New adventure for McCurry family!!

Ready to kayak & paddle board!

   We have been researching for awhile about getting the kids a kayak (inflatable?) to play in the waters where we are docked/anchored at.  We had a lot of fun at Ft Myers beach with friends' kayaks, and we were hooked.  Now to find something we can easily carry on our boat with us. David thought an inflatable paddle board was ideal, but the kids were still thinking kayak.  So, we decided to try them both out.  Last Saturday, we had a wonderful adventure at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park with Jim & Paula from Walk on Water instructing us and allowing us to try their various toys.  After trying out inflatable kayaks and paddle boards, the vote was unanimous - a Hula inflatable paddle board!  The boys are thrilled!

Paddle boarding together

Learning to paddle board

Inflatable kayak

Boat chores

Thomas & Marty check the bottom of our boat for debris.

   Boating life is fun!  Awesome! Exciting!  But as with everything in life, it comes with some work to keep everything in good working order.  The past week, we have spent on some boat chores.  Jill is our resident boat waxer (while we are traveling).  This week, the boat got a really good washing, then 3 days of waxing (& it is only 3/4 done!).  The bow & sides get the worst of the sun and salt (which damages gel coat), so they get the first treatment.  The stern and upper deck will be next.  Being in salt water requires more work on the outside of the boat.  

   We have the bottom professional cleaned periodically, but in the New River, lots of debris travels through the waters.  We had a little problem with our a/c intake clogging, so a neighbor agreed to dive under the boat to check the intake.  Thomas begged to get in the water with her (with his fins, mask & snorkel).  So, he spent Friday afternoon diving in the river with her checking our bottom, our neighbor's bottom, and helping her clean the bottom of her boat!  He was so excited.  In July, he will get scuba certified so he can dive with oxygen and not have to hold his breath! (see pics)

Thomas & Marty check our neighbor's catamaran's bottom.

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor

   Some readers may not know, but Jill grew up in Ft Lauderdale.  It has been nice to be able to show the kids where she lived and went to school and things she remembers doing.  Today, Mom took the kids to the ice cream shop she loved going to as a child.  The food was good and the ice cream (homemade) was great, and large portions.

Checking out the candy area.

Ice cream for everyone!

Jill's childhood home in Tamarac.

Cousins visit

    Our cousins from West Palm Beach area came to visit today.  After a fierce thunderstorm and rain, we cruised over to the Pirate Restaurant for lunch and swim.  The kids had a great time.  Thomas & David gave the younger kids a ride in the dinghy.

Cruising the New River by dinghy

David & Thomas driving past Lauderdale Marine Center

    After David worked hard all week, and the kids finished up school for the year, we decided it was time to explore the river we have been sitting on (& sat on for 2 months in 2009).  So we put the motor on the dinghy (10' Walker Bay with Torqueedo motor), and cruised up the New River.  We passed a lot of homes (some simple, some luxurious) and many boats/yachts docked along the walls the river and its many tributaries.  As we approached the I-95 bridge, we started seeing the marinas where (mega) yachts go for repairs, maintenance, and storage.  It was a beautiful trip.  We then finished the day by having dinner (& the kids got to swim) at the Pirate Republic Bar.

Mom & Matthew relaxing on boat ride (as we pass mega yachts!)

Matthew enjoys checking out many yachts on the River

Airplane turned into floating "houseboat"

Field trip: Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens, Dania

      As the kids wrap up their final day of school, we drove out to Dania to Flamingo Gardens to enjoy this beautiful 40-year old wildlife sanctuary.  We saw beautiful gardens with plants from all over the world, various birds, as well as alligators, turtles, possum, snakes, and basilic lizards.  The tram ride through the property, originally owned by the Wray family, was very interesting.  (more pictures on Homeschool page)

Thomas checks out White Ibis

Matthew touches Florida King Snake

Travels, friends, and back home

Thomas: water taxi driver

    SO sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  The boys & mom drove back to Lenoir City for 10 days to visit with friends and say goodbye to international ones.  Some highlights:

• Kids & mom visited Florida Natural History Museum (see Homeschool page)
• Thomas graduated from 8th grade and received the Advanced Band award.  He got to spend time with his friends (teenagers!).
• Matthew went to his old class and got his yearbook & said good-bye to teacher & friends
• Mom got  to visit with her friends.
• We enjoyed Rockin' the Docks in Lenoir City with friends - Matthew swam, gave friends rides on the peddle boat, and got a jet ski ride from his brother.  Our friends from Germany enjoyed the beautiful day on the lake boating as well.  Thomas drove guests back & forth from our friend's anchored boat to/from land. (see pic)  Fireworks put a nice finishing touch to the evening.   
• Mom & boys (+ friend) spent a wonderful day at Dollywood Splash Country
• We said goodbye to our friend (& her mother who came to visit) who was a foreign exchange student from Germany at our local high school - she will be missed by many!
• On the drive back to the boat, we stopped by Asheville to visit with Nana, then in Jacksonville to visit with some boating friends from Ft Loudon Marina.
• Dad went out of town to work, then spent a nice quiet week on the boat by himself.

We are all now back in Ft Lauderdale.  we look forward to getting some chores done on the boat, enjoying the local sights & sounds, and seeing friends and family in the area.