Memorial Day Weekend

Fun on the water!

Maria jumped in!...too cold for me!!!!

Bree & Jess dancing on the bow


Shawn & Adam

Our "First summer weekend" on the boat was great! On Saturday, Cliff got to work on replacing the marine batteries & fixing the plumbing. Opening the engine hatch, laying across the engine, to disconnect, remove the old batteries, modify the trays to hold down the new and larger new batteries, then snake out the plumbing system. Maria & Shawn came out later that day.

Sunday we had a mostly sunny day, with just a passing thunderstorm. The VFW came out in the morning to lay a wreath on the water and fire a 21 gun salute and play Taps for all the fallen solders.

Monday, Jessie made plans to have her friends come out for a day of fun, boating and jetskiing, tubing and wake boarding. Grilling hamburger and hotdogs.

Weekend On-board

Maria & I packed supplies and drove to the marina, Friday afternoon, after work. Friday was picture perfect and we enjoyed a nice evening on our boat together. Saturday, we spent much of the day cleaning the upper deck, scrubbing and vacuuming. We had hoped to venture south, to Fox Chapel, but rain and thunderstorms were predicted. Jessie came down, with 2 of her freinds and rode the jetski in between the raindrops. Sunday we concentrated on cleaning the inside and choosing stuff on-board if we really needed to have it with us. Tempatures were chillyer than normal, so we packed up and headed for home around noon. All concidered, not bad for our first weekend on the water!

We're In! at last

Well the rain held off and we were able to launch "Our Great Escape" on schedule. Maria was feeling a little under the weather, so Cliff hauled the boat to the yacht club himself & with the help of some boating friends, launched successfully. We have the same slip as last year. Maria & Shawn came down later in the afternoon and Shawn drove the jetski around - it's working good too. I'll wait for the water temp to warm up before I take it for a ride. Maria & Shawn went back home and Cliff continued to work on getting the systems up and running, water heater, heat and A/C and adjusting the cleats and lines. Took the boat out for a shakedown cruise, returned and had a few beers with friends, enjoying the 1st campfire of the season.

Ready to Launch

After spending the last week prepping our boat for the season - bottom painting, buffing and waxing, installing upgrades, cleaning, etc. we are ready to haul the boat to the marina! Wish the weather was as nice as last weekend, but we can deal with it! Summer is right around the corner!

Friday, took the jetski out to our marina and made final preperations - "put the plug in" for the trip on Saturday - Will stop and fill up the gas tank along the way... price at the dock is still $4.40 a gallon!