Second week here

Today is the 6th of December and marks my second weekend in the Paradise(s) of Paradise. I return back to Clyde today..holidays are coming up, you know...so I locked the boat, shut all seacocks and water off , just about all electricty, (have to leave the battery charger on in case of an emergency) and to the airport I go!  It is earlier than I expected, so off I drive to the rental car return first and then take the shuttle to US Air. Damm cars....more of a problem than their worth....lol...just kidding

A Happy and Healthy Christmas and a Prosperous  New Year to all!!


I will be back down and finish posting somtime after the 9th of January 2015!!

Happy Birthday to my sister

December 4TH- My Sister Angela's Birthday.....She turns 6? This year. I called, but she was out, oh well....but I do know she follows this blog.......so,         Happy Birthday Angela, I hope all is well!!

My first week in Key Largo

Well....today has been one week since my arrival. I have done nothing but clean. It has been Sunny and in th 80's each day with night temps dropping down to the 60's. No rain so far and it is getting dry.

Thanksgiving..2014

The boat is here and so am I and it is only the 27th (Three days early). Today is the first major holiday of the 2014 season, and I spent it alone in Key Largo. Although the temps have been in the 80's I have A/C  on in boat and I am nice and cozy. I had always thought that Turkey was the major food of this day. Today I found out differently. There is no one food that makes this holiday, it is whatever you like, and as much of it as you like. So...I ate and ate and Ate seafood giving thanks for having a great family, and all.... Happy Thanksgiving to all !!

Lets GO !!!

Well.....the boat and I arrived in one piece.

Sunday - The 23rd of November already... I took off for Key Largo by plane today. I landed in FLL checked into a hotel and here I sit, waiting for daylight in the morning to make the last 100 miles, by car.

Roy Romer - RIP

The good Lord called our friend and neighbor Roy Romer home....today, and I was called to handle all funeral arrangements.. Roy was the type you could not HELP TO like.....he was a Silverton Owner also, and a good friend to all who had known him. Dolly Romer, who is Roy's wife called Dottie on her cell phone and we both responded. We were already on land, so figured Why Not? Do the funeral as if we were home. and do it, we did....we were home within two days. (11/18/14) We left the RV at Paradise Cove Marina and Camp Ground and took Dottie's car home. The guy who covers me while I am away is John Murphy......so we knew Roy was in good hands. John did all the work and I paid him, and will be leaving for Key Largo on Sunday the 23rd....Meanwhile Capt. John took a day off with a migraine after being hit by lightening and almost losing a prop due to the incompetent work done at Sail Craft Marina in Oriental, NC, however I will say this, he updated us day by day as to his whereabouts and what has been going on with the boat. I paid him today for 10days and told him to run at whatever he thought was fair and reasonable.....he did not charge me for the day he took off, and rested. Well...maybe I should not have paid him, as he cashed the check a few days early and that's when the shit hit the fan. First the prop problem, then the lightening hitting the boat and almost him. Captain John  does not have "People Skills" and he is the first to admit to it. But he is a nice guy and knows what he is doing.

Row, Row Row your Boat

Gently down the waterways we go The Captain and I left on November 09th for the Keys. Today is November 16th,and we should be in Key Largo no later than 11/27. we shall see. The captain and I don't see eye to eye, on a lot of different things and one thing nice about being an owner, you can get off wherever you wish. however, I will do it his way for a while. The first night we anchored out in some strip of water between Oriental and Myrtle Beach....the second night and third night we pulled into marinas. The fourth night was spent in a marina also and dinner was in  a restaurant called Marker 39....a real nice place. Fifth night in a marina and we are no where near there yet. I had some seafood and he ate his usual fare of a steak and potatoes. By the fifth day, he spent the night alone onboard at Brunswick Ga and I got off the boat, because it was boring. I called Dottie and she met us at Brunswick Landing Marina, along with our friends  Craig and Mary Farnsworth. And I mean that I was going crazy with boredom....ICW is nice, but after a while there is only so much to see different and then it is the same....almost like our first trip on the Erie Canal.

Weekends in Sept, and Oct . Where do they go??

We are having a great time with the new RV, apparently Dottie rather be out Rv'ing than boating. So RV'ing has been take our time away
But Thank God the boating sting has lasted with me...I enjoy boating and always will.

Here it is November 17th and I need to go boating...So we are leaving for the boat next weekend and should have it down to the Florida Keys noi later than December 1st.

Where does time go, when you are having fun?

