[Rhodes22-list] Happy New Year to the Fleet

[Mary Lou Troy]

Happy New Year to all!

Happy to report that no chainsaws are needed here in Rock Hall. The 
pre-Christmas 18" snowfall is but a memory but it was great having 
the 4 year-old grandson arrive from NC three days later and have the 
first words out of his mouth be "Grandma! The snow didn't melt yet!!" 
He and his year and a half year old sister had a great time playing 
in the snow until it all washed away on Christmas - but by then they 
had other things to play with.

We had a bit of a "wintery mix" yesterday morning but not enough to 
slow down the New Year's Eve juggernaut in Rock Hall. At 7 pm there 
was the "hat parade" - a one block affair where they take a Ranger 
Tug covered with Christmas lights on a trailer, tow it down Main 
Street with a Dixieland band playing in the cockpit and the mayor on 
the bow throwing Mardi-gras beads at the onlookers. Following in 
loose formation are a bunch of people wearing strange hats. At the 
other end of the one block Main Street prizes are awarded in various 
"hat-egories". This year the winner of the most "Rock Hall - esque" 
was a group effort. Two of them had a giant crab carapace on their 
heads (about 6 feet across) while the rest of them had assorted claws 
on their heads except for the one woman with the giant crab mallet on 
her head. You may get the idea - or not. We always go as audience 
figuring they need all the encouragement they can get. Most years the 
participants and the audience almost even out. The hat parade was 
followed by various private parties around town. The mayor took the 
Dixieland band around to play at all of them. At 11:45 everyone 
assembles at the bulkhead at the public landing where they countdown 
to midnight and drop a 6 foot wooden rockfish from the extended 
ladder of a firetruck into the harbor and fireworks go off over the 
harbor (about 3 minutes worth).  Do we know how to have fun or what?

Art & Ron, Keep the Gulf warm for us. Hope to see you mid-February.

Mary Lou


At 09:41 AM 1/1/2010, Art wrote:
>All,
>
>Dateline Boca Ciega Bay, near St Petersburg :
>
>Singermans and Czerwonkys reporting on latest developments -
>
>While there are some clouds, we are reporting 60-70 degrees on Boca 
>Ciega Bay, potentially the site of the 2011 Rhoadie Invitational 
>Regatta.  Seas about 1', winds SSW at about 12 knots.  The party at 
>the club last night, dress formal (black tie, tails with Bermuda 
>shorts) was a shrimp boil, entertainment by three groups in the 
>clubhouse, open bar, and a delicious spread.  The Singermans and 
>Czerwonkys anchored out after a four hour midnight cruise with 
>fireworks at midnight and bubbly. We did enjoy fishing near the 
>Intercoastal Waterway earlier in the day, although only caught a few 
>Ling and an Amberjack, had to throw them back because they were over 
>limit at 23 and 17 pounds - what a disappointment.  We considered 
>feeding our BC flock (like you know the story about loaves and 
>fishes) but they preferred the extra large shrimp 
>instead.  Understood, of course, since they were quite large and we 
>did not want to cook.
>
>We are waiting with eager anticipation to hear the sailing ventures 
>from our North Fleet Rhoadie (Rhodie for Yankees) contingent,  so we 
>can learn more about what brand of chainsaw they prefer for cutting 
>through the ice.
>
>Well, guys, we miss you so much, although need to be out on our New 
>Year's day sail, likely to one of the main keys off the Gulf Coast 
>and more successful fishing adventures.
>
>This would be impossible to send to you except for the Kindle.  Ron 
>and Linda, and Art and Allison send our Warm New Year's wishes to all of you.
>
>Us
>s/v's Serenity and Mary Jane
>from the Kindle
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