My Christmas and NewYears Vacation

Just rolled back to the house at 2:00 AM this morning after a 16 hr drive. But what better way to start off a big trip than a stop by jbears! Thanks John for a great day on the boat and a super dinner at a truly fantastic place. Top 10 on my all-time list.

After leaving jbear we cruised the Griswold RV on in to north Key West and Geiger Key to one of the most relaxing and fun places on the face of the planet. If you EVER get the notion to do a camping trip to the lowest FLA Keys, you must check out the Geiger Key Marina, MM10, and I don't have a financial interest. I just found it because it loves dogs, is off the beaten path in a sorta Jimmy Buffett way, has RV spots where your boat is docked just 20 feet away, AND the excellent bar/restaurant (just like CherryPockets, jbear) is open for 3 meals a day) was only 112 steps along the seawall from our campsite.
We had three parties and with a total of 10 people in our group, with the 2 other oldest being 30 year college buddies of mine. If you care to check it out, it's (Geigerkeymarina.com). We originally intended to bring a CC Mustang down also, but glad we didn't as the water was often very shallow (and not to mention salty) where we explored amongst the mangroves and the 17' Shamrock inboard we did take has a full keel and protected prop. If we touched bottom, we just backed up or pushed it off and tried again in another spot. The weather was fabulous in the upper 70s-low 80s with NO rain and a steady breeze. Anyway here are some picts.

Our campsite; The water was just a few feet away:


The boat from the dock:

The bar and restaurant just a walk down the sea wall.



Walk to the bar along the sea wall:

Early evening with entertainment at the bar and canine audience, which was always welcome.

The affects of New Years over-indulgence:

Someone explain to me what this new hand signal means? I was just told to do it and the kids really laughed. (save it, i've already heard)

Doin it old school shaggin with Mrs ReidP.

Nice lady on lower left is actually Park Manager. She loved us!!...and we love her.

Me, Mrs ReidP (Laurie), Skipper and Boaty.

The gang at Sloppy Joe's Key West.

A Sloppy Joe's bartender with Josh. How 'bout those guys, and they're REAL!!

Tiki Hut and bar set up and managed by our camping neighbor Captain Dave behind his RV, just 20 feet from us. Life was good.

And finally my shotgun and console companions on the drive back home. Unwavering.


Best Christmas vacation in 48 years, and I've already made my reservations for next year.

Slalomguy...you might want to skip this post.


Christmas Day I got 2 treats. First mrs jbear got me a something I've been dreaming about for a long time, one of the few things I have never done, a tandem parachute jump. Second treat was a call from ReidP telling me he was right around the corner. Got up the next morning for a drive out to his campground. Well it was what we loosely call around here a fish camp. WAY out in the boondocks. But it was worth the drive to meet him, the lovely Laurie and his two awesome dogs. Took him out on the '80 and boy was she proud to be riding the famous owner of numerous Nautiques. Reid was gracious when he looked under the motor box, said "well the engine is real clean". Could've added real stock as well.

You guys know that I have made it a point to try and meet some of the great guys on here. Well I am here to tell ya that it was well worth the effort to meet Reid and Laurie. We spent a great day looking at a boat (gonna buy Reid?) riding in my boat and having dinner and drinks with the wives. I have never been disappointed meeting any of you guys, always a great time.

Reid, thanks for sharing those great pics. Looks like you guys had a great time. Just said to Patti tonite that I hoped you would stop on your way back. Looks like we gotta try and make it there next year if we can find a place. We'll bring Jo the wonder dog to keep Skipper and Boaty company.

I gotta know, how are you sure that them guys were real?

Thanks again for taking the time out of your vacation to stop and see Patti and I. We loved it! Our best to Laurie and pat them guys on the head for me!

john

Looks like the joint worked out. Jimmy Buffet style. Well done.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Send our love to Laurie, Boaty and Skipper.

If anyone has the notion to meet people from this site, Reidp is definitely worth the effort. If you love CC's and make it out to his place near Charlotte, you won't be disappointed.

Could that be the "Shocker", two in the Pink and one in the stink?

A similar version would be the "Spocker", using all four fingers.

Reid, looks like a great trip, hope to meet JBear one day myself. The Keys are always great fun, my last trip there was a boy's trip, took my buddies 50 footer from Naples down there, lot's of good stories.

Later Guy's

Haha Damn you Quinner!! you beat me to it, oh yeah it's definitely the shocker! hahaha Looks like a great trip.

Nate

It became easily obvious to me why jbear has so many friends. I'll adjourn this meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society before it gets mushy, but I felt blessed. The fellowship on our site and what evolves from it is priceless.

I knew we could count on quinner to spell out the hand sign. And don't forget the trigger finger. You're very high on my must-party-with list.

75TiqueLarry, Come on by. My wife and I DON'T get away on vacations often so this was a big one for us. During the summer we're almost always hanging by the dock and messing with boats. Oh by the way, she gave me this really neat wall plaque for Christmas which appropriately states, "Nothing works on an old boat except its owner."

GrandSlam Jerry, You gotta know my first choice would have been a CC, but the Fish Naut is just way big for what we were needing and the little 17-18' CC Tobagos etc., just aren't out there. This mini Shamrock is only a 17' and with a 10" prop in a tunnel to boot, it cruises the shallows great. Not too fast w/just a 4-banger, but it ran all week on a tank.

Very jiggly. Must be real, 'cause silicon don't shake like that.

JMurph, love you guys. Kiss all five of your beauties for me, which includes the boat.

I corrected my post above. We "don't" get away on many vacations. Sorry, it sounded a little pretentious previously, which is not me.

See what happens here. OK, Laurie gave me that new word as synonym (I know what that means) for "stuck up". There is a plethora of new words I'm trying to introduce into my vocabulary. Today for example, I learned "Spocker" from quinner, and "Bulge" as a boat term from 79Nautique. Humbling.

jbear, the mammories were in Key West, not at my house. But if you give me enough notice.........

Reid was/is well known on this site. That is one reason why it is so cool he is back on here after an absence.

Infectious...thats good..I think. I just felt as tho I had known him for a long while just as soon as I met him. Spent all day and never had to search for something to talk about. Wives hit it off just as well at dinner. 'Course anybody with 2 dogs like that has gotta be cool.

Must be fun at family gatherings.

john