Who knows and who cares!! When looking back at this summer, I can't believe it....Aug, September and October and most of November gone...

But there are two weeks left in November and we will spend them going from Clyde to North Carolina to Key Largo with the RV and boat

Dawn Redden- CNY Boat Detailing

This week I had Dawn Redden come by to wash, compound and wax the motorhome
 The second place we visit will be Watkins Glen KOA campground .

On our way.....

Today is Aug 2nd and both Dottie and I decided that the first place we visit with our motorhome should be River Forest Campground in Weedsport, NY.....so we are there and now everyone we meet wants a motorhome like ours. Why?....I don't know but I am guessing , cause you drive it

Just about the whole month of July 2014...

Has been dedicated to our newest addition, our new to us motorhome.
Pictures of it can be found here. Click for pics.
I told you we would find a place to lay our heads and we did.....in a motorhome. If there is something you don't understand, let me know, and I will explain it all.

Readying a boat for haulout - Not a job everyove loves, but it had to be done!!

I left NY on Tuesday the 10^th of June 2014 stopping off in NYC for dinner with my old friends Jim Parisi and Joe Perotta, then back to the hotel until Wednesday. That next day I drove down to Fredericksburg, VA...spent the night in a nice, quiet hotel and finally rolled into River Dunes at Noon on Friday, killing what was left of day staying cool and at the pool, because it was already 96 degrees. Readying the LF3 for her seasonal haul out is not an easy job for one person....So Dottie flew down Saturday and I picked her up at the airport in Jacksonville, NC  on Saturday night, then we spent Sunday and Monday getting her ready. 

 You see, the hurricane season runs from June 15^th to November 1^st in the south and I really could not justify paying an additional $5000.00 for insurance……so out she came and she will remain on the hard until November 1^st.Sail Craft Marina in Oriental come highly recommended and I know why....excellent service and a very courteous staff!!

 

When you are almost a 1000 miles away from your boat, you tend to worry a bit more than usual.

Upon haul out I gave the mechanic a list of things that needed to be done….most importantly is the tightening on the stuffing boxes and the fuel injector pump which developed a leak over the years. It is quite an expensive part, but, it has to be fixed before we venture down the coast of Florida to our new marina in Key Largo. They have until November 1st to get the jobs done.

I will update you a bit further once the estimates come in

Time well spent...

We arrived at the boat on Tuesday the first of April. Many of you remember me telling you that the weather down here was sucky.....but only for a few days. The weather recently has been great, and so far this week has been just that GREAT!!
We arrived in a sunshine filled day with a temp of 75. The next 6 days have been filled with sun and even warmer temps, hitting the highs at about 86 degrees each day.
You really can't ask for better weather.

We spent the last week traveling either by boat to car to places like Beaufort, Morehead City, Cherry Branch and Cedar Island. We repaired and drank & ate well.

Today we took our truck for a ferry boat ride from Minossott Beach to Cherry Branch and then back to Minossott Beach, NC. and while in Cherry Branch, we drove to Cedar Island and were supposed to board the 1:00PM ferry to Oracoke, however, after looking at the schedule, we decided not to because that would only give us one hour to explore Oracoke until just about 4PM, when the last ferry leaves to go back to Cedar Island. It is a 2.5 hour ride aboard the ferry, so technically we get to Oracoke at 3PM.

Last Thursday, April 3rd, was spent putting a new seawater pump in our a/c system.....the old one just got tired and died.

No matter how you look at what we did....it was a great week.

Next week we will be attending boat shows in Oriental and the on Kent Island, (Annapolis) Md. We should be back in Clyde, NY on Monday the 14th. I am looking forward to both shows, but especially the one here in Oriental because it is under the direction of the local Rotary Club

The Demise of B-Dockers.COM

Today is the last day for B-Dockers.com. I do not have the time or access needed to continue it as it's webmaster.......So today it comes down completely.

If you are searching for either Dockers Restaurant or Oak Park Resort Maina, please do not search through this website. Thank You...

Al  Baris

Continuance of our "Once in a Lifetime Trip"

A lot of folks feel that we have gotten out of boating to enter the realm of RV'ing. NOT TRUE. We are out of Oak Park Marina and B-Dock, but our boating lifestyle will linger on...LOL...We are on our way back down to North Carolina and The Lucky Find III on the 1st of April......from there I will continue keeping everyone informed as we get South enough to say we are at Manatee Bay in the Florida Keys.

For It is TIme...and for every time, there is a season!!

