July News

We got to visit all our children at Panama City.

Snacks at Little Village at St. Andrews Marina with Amanda, Chuck, Madison, Katelynn, and Annamarie

All the Gibbons, children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren
and one dog

Chow down in the new Event Barn at Steve's

No day is complete without ICECREAM!

Steve and our daughter Laura

All the grand kids and Mom

All the great grandchildren

We were able to drive to Panama City for the 4th of July festivities.  Gary's brother Steve had the big Gibbons family 4th at his ranch.  He and his wife Sabrina have build a event barn and we were one of the first tryouts.  The children had a great time eating, swimming, and riding four wheelers.

Low boil fun with Steve, Keith and Amanda

Mom, sons, and grandchildren

Cousins and great grandchildren

Daughter Amanda, Gary and Mom

Gary and daughter Laura

Keith's girls 4 wheeling

After much pain and suffering the decks are done.  We have still much boat work to do to get Miss Em back up to cruising, but it is mostly cosmetic and the regular maintenance that is done like waxing, checking systems.  Gary got me a new electric bike and we have had several great rides.  I hate to admit it but he still goes extra miles while I have to wait for him.

Jan ready to go for a ride on her new EZ Pedaler

We had a great 4th of July in Panama City with our family.  We got to see Fireworks at my son Brain's house with my son Shawn, his wife Carrie and all their children: Landon, Jaxon, Emma, Jillian.

Great seats for the fireworks, Shawn

Brian and Jillian

Capt. feeling good

Brian and Emma

Chillin on the 4th

You have to have sparklers! Go Carrie go!

These faces are ready for cherry bombs!

Arrival of new decks

As the trucks and crew from Maritime arrived Gary and I moved into crew support.  I also had to clean all the stainless fittings to be reembedded later.  Gary had so many jobs I can't even list them all.  

Back side of the new panels

Maritime has their own products of sealant and epoxy

Deck arrival!
Here is Freddie when the big truck brought the new decks!  Ureka! The end is in sight!

Some of the fine front joinery work 

Fitted and read to be bedded down

Beginning of the caulk process on coach

Chris adding caulk to a tricky panel

The new decks have arrived and are being installed!  The rain has been a big factor in when the crew can work, but we have had enough days to really get further along.  I hope all will be done by the end of June.  Hard to believe we started at the beginning of May to deconstruct.  We have moved 3 times to get the best working area.

Coach panels arrive!

Maritime crew installing

Freddie keeping things straight

Fitted and ready

Epoxied down and weighted

We really want to thank the Maritime crew and all the neighbors at Harbortown Marina.  We are the talk of the walk, that 's for sure!

new decks

Pattern Day

We have waited 6 years to replace our teak decks on Miss Em. I knew it would be a invasive, time consuming project. I didn't realize that we would have to rip up so much of the inside to get at the few cleats we would have to move.  Living through deconstruction is much more difficult than my wildest dreams (nightmares).  The way Gary and I get through these times is to work hard and laugh hard.  I offer up our agony.

the black tarry stuff under the old teak

the white tape covers over a thousand screw holes

Gary removed all the screws and sanded the black stuff off.  Then he countersunk the holes and filled them with epoxy.  Then he removed all the embedded teak panels on the cabin roof and filled the channels up with epoxy.

epoxied  screw holes

cabin panel dug out 

panels out epoxy done

I had a few projects also.  Our toe rail was due to be taken down to raw wood and varnished.  Last professionals took a month and I won't share the price.  So I worked around Gary and the weather.

Now the real fun started inside our living quarters.   This is when most women jump ship.  I know because I was ready.  Unfortunely, I didn't get any good offers.  And someone had to watch Gary.

Gary was in the kitchen!

Arrrgh! 

Gary was here!

Gary was here a lot!

Tomorrow  Maritime Wood products will arrive to start putting on the new teak.  KEEP YOUR HOPES UP AS WE WILL!

Ft. Pierce down time

Even on a windy day locals find a lot to do.  The beach has a beautiful walkway to the end of the jeddies. 

Wind surfers were fun to watch

Colorful kites!

Kids having fun

Manatees swimming

Great Mural of Ft. Pierce History

The great peacock Debate

Peacocks have been prolific in Downton Ft. Pierce as a flock of 20 run around in and out of traffic.  There is even a peacock crossing sign.

Strutting his stuff

We tried to enjoy some of the places that are so fun here at Ft. Pierce.  Beautiful beaches and historic homes are the perks of being here.  There are lots of great art and murels on the older buildings,

Father's Day at Manatee Beach Bar

Beautiful view of Ft. Pierce Inlet