Jen went to breakfast with Michael and Ashlyn at Waffle House, to help cure the hangover from the night before… lol
Then drove to Corpus Christi to visit some friends.
Mike and Kelly’s Day 63: Clearwater Harbor Marina (Clearwater, FL)
New Years Day, was spent the day with a new friends, “In Custody”. 🙂 One the best parts of being a looper is all the great new friends we have.
Later that evening we made use of still having the rental car and went to Bass Pro Shops. Kelly really wants to catch lobsters in the Florida’s Keys so we got the net and tickle stick!!
Happy New Year!! 2021 was so wonderful, and we are ready to see what 2022 will bring us. The Great Loop has been amazing so far and we have loved every moment, and are excited for what’s ahead of us.
Jen’s Day 62: Home (Cypress, TX)
Jen spent her New Years with Michael and Ashlyn at her parents house. They got food catered from Lupe Tortilla, where Michael worked in high school. It was very yummy. We spent our night playing dice and card games, Ashlyn won $62 from playing left, right, center. At midnight Ashlyn’s dad shot fireworks, it was so beautiful and loud… lol
Mike and Kelly’s Day 62: Tallahassee, FL to Clearwater, FL
After finishing the last leg of the drive, we spent the day getting organized. Then we had dinner with looper friends – Barefoot Jones and Nothing to Plunder.
Unfortunately, there was so much fog that we couldn’t see the New Years fireworks. The fog was so dense we couldn’t see the Clearwater bridge. It didn’t matter. It was a great New Years because we spent it together.
Jen spent the morning hanging out with Michael, and then drove to Corpus Christi. While in Corpus, she spent the night with some friends.
Mike and Kelly’s Day 61: Home (Cypress, TX) to Hotel (Tallahassee, FL)
We gave Michael and Mike’s mom good bye hugs that will hopefully last till we see them next time. Mike and Kelly loaded up the car and headed for Clearwater. t was probably a blessing that our stuff didn’t all fit in the small rental car. It was a good excuse for Jen to stay back and spend more time with Michael.
The drive was pretty easy. Half way we spent the night in a hotel to break up the drive. The hotel was little strange for the dogs. We were a little concerned Harley and Teddy would raise a leg on the walls so we put a doggy diaper on them! We also played white noise music to keep them from barking at every little sound. It seemed to help.
Our first morning at the house, the dogs woke up and were so excited to go outside and play with neighbor dogs, Flash and Rufus. They missed their friends, and loved getting to run up and down the fence with them again. Every time we took to dogs out during our time at home they would immediately run to the fence and look for them.
Jen spent a few days with her best friend, Bri, for a few days. They had a Christmas party, and decorated cookies.
While at home, Kelly and Jen went to Bunco night with the ladies from the neighborhood. It was so nice to see everyone! Jen won for most Buncos that night.
Jen spent the day with Michael’s girlfriend, Ashlyn, getting their nails done and going to lunch together. It was a perfect girls day.
We made and decorated sugar cookies. Normally we make elaborate gingerbread houses, but this year there just wasn’t enough time, nor did we have space to bring it back on the boat with us. So we made cookies instead. They turned out so good!
Jen and Michael we mini golfing with Ashlyn and her family. It was a Disney Pixar themed mini golf course, it was so cute and actually pretty challenging. Jen got 2nd place!
We went down to Blue Dolphin Marina which is where we used to keep our boat. We got to see our friends who still keep their boats there. Including our friend Rob on Biscuit, who we got to travel with for a few days in the beginning of our trip.
As it got closer to drive back to Florida, we realized that since Jen got a bike for Christmas there wasn’t going to be room in the car for her. As well as she wanted to spend some extra time in Texas with her friends and brother. So she got a plane ticket to fly back to Florida on the 6th.
The drive was good and after a long 16 hours, we made it home to Texas. The dogs were so happy to be out of the car and home. Their tails were wagging so fast as we were unlocking the front door to the house. We were pretty excited too.
Jen and Kelly spent the day in Dunedin at the farmers market and having lunch. While at the farmers market, they got vegetable to bring home to Cypress to cook for Grandma. After lunch they drove back to the boat in Clearwater to pick up Mike for dinner.
We went to Tarpon Springs and got cannolis to bring home for Michael and Grandma. Went to dinner at, and ate tons of greek food! It was very yummy… highly recommend.
After dinner, we headed back to the boat to finish getting packed up to head home tomorrow.
Kelly and Jen went to Clearwater Beach. Jen made sandwiches to take with. Jen was so excited as this is now the 3rd time she has gotten to go to the beach and the first time it was actually warm enough to enjoy it. The previous two times we beautiful, but slightly chilly.
The sand in Florida is so white and soft compared to Texas beaches.
Halfway through Jen eating her sandwich a bird flew down and took a bite at the same time she was going to take a bite. It was hilarious! After eating a bite of her sandwich the bird continued to circle around keeping a close eye on the girls.
After the beach the girls headed back to the boat for dinner. Jen made chicken stir fry for dinner.
Mike and Kent(Silver Linings) put in a hard days work today… while the girls spent the day in Madeira Beach shopping and going to the beach.
While at the beach, Ruby and Violet from Silver Linings and Jen made a sand boat. It was the super yacht version of Silver Linings.
After a fun day in Madeira, we headed back to Clearwater and had dinner. After dinner we went over to Silver Linings from key lime pie and a tour of their boat. Afterwards they came over to our boat for a tour and to play with the dogs. The dogs loved playing with the kids, they were super excited to have new friends.
Cruising Wishes 