There comes a time in every persons life when they must move on.

 As many of you know, we bought a travel trailer (RV)  that we expected to keep at Oak Park Resort Marina, however, the owner of the marina told us yesterday that the local code enforcement officer had declined his request to have campers at the marina.......so based on that, we will not be coming back to Oak Park Resort Marina this year. we have sold our 34' houseboat and therefore can see no reason to return this year.

Now, as the old saying goes, "everything happens for a reason".......and we feel a bit empty that we have to leave the Oak Park Resort Marina "family", but also it is a  relief to know that there are other campsites and marinas nearby and available that welcome both an RV and a boat and us. In fact it took all of 30 minutes to find a place close enough, with a tight knit atmosphere. Between Lake Ontario and the Erie Canal there are hundreds of other marinas / campgrounds out there

We contracted with River Forest Park Campground and Marina in Weedsport, NY , and we will be using our 21' Center Console boat on the Erie Canal this summer. (Weedsport is about 20 minutes East of Clyde, while Oak Park was 15 minutes to the North of Clyde)

So....in signing out of Oak Park, I want to extend a deep thank you to all our friends , especially those on B-Dock,  and others throughout the marina, and former owners and founders of Oak Park Marina,  Ed & Joanne  and Todd (Michele) Lupo, former owners of Oak Park Resort Marina, Robb (Michele) Lubin and current owners Mike(Jill) Virts,  and their daughters for all they have done to promote boating on Lake Ontario, and to help us become the real boaters we  are. And a special thanks to Ian Phillips, and Tim Hale & Greg Hoose (employees of marina) for their special help when needed.


Thank you all,

Al & Dottie Baris (Former B-Dockers)

I think I Found our Tow Vehicle!!

Today, Saturday the 22nd of March, I took a ride to Lessord Motors in Sodus, NY. Now, Lessord is a Chrysler-Dodge dealer that I have dealt with at least 4 times in the past few years. Spoke to Don Lessord and told him what type of vehicle I needed. Then he turned to Amy Brown, a sales woman working there, and she showed me a few trucks.

One in particular caught my eye.

2011 Dodge RAM Truck Right front view

Left rear quarter-panel

Rear Tailgate view

Right side of truck

Interior- Driver's side

View from behind the wheel

Dashboard view with mileage showing a mere 45K

A 2011 Dodge RAM  1500 S. She gave me a price with taking my Chrysler Sebring in on a trade, and I was home in a few minutes, told Dottie of my find and we both went back to Lessord. After Dottie's approval, I gave AMY the check for payment in full.

So now we own  a 2010 RV and a 2011 Dodge RAM truck to pull it with.

See all pictures of RV and Tow Vehicle HERE

And...Life is Good!!

How to get a refund, without really trying

Well, Today is the 19th of March and me and this travel trailer are not seeing eye to eye....so, I told my story to the salesman who sold us the unit and he immediately refunded my money....every penny of it. No questions asked
And then off to Ballantyne in Victor, NY I went, where I was able to buy a three year newer RV for the same money. You see, they were having a RV Show and Sale beginning the 21st and going through to the 30th of the month. By going two days earlier, I had a better choice.



And... Life is Good!

So now, we own a 2010 Keystone Sprinter Select. Keystone is a better manufacturer and newer model. Everything else is the same, interior size, etc. So now, at least I feel I was not taken advantage of.   However, I still need a tow vehicle.

See pictures of the newest RV, HERE make sure you check out this link also.

Why Should We Buy an RV trailer, ...or as it better known an R.V.?

Well....we have been home since the 23rd of February a few weeks now, and we  just finished getting caught up with paperwork and other pressing matters.

What can we do today?......Went to Karen's for dinner and then we decided we needed a place to rest our heads at Oak Park Resort Marina this coming season.
I put our houseboat on the market this past Saturday along with our Chrysler Sebring, figuring the car will sell first. Well, I was wrong. The boat immediately sold and the car still sits. Now, what to do with the found cash.....Lets buy a Travel Trailer, we can park it Oak Park Resort Marina, and instead of living on the houseboat when we are there, live in the Travel Trailer and we still own our 21' Center Console to  get around Sodus Bay with.

On Monday the 10th of March we took a car ride to Churchville, just South of Rochester, NY  and there she was. I bought it at Camping World of Rochester.

On our website, there is a short story there as why and how much we paid, but now all I know is we own a 2007 Travel Trailer.
We bought it because Dottie fell in love with the name of it...Thor by Dutchmen RV's

So, if you would like to see it go here: See our newest addition by clicking here for the full picture gallery and scoop.

