PLAYING KETCHUP

April 27, 2017

December, 2016 - April, 2017.
Time to catch up on our winter aboard Obsession at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina.  It's been a fairly mild winter, just a few storms, but the wind from the west was brutal. It would hit us broadside and there were a few nights that we rocked and rolled so much I thought I might roll out of my berth!  We used up some of our timeshare points and stayed at the Inn on the Harbor on Thames Street, The Inn on Long Wharf a few times, just to get away from the boat.  Christmas we had a 2 bedroom suite at the Long Wharf Resort, and, just in time for Perrin's return from delivering a boat to Antigua, we had an extra room for him.

A December sunset from Obsession dockside at
Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina

Wreath with a tribute to
Key West

Gel stickies on the doors. I bought more for our
trip south this winter

Our Cockpit tree, just colored
lights and snowflakes

A group of carolers strolled all around Newport this
sunny but chilly day.  It's one of the things
that made living aboard Obsession in downtown Newport
fun this winter

Christmas Dinner became a logistics production, but the staff at the Long Wharf Resort were most helpful. My sister Marilyn brought all her Christmas china and linens down from New Hampshire.   I pulled out the silver service from our storage area in Fall River, we decorated a small Christmas Tree and enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings with the entire family.

We have decided that IF we do this again we will use clear wrap 

over most of the boat.  We sometimes wished we could see out 

and have more light.

Boat life aboard this winter hasn't been too uncomfortable for us.  With a Verizon Wireless upgrade to unlimited data we have enjoyed Netflix and our new Apple TV. Those long winter nights we were cozy and warm in our cocoon with an electric heater that simulated a real fireplace.  We watched the Patriots all winter with our friends at the Landing in Fall River, and celebrated the unbelievable historic comeback win with some team members in Providence.

A trip to DisneyWorld in mid-January was David's choice for a celebration.  We thoroughly enjoyed the Wyndham at Bonnet Creek Resort.  We had a "room with a view" of Disney fireworks every night, and relaxed in the warmer temperatures.  Once we figured out how to use the Fast Pass System we made sure to take in our favorite rides, Space Mountain, It's a Small World, Dumbo, Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Test Track, Soarin' and more.











Our traditional trip to Defender's Spring Sale resulted in new anchor chain, a new windlass, and the final paper chart for our trip south.  We met up with our friends Mariah and Bob, and and  introduced Perrin to our custom of going to Mystic Pizza on the way home.  We can only hope that he will continue our tradition while we are away - or we will have to return just for this rite of spring. There's something about that yearly trek that puts a smile of anticipation on our faces.  It is a promise that the summer is indeed coming and good times on the boat are in the near future.

I spent an afternoon marking the 200+ feet of chain every 10 feet to help us when anchoring.  Back breaking work, I must say.  Only one small drop on the dock though.  It's a good thing we and someone else at the marina ordered pizza the night before.

David has been issued a clean bill of health.  His last CT Scan, Colonoscopy and blood work show no signs of cancer.  Meanwhile he is gaining strength and we are getting excited about planning for the summer and our trip in the fall. He has been busy installing the new solar panels, re-wiring the electrical system, and built a bookcase/shelf under the chart table.

 It was a two person, two-day job to remove the shrink wrap and frame.  With the warmer, longer days and later sunsets we emerged from our cocoon, enjoyed evenings in the cockpit, a steak dinner on the grill, and chat with our neighbors as they came down to uncover their boats. 

We enjoyed the Daffodil Days Festival in mid-April. There is something about yellow daffodils in spring.  I'm a little upset with Crayola for removing the color Dandelion from their crayon packs. Maybe they could keep it and just re-name it Daffodil!  This is the Preservation Society's Retail Store window in Bowen's Wharf.

In less than a month we will be on our mooring in the main harbor.  As I write this, it is 45 degrees, raining and downright cold.  We've had a few delightfully sunny days. (Notice I said A FEW). But those days in April are just teasers, we've come to know and understand that.  There are only 2 boats on moorings in the harbor, but I'm sure in the next few weeks they will start trickling in.  I'm sure we won't be alone.

We have a date in New Bedford the first week in June with Niemiec Marine.  They are going to align the prop and give the engine a look-see.  It's still putting out a bluish/grayish smoke.

Our calendar for the summer is filling up.  Besides the trip to New Bedford and of course Cuttyhunk in June, we will probably also hit Block Island.  We have a Superbowl celebration re-union harbor cruise with our friends from The Landing planned for June too.  Of course we will be in Newport for the 4th of July Fireworks, and probably head up the Bay for the Fireworks in Bristol.  Mid-July David's niece, Katie, is visiting from Texas.  We will celebrate David's birthday the end of July in the Vineyard then to Cuttyhunk early August for fireworks and then back to the Vineyard for the Oak Bluffs Fireworks.  In case you haven't noticed, or didn't know already, we enjoy watching fireworks from the boat.

Once September rolls around we will have a little less than 3 weeks to make final preparations for our trip.  Our plan is to leave on September 20.