HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

[Bob23]

    Well, it seems that the rest of you might have hangovers considering that no one is up yet so I'll be the first to wish everyone a wonderful 2011! The new year here in the South of New Jersey dawns cool (35f) and clear with still 12-18 inches of snow on the ground and no wind. Fresh coffee and toast are awaiting me and soon we'll get together at the Dockside for a large, extended family breakfast which I hope to make a long standing tradition.
   The Dockside is a little breakfast and lunch place on Tuckerton Creek, Tuckerton, NJ. It has great food despite that a towering, dark-cloaked figure warned me about it years ago when he said: "Beware of the Dockside!". Get it? Dark Side? Hahaha!
Bob23

[ssullivan]

happy new year!

[rdcvsmith]

Been up a while, just finished putting a pork shoulder in the crock pot for some pulled pork tonight. Will settle in for a morning of the Rose Bowl Parade and an afternoon/evening of football.

Happy New year to all!

[curtisv]

Bob,

Happy New Year.  It was warm last night.  We went to a party but with it being so warm it would have been a good night to go to Chatham and watch the cod drop.  Its the sort of thing that we should do at least once (or maybe not).

Curtis

[Bob23]

To start the year right, I took the Walker Bay 8 out for a row. Ended up rowing 4.8 nm 2 in hours. Not bad for an old man rowing a bathtub. Shall we say the Walker Bay ain't actually built for speed! But it was a great way to start the new year- on the water!
Bob23 

[Billy]

 I went out yesterday (New Years Day), and had a good time w/ the Admiral and our dog Penny. We just went sailing in the lake by our house, Lake Tarpon here in Palm Harbor, FL. We often go sailing in St. Joesph Sound but the wind was blowing pretty good yesterday (gust at about 20 knts) nothing these boats can't handle, but I just wanted a relaxing sail and the lake is a bit better for that. We put in at the ramp by my house and headed for the Tarpon Turtle for a few beers. all in all it was a good day. A  dead run there and beat pretty hard into the wind for the trip back. About 30-45 minutes there and about 2.5 hours back. I tried the loose footed main today. Noticed a bit of a difference but not as much as I hoped.



We saw a Sea Pearl out on the lake too. Those twin sails sure do look cool from a distance. Very distinct. I had a good look at them during the sail boat show back in early Dec. And after taking to the guy, I left thinking that that could possibly, maybe, sorta be a better boat for me than my Compac 19 living on the west coast of central FL. "WHAT??? SAY IT ISN"T SO!!!" My wife gasp when I told her. Only 6" of draft! No standing rigging!, and the salesman tried to show me how it had everything my com pac had. Like the canvas cabin that was intergrated into the bimini. We spoke for hours. So seeing the two sails off in the distance intrigued me. He ended up going to the Turtle too. I docked next to him and had a great discussion about our boats. Both very cool, but one thing the saleman "forgot" to mention was comfort! They were wet from the spray, while my party was completely dry! It was a tri so it was very stable. I like to heel but my wife doesn't. So the 19 is a perfect compromise for us, just a bit around 12 degrees.

Sitting at the bar looking at the two boats, I came to my senses. The Com-Pac is a much better looking boat. See for yourself......

[Bob23]

Billy:
   Before I bought my 23, I owned a 1986 SeaPearl 21. They are neat little boats but, trust me- and this comes from experience, when you get hit by a surprise gust, you want to be in your 19 and NOT a SeaPearl. Capsizing a SeaPearl gives new meaning to "wet boat". After my 2nd "event", I swore my next boat would have a keel. Enter "Koinonia":

  Anyway, while I was out rowing on New Years Day, I took some photos. Just in case anyone is looking for a "waterfront fixer-upper" here are 3 you could probably have for a song:



   And now for a little lesson in residential architecture. Here is what happens when you choose the wrong architect:

   And here is hwat you get if you choose the right one .This architect is a personal friend of mine:

That is all!
Bob23

[bmiller]

Happy new year. I was in bed at 2100 and up by 0430. Had to work at Copper Mountain new years day. 29 below zero at the top of the mountain, but at least the wind was blowing.

[brackish]

Anyway, while I was out rowing on New Years Day, I took some photos. Just in case anyone is looking for a "waterfront fixer-upper" here are 3 you could probably have for a song:

Bob, I could work with any of those "waterfront fixer-uppers" except for one problem.  The snow and ice that seems to be in the front yard.  Location, location, location....

Pretty good job of holding the camera steady in that climate.