'm way ahead on the recuperation curve.  Since I have no one to compare things with, I have to assume that I'm a star!!!!  
 

Welcome to my world!
Massaging, chilling and flexing at the same time.

You know, nothing is ever what you think it will be.  The pain is a fraction of what I anticipated.  However, I'm still taking pain pills.  My knees are straight and beautiful -- even though each incision has 50+ staples holding it together.  I can walk, stand up and sit quite gracefully.  I'm soooooo glad that I did both knees at the same time. No regrets on that decision.  The worse part of the ordeal is being stuck inside for so many days. I never even anticipated this situation. I'm supposed to be hooked up to three machines for endless hours:  calf massager (23 hours/day), knee coolers (20 minutes every couple of hours) and a flexing machine (8 hours/day).    Besides that routine, I have physical therapy exercises that I do three times a day!  I guess it is all paying off.  I just pray that everything continues to progress.  

Still swollen and a rainbow of colors, but beautiful
in my eyes.  No longer knock kneed......

 

Meanwhile, Brian is the super star through all of this.  He has been taking care of me, managing the machines, cooking the meals, and keeping things cleaned up.  Plus, our daughter and son-in-law are both out of town for four days so he is taking care of JAC and Christopher -- 4 & 7.  He may have to go on total bed rest before this is over.    

A special thank you to Jennifer and Ian who insisted that we stay with them.  To Christopher and JAC for entertaining me. And, to all of our friends that have called, texted, sent cards and emails.  Wow, life is good!  

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

 

Family, Family And More Family!

 June 12 - 20, 2013

One more trip from Florida to St Louis completed!  This one was a little shorter because we left from Jacksonville instead of Stuart.  Still.... we were in the car for a day and a half.  I had to get to St Louis by Thursday to bank another unit of blood for my surgery.  This put us in St Louis for JAC's dance recital.  Her 3 HOUR dance recital!  You have to either love dance or your grandchildren to sit through one of these.  They announced before the recital that food and drinks were not allowed during the show. Well, of course, I had a Coke in my purse. When they started clapping after the first act, I popped the top and immediately dropped the can in my lap.  It was laying on its side and I couldn't see which was the top.  I took a chance and flipped it.  I chose incorrectly pouring about half of the can into my lap. The auditorium was already chilly and having wet pants made it even more uncomfortable.   Of course, Brian was very sympathetic........no!  JAC looked cute, but I don't think what she did could be called dancing. At least she didn't pick her nose!  Anyway, I lasted to the bitter end and smiled through most of it.  

 

JAC -- The Princess

On Friday we were back in the car driving to Afton, Minnesota to visit our son and his family. The local conservation district brings a herd of buffalo to their land every summer.  It is good for the buffalo and the meadow thrives due to their activity.  36 buffalo arrived on Saturday in a large trailer.  It is quite a show when they are released.  They fly down the ramp and run full speed in a single line to the furthest point in the field.  The bull is the last one off the truck and he is not running.  He checks out the crowd and slowly walks over to his 'girls'.  Looks like he is saving his energy for something later.  We had a very busy visit celebrating Father's Day, Addison and Niko's half birthday (they were born on Christmas Day) and selling Brian's race car.

Dukes of Hazard

Aunt Erin demonstrates riding a 2 wheeler.



Transferring the keys for Brian's beloved 930 Turbo
to Scotty.

 

                                    Addison and Niko celebrate 5 1/2 years.



Who can get the closest to the fire and not get burned!
We were lucky -- no 911 calls.....

A visit to Como Park and Zoo.



Swim lessons.

 

In the past 26 days we have put 4300 miles on the car.  It was great to see all of our family and have Christopher with us for that time.  Now, we'll be in St Louis at our daughter's house while both of my knees are replaced and I recuperate.  I have no idea what to expect, but I'll be posting when I quit the pain pills and have a lucid moment.  Judging by recent events, quitting pain pills may not lead to lucid moments!     

