1/2/2019
Hi All,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
WE’RE BACK!!!! We arrived on Sunday, Dec 30th at 7pmish to pitch black….but no rain and temps in the low 40’s F….not too bad schlepping all the luggage…only 9 bags versus our normal 10!!! But, the storm came overnight and it has stormed the last 3 days…..2-3″ of rain, no snow, a little sleet, winds up to 35kts…..and dark….daylight starts around 8:30am and by 3:30pm it is pretty dark. However, around noon it is lighter than we expected….but geez….dark at 4pm…my body says cocktail time!!!! The storm should end in another day and then 3-5 days of sun….oh boy…but cold….down into the 20’s F…..and maybe some snow in about a week!!! It was so stormy we just made it to the grocery store in full rain gear and that was it….not even the Pioneer bar for NYE (well known fisherman bar in Sitka)….drats!!
The sun is poking through today….feels great….but only about 20* above the horizon…yikes!!!
As usual we packed in a lot for our 9 weeks in the lower 48. We had lots of time with our 4 granddaughters, especially Kennedy and Roxy who live only 15 minutes away….2+ and 4 months….wow did they grow/change just in those 2 months!!! Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are such a joy with small kids!!
Probably the biggest change for us was Kathy’s parents, Mitch and Becky, have moved back to Dallas and are no longer staying in our house. It has been almost 12 years since they had been living there while we went cruising so having the house to ourselves was very different….we sure did miss them and all the jocularity!!! As Kathy says, we spent a lot of underwear money this trip…..rodent proofing the house….it seems being vacant was the call to the pesky critters….rats and termites….yuck!!!! Oh, and 4 new tires for Kathy’s car…350Z….one was flat so I took it into the shop….the mechanic started to fill the tire and it started making all sorts of crinkling noises….say, is that normal, well no….how old are these tires….don’t know….we looked at the date on the tire…ODG…over 15 years old….uh sir, you need new tires….yikes:))))
I got in a day of Rainbow trout fishing and skiing with Dave, our younger son….yep, still skiing at my age….yeehaw!!!!!
We also went to New Orleans/Tulane for another ZN reunion….let the good times roll in NOLA!!! And then we stopped by Dallas to see Mitch and Becky and their new cottage in a retirement community…..and we celebrated Mitch’s 85th birthday….yep, looking good and still going strong!!!
And finally we had a McYoungschall reunion in Sonoma, which is next to Napa….say great wine and food!! This is the 2 other couples we started bareboat charters in the BVI’s where we got this crazy idea to go cruising:))) I’ve known Craig and Darrell since Junior High school….yep, need more fingers/toes to count that high!!
Mystic was in great shape when we arrived. The Kabola heater was working….we kept it set for 55*F and so far we have not seen any mold et al growing anywhere!! The water pumps both primed and all heads are working….LIG for now:))))
The Plan: R&R for a few days and then we both have various small projects to do….like paint the bilges and plan our 2019 cruising itinerary and we have lots of books on the Kindle!!
Hope all is well!!!
John
Mystic Moon
Sitka Alaska
PS: Pictures on the gallery:
Play time off the boat: http://mysticmoonvoyages.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/main-album/Play-Time-Off-the-Boat
Pictures from Homer in 2018….I hope over the next 2-3 weeks to get the rest of 2018 posted….Kenai and Northwestern Fiord, Prince William Sound and Sitka and Glacier Bay….so many pictures so little bandwidth!!!
http://mysticmoonvoyages.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/main-album/Homer-Alaska
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Happy New Year friends. Good to hear your updates and that all is well with the Youngblood clan. Have a safe and enjoyable next few months. Miss ya guys. Rich & Vana