And Even More Boot Key

 The community here is so unique.  While the Snowbirds, like us, or other transients mix in with the boaters who spend all year on a mooring, it is always fun.  The permanent party folks don't hold it against us part-timers and we all get together for seminars, full moon dinghy drifts, pot lucks and games like Mexican Train dominoes, bocce ball, cornhole, pickleball and a plethora of other activities.  It is an easy place to enjoy.

One great thing about cruising is running into

people you know.  Mary and Jim have the slip down

from us back in Fort Walton Beach.  We also ran into Chuck and his 

crew on Freedom from the Navarre Yacht Club.

The March full moon dinghy drift almost set a record

of most participants.  We had 47 boats join the crowd.   We

started at the mouth of a creek feeding into the ocean and

let the incoming tide push us back into the harbor.  Sometimes we needed 

the outboards to keep us from going into the mangroves or other boats.

Aerial photo of the most recent dinghy drift.

Everyone brought something to share either food

or drink.  Lots of laughs and stories told.

One of the locals works at a tourist place and

was able to borrow this massive trampoline.

The kids had a blast and it was fun to watch them.

And even more drifting.

Blue Moon at night.

I never get tired of sunsets.  I'm always up for 

them but now always up for sunrise!

We like to help make things better for the harbor

and volunteered to help with a general cleanup .  

Quite a few boats joined in and a large area was cleaned.

David wore boots so he could get up in places our dinghy

wouldn't go. He pulled a lot of big pieces out of the mangroves.

On our way to the next cleanup spot.

The group filled this commercial dumpster in 

only a few hours.  We found a huge dump of 

take out boxes, bottle and cans near a homeless

encampment.  We left their stuff alone but cleaned 

up their dump.

This large schooner is anchored in Sister's Creek.

The creek in wide and winding from the ocean to the harbor.

Many boats choose to anchor here rather than come into

the harbor.  It has a lot of boats so they're not there for 

privacy!

The next several pictures are from a local waterfront restaurant.

It is a montage of local sights taking up most of a wall. 

If you click on this vessel, you'll see it's named

the "Love Shack".  It's up in the creek.

We still make it out for a sail every once in a while.