 

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!       

Jacksonville And Tropical Storm Andrea

June 1 - 10, 2013

I think I am getting senile and pulling Brian down with me.  We received a letter from our insurance company.  I tore the bottom off and told Brian that we got a refund.  A couple of days later I asked him to go to the bank and cash it.  He endorsed it and took it to the window where the teller politely explained to him that this is not a check, it is a receipt.  He came out of the bank -- totally embarrassed.  I then called the insurance company and told our agent that I needed another check issued because I had accidentally thrown out the check and kept the receipt.  After a brief discussion, the agent convinced me that they had sent a bill not a check.  Oops!  Now we both look like old crazy people..... We laughed until tears ran down our faces!      

This is our first visit to Jacksonville on the water.  June 1st we anchored on the St Johns River close to downtown.  After a busy week, we were glad to relax and enjoy some card games with Christopher before checking in at Ortega Landing Marina.  Ortega Landing is a beautiful marina with a pool and hot tub at the end of our dock.  And, it is on a fresh water river.   Monday morning Bonnie and Jon rented a car, drove here from Brunswick, Georgia, picked up Brian and the three of them drove to Stuart to retrieve the cars that we left behind.  

 

'Our plan' had been to stay in the marina for a couple of days and head south on the St Johns River for the remainder of time. Then, the weather changed -- the first tropical storm of the year came across Jacksonville.  We decided a safer plan would be to keep the boat in the marina and do day trips by car. Our first trip was on Wednesday to Cumberland Island, Georgia. We took the ferry from St Marys. Most of the island is a pristine national park. About half way through our hike to the beach, the sky opened with a torrential downpour. By the time we got back to the ferry landing we were totally soaked. The day went from a scorcher to cool -- especially since we didn't have a change of clothes. Because we hadn't made it to the beach, we drove further north to Jekyll Island to visit their beach. This wide hard sand beach is beautiful and easy to walk, but it was without shells. Lots of horseshoe crabs and jelly fish, but only the smallest of shells.

Ready to get on the ferry -- notice blue skies.

 

Live Oaks line the road to the Thomas Carnegie mansion.
The maritime forest is on the island.  Naval architects
used to come here to choose limbs for the ribs of their
ships. 

 

Only the brick and stone walls remain after a fire and
storms.  Now the residents are diamondback rattlesnakes. 

The Carnegie's arbor is still in beautiful condition. 

Using our tracking skills to find the wild horses.

140 to 150 wild horses live on the island.
They get no care from the rangers.

Brian retied the boat Wednesday night and we were secure on Thursday when the wind and rain intensified.  Most of the day was spent on board.  We were lucky to get off long enough to run a few errands without rain.  Just as we were loading all of our bags on the boat it started pouring again. 

Life is not dull on Gotta Smile!  We've played Uno,
Go Fish, Crazy 8 and Left, Right, Center.  Christopher
also made a fish from palm pieces and pot holders
for his Mom and Bonnie.   

Friday dawned as a beautiful day.  Andrea was no longer in our neighborhood.  We packed up and went for a drive to explore the area surrounding the St Johns River.  Our first stop was to visit our mailing address.  We use a company that receives our mail, holds it, and then sends it to wherever we are.  What a great concept!  Next stop -- a Navy depot built during WW II.  Each of the 13 docks are about 1000 feet long.  600 ships were mothballed there following the war.  Time for lunch.  We had asked two people for a recommendation and they both said the Outback Crab Shack.  We would also recommend it:  fried green tomatoes, fried dill pickles, fried clam strips!  Ok, I didn't say it was healthy or low cal, but sooooo yummy and large portions.  We were almost back to the boat when we took a detour to the beach.  Christopher loves walking the beach and picking up shells.  He's not very discriminating.  He prefers quantity over quality.  So far, over 200 shells are going home with him. 

St Brendan's Isle mail service.

The area surrounding the St John River is
referred to as 'Old Florida'.  It is quite a
contrast to the coastal cities. 

