La Trucha Caribbean Cruise 2005

Ship's Log

(13-14 May, Lutz Florida (Ralph's)

Well here's the chronology starting, 13 May, Friday morning early.  Ralph drove all the way from Lutz to Tarpon Springs to pick me up.  He was still working so he had the typical tie and shirt on.  Anyway, with laundry in hand for both Jim and myself,  I was ready for the day in the hot tub and laundry work.  Instead I wound up doing the laundry and redoing this web-site.  I worked hard on giving it some more organization -  sure hope it shows.

Ralph got back and was ready to water ski.  I obliged, and with Bobby available as our resident ski boat driver, we were off.  Ralph had little trouble getting up, but I had to try the latest thing - a wake board - which the kids were using.  Looked easy, but surprise - I couldn't get up. Tried a half dozen times but it whipped me pretty bad.  Pulled every muscle I had.

Ralph doing his thing on the lake across the road from his home in Lutz

That night we checked out the local "Hang Out", with Rob dropping us off with our bikes in the back of his pickup.  We didn't last long, as I was  beat.

Saturday was a bit more sedate, as Ralph took me up in his Cessna for a gas fill up at Zephyerhills, and then an IFR approach on Vandenburg.  We promptly  came back to North Tampa, tied down the plane and took off to do a little shopping at Walmart.

Ralph's bank of batteries for his extensive home solar system, inclusive of the hot tub and hot water heater

Got back to Ralph's in time to get things cleaned up for Tammy - Ralph's girlfriend - who was bringing us a pre-cooked dinner for lunch.  Caitlin, Ralph's daughter, showed up in time to eat as well.  Ralph did some skiing; Tammy and I rode and took pictures.

No sooner had we got back after skiing than we were in hurry up and go mode, as we were headed  to Janet and Eric's place for drinks.  Their place was a beautiful work in progress - ferns, palms, fruit trees, which  were going in all over the yard.  Great that there are people still left with a green thumb.

Ralph, time to get lawyering, shifting gears at his home in Lutz

We had dinner at Mad Dog's with the dogs (Tammy's two poodles) ate hearty and called it a night.

We stayed the night in Saint Petersburg; next morning Tammy and Ralph delivered me back to the boat - where Jim had a brand new engine problem - water and oil - which we promptly pumped out and replaced.

Plans now are for one more night here at Tarpon Springs - leaving tomorrow for Fort Myers.

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