Our new boat

Yesterday we drove down to Fort Myers with my number one grandson to pick up our new (to us) pocket cruiser, a 17 foot Sovereign. It needs a paint job. The previous owner had already sanded it down so she looks a little scruffy but otherwise seems to be in great shape with lots of extras. We wanted a stable, sturdy little cruiser that we could use around here on the lakes or take over to Tampa Bay for a weekend and I think this will do great.

The trip home was one of our more interesting trips. We didn't want to get on 75 because it was a new trailer to us so we ended up taking a bunch of lonely roads homes. Driving through Fort Myers looking for a restaurant to have dinner my grandson, who was driving the truck with the boat, pulled into some fancy yacht club entrance because he wanted to have a conference about dinner. I was waiting for people to come running out screaming about our little scruffy boat in their parking lot. They didn't and we proceeded on down the road and found a wonderful Thai sushi restaurant which made number one grandson very happy.

So on toward home we go looking for a gas station for gas and to put a little in one of the trailer tires. We kept passing them. Then one of the trailer lights (which weren't working) started dangling so we called him and he apparently thought we were saying something about turning right so he did and did and did, did a complete square until we were back on 41. So another phone call and he turned right again. This road led to a cemetery where we taped the light up, turned around and once again proceeded still looking for a gas station.

We finally found one and by that time I was driving the van and my daughter was riding with her son who apparently can get lost in a bathtub. After driving around for about 45 minutes we finally arrived at US 17. Finally a road I recognized. At last I had some hope we were going to find our way home.

About an hour later we noticed a tie down strap was dangling, the excess part, so another phone call and this time he pulled into a mobile home park. Lovely. Ten o'clock at night. Doors started opening, people peering out. Fixed that. Then about two miles from home we noticed one of the trailer tires was smoking. Oh, boy. Another stop, this time at a thankfully deserted boat ramp. Waited for the tire to cool down and then the final dash home.

I love my number one grandson. He spent his day off with us doing a bunch of stuff and didn't grumble. He can do a lot of things, very handy young man, but he can't back up a trailer. After 15 minutes it was finally in the driveway and we were all exhausted.

I did notice that our scruffy looking pocket attracted attention whenever we stopped, lots of smiles and, "Nice boat." We may start a riot once we get it painted. So now we continue our adventures.

New boat

Today we bought a 17 foot pocket cruiser, Sovereign 17. It is in Fort Myers so we have to work out schedules on picking it up. Can't wait to get back on the water