Amphibious vehicle -- look at the size of those tires!
It doesn't look so big until a person stands next to it,

Saturday and Sunday were lazy days.  We played in the pool and the ocean.  Monday was spent packing and preparing for the trip back to St Louis. 

When you are 7 years old, what is more fun than
doing a cannon ball and splashing your grandmother?

Scouting the waves.  Preparing for first attempt at
body surfing. 

Ok, face in the salt water, push off, kick hard.....
Opps, where is the wave?
There's more to this body surfing than expected.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!   

The Saints: St Louis and St Augustine

May 12 - 31,  2013

We've traveled a lot of miles in the past couple of weeks, unfortunately, most of those miles have been in the car.  I had to go to St Louis for my pre surgery tests.  That is 1150 miles -- a long 2 days.  All of the tests went well and I was approved to have both of my knees replaced on June 21st.  Traveling to St Louis, allowed us a good visit with our daughter and her family.  Christopher, our 7 year old grandson, drove back to Stuart with us and will spend a couple of weeks on board.  He endured the 2 day road trip better than I did -- less complaining!



  

The City Museum in St Louis must take anything that
is donated and then turn their local artists loose on it.
A very creative place!

JAC's preschool class made a movie.  Here she
is in her acting premier. 

When we left for St Louis, we had said long good-byes to Bonnie and Jon, thinking that we wouldn't be traveling together until November. Some of the work on their boat took longer than expected.  Yea, we are heading North together!  By Tuesday, groceries and parts had been purchased and we were both ready to go.  In spite of the barnacles that had grown on our propeller and bow thruster, we made the 79 miles to Melbourne.  If a boat (or actually anything), sits in salt water, it must be scraped periodically to remove the barnacles, that grow faster than rabbits can multiply.  We should have had it done in Stuart, but since we arrived during the Memorial Day week-end we missed our opportunity.  Having a fouled prop and bow thruster cost us dramatically in fuel. Instead of using 18 - 22 gallons to travel 79 miles we went through 66.  Ouch!!!!  On Wednesday, Jon made arrangements with an acquaintance to clean our bottom.  The diver met us at the Cocoa Village Marina.  The marina is generous and in a very cute town. They allow transients to stay a couple of hours for free; so boaters will sample the city. While the diver did his thing, we toured and ate pizza. We will definitely come back for another visit and stay longer. Thursday morning we caught up with Bonnie and Jon in New Smyrna Beach. With our freshly scraped prop, we  zipped along at our usual 8 miles per hour.  The River's Edge Marina in St Augustine will order a fuel truck for boaters that stay overnight. They were so accommodating that we stayed two.  Friday morning we took on 759 gallons of diesel. Our best fuel price in years -- $3.48/ gallon including tax. Our last fuel purchase was January 6th.  Love the way this Krogen gently sips fuel!  St Augustine is one of Christopher's favorite cities -- especially the fort.  We had a beautiful day to see all of the sights before returning to Jon and Bonnie's boat to relax, put our feet up and watch "The Princess Bride". Somehow we had missed that 1987 classic.  Now, we have to watch it a couple of more times to catch the dialogue that slipped past us....total silliness!           


       

 Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

"Sittin on the dock of the bay"

 

  

Leaving Stuart with our new paint job.

Super nice kid, Mike, delivered our fuel and told us
about his Pappy. 

Firing the cannon at Castillo de San Marcos.  During
battle each cannon was fired every 15 minutes to
conserve ammunition. 

A new recruit for the cannon brigade.

These bronze cannons are a work of art.
They are still in great condition.

The fort was completed in 1695 and was never captured
in battle.  The walls were made of coquina ( a limestone mixture of coral and broken shells).  They did not crumble
when hit by enemy artillery or violent storms.  The fort is
well known for it's double drawbridge entrance, 40 foot
dry moat, and diamond shaped bastions in each corner.

We love St Augustine!