ChewBaca Comes To Visit

Not really ChewBaca, it's Ivan and Olga's wonderdog, Rosie.

Bruce C. at Baby J's

Our friends, Ivan and Olga, stopped over in Destin on their way back to North Carolina from Lafayette. We went down to the Rodeo weigh in then walked over to the newly opened harbor front restaurant, Baby J's. Bruce Cheves, the rodeo weighmaster came in and had a few cocktails on us.

Twinkies

Our friends, Phil and Doris, came over to Destin. They brought over Doris' eighty year old mother and her twin sister. We saw some good fish at the rodeo and enjoyed some of Morele's seafood gumbo and had an old fashioned shrimp and crab boil.

Stork Time

It's now official. The stork will be visiting the Hammonds home in Houston next May. Our cruising adventure will be postponed for a while as we begin our careers as grandparents.

Finally Did It

We finally went out on a charter fishing trip. By coincidence Steve from St. Louis, a guy we've met over the years at the fishing rodeo, was on the trip. We caught a limit of King Mackerel and Red Snapper. The concensus was that next time we want fresh fish we'll just head over to Sexton's Seafood Market.

Hematoma

A blood vessel broke in my hand and a hematoma formed.Oh well, another trip to the emergency room.

Fish Stuff

Some nice catches came in to the marina in the last few days.

To Dee

Have fun at the Festival this weekend. My sources have demanded to remain anonymous. We'll see you soon.

Dave M Call Home

Looks like we're needed back home for chaperone duty.

Corey M Call Home

Looks like someone has been partying without us.

Jim & Dee Call Home

Amazing things to be found on the internet. Blackmail material to follow.

21 In A Throw

Phil, the dockmaster, caught 21 mullet with one throw of his cast net. He says his record is 120 fish in one throw. Smoked mullet is a big thing in this part of the country.

Valve Lash Clearance Adjustment

At 600 hours the maufacturer recommends that the valve clearances be checked and adjusted if necessary. I called out a Cummings mechanic from Mobile to perform the task. The bill was outrageous.

Fried Impeller

We lost the water pump impeller on the port main engine a few miles out of Demopolis. Had to limp back in to the marina and get a mechanic to install areplacement. Lucky I had a spare onboard.

Beach Day

We drove over to the Back Porch and rented a beach set-up. Weather was perfect.

Newest Harbor Joints

Pat O'Brien's and Commander's Palace are now open on the new Harborwalk. Several other new bar and grill places have also opened. Gonna be interesting to see how many of them survive.

Second Fish

These guys were trying to win the First Fish Trophy. They arrived at the scale 15 minutes too

late. Oh well, there's always next year.

First Fish

The 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo kicked off on Wednesday. A trophy is given to the first fish weighed. The boat arrived at the scales at 7:00 am and waited until the scales opened at 10:00 am. The fish is a three pound Spanish Mackerel