POST CHRISTMAS COMPAC-O-NAUT GATHERING

[Bob23]

   Hear ye, hear ye: Announcing what is quite possibly the first ever Post Christmas Gathering of the East Coast division of the Compac-o-nauts! Tis true...I'll expound:
  At the Barnegat Bay Bash 2012 version 2.0 with myself, JT and Marty attending, while we were having the time of our lives- somehow the idea of a Christmas party emerged while we dined aboard JT's 23. Wise as we are, we realized that before Christmas is way too busy for most people so we tentatively planned for something after the new year. Well, we done gone and done it! We are planning to meet at the Newportville Inn located in Newportville, PA on Saturday 2/16 at 1800 hrs local.
http://newportvilleinn.net/
 Sorry for the last minute notice but this came together quite quickly as the 3 of us conived behind everyone's back.
  The Inn was suggested by Marty and the serve Guiness on tap so that got my 2 thumbs up. This is short notice but if anyone is within driving distance, it would be great to meet some new faces. Us three enjoyed a short but fun filled weekend at the BBB Bash 2012. Because I procrasinate, I've never posted my take on the Bash but if you attend this gathering, you'll hear first hand about some very controversial rowing techniques that were demonstrated by our senior member, Marty.
 Seriously, if you can make it- cool. Check back here later in the week- a snowstorm could cancel this event as the Admiral Linda and I (pictured below) have to drive about 1 1/2 hours and JT is even further. To quote a line from "Back to the Future": Be there or be square!
Bob23 and Admiral Linda

[brackish]

Well Bob, not this time, but I appreciate your announcing the event.  With a son living in Havertown, PA, I'm up there on occasion.  I hope you beat the weather and pull it off and have a great time.

[Bob23]

Thank you. If your'e up on Havertown in the summer, maybe we can go for a sail. I'd love to pick your CP23 brain!
Bob23

[Eagleye]

Bob,
It looks like a fun tavern with good food.  It's about a 4 hour drive for us but worth it to meet other Com-Pac owners.  We will watch the weather and check the schedule.  Sounds like fun.
Thanks,
Allen

[jthatcher]

Hi Allen,   I hope that the weather cooperates!   We  are about two hours away.   I just told my wife that we should find a nice place to stay in lower bucks County and make a weekend of it.    If you happen to come down early, there are some great places to see..   New hope is pretty cool..  Very artsy.... Also some great history if you happen to be interested..  Let me know if I can be of any help..  Hope to meet you guysnext weekend... Jt

[Bob23]

It looks like all systems are go.  We may have 1-2 inches of snow but that will not deter us from attending this epic event. Looking forward to seeing JT, Marty and respective Admirals and whoever else can attend.
Bob23
Marty- Are reservations accepted or recommended? Are you handling this?

[jthatcher]

good morning!  we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland in the poconos..   we will head out early  and make a day of it  - looking forward to seeing you guys..   jt

[MKBLK]

Hi fellow Compac-o-nauts,

It's looks like it won't be anything like Sandy, so we can sure do our thing at the Newportville Inn! Reservations are recommended. I'll take care of that. I'll reserve for eight at 1800 hrs., just in case (are you listening, Allen?).

Drive safe and Barb and I will be excited to meet you all. Dress is formal (Pirate garb optional). Just kidding about formal! 

Marty K.

[Bob23]

Great! Thanks for handling the reservations, Marty. Formal? No way...I've even instructed my kids- no suit for me at my funeral; just the loudest Hawiian shirt that I own! Looking forward to this! Digital camera in tow!
Bob23

[Eagleye]

Holy Cow..... did that get away from us.  Our local contractor gave us a great bid to paint our cathedral ceilings, kitchen, dinning room, living room and hallways.  Suzie and I spent the last four days cramming all the furniture from all those rooms into the bedrooms and picking out colors so he can start Monday AM.

It would have been a real treat to have a mid February get-away and meet you folks but I have been promising to get this project done for 2 years now.  I hope you all have a great time and we are looking forward to reading about your adventure.   

Best to You All.
Allen & Suzie

[jthatcher]

hi Allen and Suzie,
  sorry that you  were not able to make it last evening.  we had  an enjoyable time -  great dinner..  and it was especially nice to meet Barbara  and Linda for the first time.   Thanks to Marty for finding  a nice place to meet, even if it was in a little tiny town that was not on the map!          we are hoping to get together down in Bob's neck of the woods in the spring as we prepare for the upcoming season.   maybe you folks will be able to make that..  and ,  if not.. i will be looking forward to meeting you at some point in late june or early july as I make my way up the hudson!   jt

[Bob23]

To echo JT's post:
  We did indeed have a wonderful evening together with Admirals Barbara, Linda and Janet and there respective deck swabbers...that'd be us! We met at a German tavern in PA which was full of life- I guess they heard we were coming! Of course, keeping up with my tradition of land navigation, I got us lost once we were on the PA side of the Burlington Bristol Bridge. At the Admirals command but against my wishes, I pulled into a gas station for directions but Marty saved the day by calling me via shoe phone before I could actually get embarassed. M- you saved the day!
  This has been said before here on this forum, but I'll repeat it: Part of the wonderfulness of this site is actually meeting some of you guys and forming friendships. Marty and JY and I enjoyed a great weekend at the Barnegat Bay Bash 2012 version 2.0 and it was there that this idea was born. I personally have enjoyed meeting more than a few of you and enjoyed every minute. I'm sure some life long friendships have been made.
   As JT mentioned, we do plan to get together again, maybe somewhere down here (the South of NJ)  so stay tuned everyone for the next episode of "As the mugs drain". Maybe continuing in the German food trend, we could go to Dutchmans...great beer, unparralled onion soup and on the Barnegat Bay. (and within a stones throw of my home mooring).
http://www.thedutchmans.com/
   Or maybe somewhere else!
Fair Winds, my friends!
Bob23

[MKBLK]

Hi guys,

Barb and I really enjoyed our little get-together Saturday eve. We both look forward to doing it again in the Spring. This time I'll let Bob pick a place within "walking" distance of his home! It would have been even better if more Compac-o-nauts were able to attend, but short notice does have its limitations.

My "toast" to Hutchins also had a loosely hidden message: That of bringing good people together through the ownership of good sailing vessels.

Re GPS: I've been using them for several years now and they are definately not perfect! My first was a TomTom with my Palm "smart" phone that required an electrical enginneering degree to operate... and heaven forbid that a call came in. You had to reboot the system! Now I have a free service with Verizon/Google on my Droid. Works pretty good, but is short on features and does have some odd operating characteristics. But, it is free!

BTW, If Bob is able to crew with JT up to the GW Bridge, I can pick him up at the Palisades Interstate Park Commission: Alpine Boat Basin & Picnic Area. A weekday is best as the park is jammed on weekends. Also, another Compac-o-naut can probably meet us there to help Jason with his trip up the Hudson.

Again, looking forward to meeting with you guys again... and some nice Spring weather.

Marty