Century Club: mike pitchford

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Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Yes, anothe cocktail cruise

As we work our way through COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, life begins to imitate the experiences of Bill Murry's charactor in the movie, Groundhog Day.  Each day can seem the same, even the news. 

For us, we try to make sure someting different is in each day.  Some days it is a ride in the golf cart (we are sequestered in our little condo in Florida, #extended showbirds).  Some days is is a convertable ride to pick up a meal to go. On the best days, boating offers a way to distinguish the current 24 hours from the last.

So it was that today we took a ride with a cocktail, around the community and briefly out on the ICW to explore a neighboring marina at a safe distance.  

Friday, April 3, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
social distancing on the Mary Catherine

We have friends very nearby, wintering in Florida on their 58' Hatteras LRC, Mary Catherine.  We reached out suggesting a virtual, Zoom aided, cocktail hour and they suggested we motor over on our little boat and sit on their aft deck, at a healthy social distance.

That sounded like a plan so we headed over at the appointed hour and tied up on the floating dock nearest their transom.  We boarded carefully and sat in opposing chairs they had already cleaned for us.  Naturally we brough our own beverages. 

All in, it was really god to see friends in person rather than on the small screen.  The beam of Mary Catherine kepts us at least ten feet away. Sure they had to break our the handwipes to clean the chairs before and after, but it seemed worth it for some face to face contact.  

Saturday, March 28, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Another cocktail cruise

Saturday is usually a busy day, in season, on the ICW near Jupiter Florida.  Today it was... quiet.  There were a few boats out, ours included. 

While dealing with the Coronavirus, the waterways are open but the marinas and boat ramps are shut down in Palm Beach County and much of Florida. We motored along in our little outboard, never exceding five knots.  It was a nice diversion from Coronavirus induced sequester.

We have been doing some virtual happy hours, via Zoom, of late.  On this night off it, was nice to enjoy the warm south Florida weather and be glad we were hunkered down somwhere warm.       

Monday, March 23, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Sequester cocktail cruise II

On Sunday the Palm Beach County Government closed all boat ramps and marinas.  They were working to keep the 20 somethings from mass congregation on the local sandbars.  They had already closed the beaches so, if you had a boat, the sandbar was the bomb.  

Some of the media reports suggested the waterway was closed to navigation.  However, the order was only closing the county (public) boat ramps and commercial marinas, especially dry storage marinas.  Freedom of navigation was NOT impinged.  

So, another cocktail cruise with my bride. 

Sunday, March 22, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Golf ball collecting

As Coronavirus sequester settles in we are looking for safe things to do.  At low tide today I went out in the kayak and collected golf balls that failed to make it over the water from tee to green on the par 3 16th at Jonathan's Landing. In an hour, working the mud flats and mangroves but never geting our of the kayak (a boathood was very helpful), I collected 141!

Friday, March 20, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Sequester cocktail cruise

Coronavirus slowdown beginning.  Bars and restaruants doing take out only. Boating a good way to social distance.  Cocktail cruise today.  Love this Florida weather.

Friday, March 6, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Boys Sail Jupiter begins

College roomates in for one of our multi-annual get togethers. This one four days out of the condo in Jupiter with as much boat time as we could get.

First trip, Jupiter to Palm Beach Gardens for lunch at Waterway Cafe. 

Thursday, March 5, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Dinner at the Dive Bar

College Roomates in town, Day two.  This outing was for Dinner at the Dive Bar.  As is the usual in season, in Jupiter, the wait for a table was long.  We boated over and were able to get a beer at the bar and bring it back to the boat while we waited an our for a table for dinner.  Funny, somehow, two of thier beer glasses made it home with us. 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Bob Smith take Mary Catherine to Palm Beach

17 of your closest friends on Bob Smith's 1977, 58' Hatteras on a slop trip from Jupiter to Palm Beach for lunch on Worth Ave.  As Bob dealt with mechanical issues underway, I was briefly at the helm.  Not my largest boat at the helm, that was the 120 class B tallship the Alexandria back in Harborfset Norfolk days. 

Saturday, February 29, 2020
Number of days:
1 day
Lunch cruise for Nan's 19th birthday

Lunch crusie to Waterway Cafe in Palm Beach Gardens.  Celebration of Nan's 19th birthday (leap year actually 76). Crew include Nan, Mike, AJ, Cindy, Eric and Shelley besides Sue and me. 

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