Stardate October 15 - 17
GIG HARBOR
Aye Matey we are a group of hardy souls. Weather reports were ominous, and the oil spill, according to the media had turned South Puget Sound into a tar pit, but the prospect of getting together with our Sea Ray Buddies for another weekend of grog and sea faring tales brought 17 boats to Gig Harbor.
Speaking of tales they are many and varied with this group.
SUN GOD IS FIRED
We have always depended on the dancing Jeff Ashley (Fred Astair of weathermen set) to do a sun dance. He usually clears dark and cloudy skies and brings clear weather for our cruising weekends. Rumor has it Jeff pulled a hamstring and is out of dancing, be it weather or pole. We had to rely on Bob and Linda O'Connor's second mate Gooly. Gooly was not only our weather dancer/predictor but he pitched in as greeter for the dock. I detected this skeleton gone butler had a slight TMJ condition, but this guy can really rock, electronics and animatronics are a wonderful thing.
DECO DIVA
Since Karen Ashley (aka Deco Diva) has joined this club there has been an aire of celebration and festivities never before experienced in this club. Her boat decorating is infectuous. Just walking down the dock made you feel like you were in Halloween Town. Great lites adorning the rails of our Sea Rays and every kind of Jack O Lantern from traditional to fiber optic on Ashleys and Bauers boats. Glenn Moller was adorned with illuminated bats, that is the boat was adorned.
FOOD AND BOOZE
The Tides Tavern is a must stop watering hole in Gig Harbor. It has a "been there forever feeling", any kind of beer you could want and the best bacon cheese burgers.
PARTY
Friday evening was dry, that is the weather, the dock was alive with seafaring members, grog and tales. Cruise Captains Bob Meyer and Mike Nelson made sure there was enough crab legs for everyone and for Nancy Catalano there was cheese and salami.
MORE PARTY FOOD AND BOOZE
This group is known for injuring their livers on Friday nite though I must say on this weekend most were somewhat constrained. For those with a hearty appetite and those who needed to recover or repent (and there were some of those) Kelly's in Gig Harbor is known for breakfast. Even for the gargantuan appetites the plates at Kellys usually return to the kitchen with a little of "I can't eat the whole thing" left behind.
For the ligher appetites there was a new find on the east dock at Arabellas. Isa Mira is a great little deli/café featuring great meats and cheeses. The ham and cheese croissant for breakfast was perfect.
The nice people at Isa Mira surprised us on Saturday nite with an hors d ovures platter for our Italian buffet.
FOOD FIGHT AND MUD WRESTLING
Since we are on the dinner subject. The theme for Saturday nite was Italian. Wow what a buffet. From great soups, salads and entrees to pumpkin pie for desert. Desert didn't end with the pie. Seems that hell hath no fury like a Scottish red head and a near teenager with a can of whip cream. Now I didn't see the event, but did show upon the scene shortly after, I'm not sure what happened BUT, from all accounts and the looks of the place it was something between a FOOD FIGHT and MUD WRESTLING in whipped cream. Never can tell what the sorority sisters of Sea Ray cruising will do next.
NEW BOAT NAME
Wonders will never cease. The Catalanos' have a name on their boat, thanx to Leigh Bauer who firmly facilitated the happening. I think Augie was still undecided on whether he was going to trade this boat or NAME it. Nancy on the other hand had it figured out long ago. What Augie didn't know, is just when he decided the C's at Sea would become a permanent fixture in the Catalano family the C's decided to let her captain know she was ready for major maintenance. Never fails, either the kids need braces or the boat needs manifolds it never comes at a good time.
MORE ON TIPPI CANOE
Geez! you tip one little boat over and they never forget. It appears this club will never forget that I managed to tip over a Zodiac in a no wake zone. Yah you've heard the story before and you've heard about the new deck shoes and the frog feet. Well now there's a shirt thanx to the Bocks. I was presented with a really cool T shirt that reads on the back with the words upside down "If you can read this pull me back in the boat". No more Don Johnson in the dinghy for me. I'm done. Think I'll trade the 8 horse in for an electric trolling motor.
WHAT! ANOTHER BOAT NAME
Another boat name happening. Mark Daymond was actually seen wearing a hat with a name on it, he even eluded to the fact this would be the name of their new boat. The hat read "Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Could it be for real, the name hasn't stuck until we see it on the boat. Since we've had such a great time tormenting Mark with this name we should move on give the man some peace. At least let Mark think that, in truth we must come up with a name for the tender. Whataya think about "MidDay Sun" TT "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" The Mid Day Sun is a bit cumbersome "Nooner" has a nice ring whataya think.
ARABELLAS MARINA
Many thanx to our friends at Arabellas for the great puzzle work. We have to appreciate that Arabellas, as well as many of the smaller marinas we visit is a private marina with limited guest moorage. They accommodate cruising clubs by fitting boats into vacant slips. Not all the boats were together but they did their best to put us in groups. Thanx Bobbie and crew. Doesn't matter where you put us we manage to have a great time.
Cruising friends for the weekend were:
Ashleys-La Dolce Vita
Bauers-Horsin Around
Bocks-Soul Mates
Brown Girls-4 Non blondes
Catalanos-C's at Sea
Daymonds-Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Freunds-Our Sweetheart
Haskins/Ignacio--??? (Just wait we'll have fun with this one)
Hobbs-Missey Moo
Kassubas-Sport Ray
Meyer-Half Plus Seven
Moller-Baby Boomer
Nelson-Recon
O'Connors-Knot Again
Parrys-Attitude Adjustment
Ruddicks-(Honeymooners) (not bad for starters) naming this boat is up for grabs to.
Vettelsons-Enuf
By land
Cummings-Summer Place
Steenersons-When Pigs Fly
Fullers-Brad and Terri. Brad is the charter Past Commodore for Sea Ray Cruising Club NW
This is the end of our official cruising season for 2004 but we just can't go till spring and not see our cruising friends therefore mark your calendars:
Be seeing you at:
Year End Meeting-Lake Union Sea Ray
October 23, 2004 6PM
Christmas Party
Ashleys Home
December 18, 2004
Boat Show
Check the web site as a group of members usually gets together on one Saturday during the show for a mass visit to the Sea Ray display. Usually grog and tales follows at one of the local watering holes.
Happy Cruising my friends,
Dave Parry,
Commodore of Vice
SRCC-NW