So here is our plans now: River Forest RV Park and Marina when we are up North
The Harbor Club at River Dunes when we are in Oriental, NC (Spring & Fall)  aboard Lucky Find III and best of all
all winter we will at the Manatee Bay Club in Key Largo, FL will be spent in the Florida Keys, also aboard the Lucky Find III

OOPS, I forgot to tell you

We have a manager at this marina who has a friend that is dying of cancer.  He asked me to take care of his funeral when he dies which should be shortly.....I explained what I knew about North Carolina law, after I spoke to a North Carolina funeral director.
I guess I will do it, but I have to remain within the  laws of NC.





UPDATE:

Bruce died on February 4th, 2014....

Secondly....between funerals and weather, we have decided to stay put here in Oriental, NC for a few more months. Earlier today it was 65 degrees and sunny, and although it is 80 degrees and sunny in the Florida keys...we will remain here.

We are flying into Florida for a 10 day much needed vacation in the Florida Keys. Then back to New Bern, NC and Oriental on the 19th. We plan on attending the Miami Boat show which runs from the 13th to the 17th of February. On February 21st ( my 60th B-Day), we leave New Bern for New York. Sometime during the second in April we will resume by leaving NY for Oriental, NC.

Woke up this AM.....and

Damm...sure enough, It is only 12 degrees and there is about an inch of ice and snow. So, I said to Dottie......"Well we have a car, lets drive south and spend a few days just moseying around South Carolina for a while.. We can't go anywhere with the boat because it is just too freaking cold outside.

So off we go to Myrtle Beach, SC for a few days.....where at least they have temps in 30's and 40's......and no snow.

We had a great time and ate like pigs.....you have to remember, just about all restaurants are seafood buffets in Myrtle Beach, and it is served Calabash style. It has been over 40 years since I was there, and as the saying goes, it grew and grew....a lot less golf but a lot more restaurants, stores and malls.
Kind of an urban sprawl that I like!!.

Tonight, which is our last night in SC.
We went to a German Restaurant. The food was great and served home style.
Now I know why German women and men are a bit chunky.....lol....all you can eat, $13.95 per person incudes drinks and dessert.
And entertainment was an older German fellow playing his accordion. We had a great time

North Carolina is bracing for their first real winter in over 20 years.

Forecast for traveling with boat does not look good.....really cold with temps in single digits for the 24th through the 30th. Snow expected on the 28th of January .....maybe a total of 3 inches.....and I thought I had left NY specifically to get away from this.

Three inches, WOW, coming from Rochester, NY to North Carolina, really,  what the heck is 3 inches of snow??. In Rochester area we get storms with like 20,25 and 30 inches and more, but 3 inches.....why all the fuss.
Because NC does not own any plows, at least coastal North Carolina.
And what a difference the right equipment makes.

I went to bed tonight...and still no snow just like hail and stuff which makes roads slippery, but passable.

Another un-eventful flight from NY to NC

Well....OK maybe a bit eventful. Got a call from US Air, the flights I am booked on may be cancelled due to inclement weather in Charlotte, NC  and the type of turbo-props I am booked on., but they rearranged my schedule. Can I be at the airport by 6:00AM.......I said what airport, they said LGA, and they would fly me to LGA tonight if I am willing for free.

I had a wake-up call scheduled for 4AM and then rushed to make it by 6:00 AM to airport. US AIR put me on a flight from LGA to CLT to EWN.

I arrived as scheduled at Noon in New Bern and back on boat by 1:30PM......with a freezing rain and a local forecast of cold and winter weather.

First....Back to NY for me

After being awake half the night, I have decided with the cold and lousy weather to go back to NY for this funeral, and come back on Tuesday the 28th of January.

The flight to NY was uneventful...Dottie drove me to the EWN airport and I was in our door at 7PM. The only glitch I had was that my flight from Charlotte to Philly was an hour late getting in, so they put me right out on a flight to Syracuse instead of Rochester.     More later!!

Well.....here we go again,

I got a phone call last night that a gentleman I know fairly well in Clyde has just passed and we will be handling the funeral. I spoke to his wife tonight on phone and told her we can do calling hours Sunday and funeral Monday.......she agreed.

Picking up Dottie at Airport

Finally.....I will be picking up Dottie tomorrow at the Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern, NC

Well....the 16th is out

Spoke with Dottie this AM and she said she in not flying down until January 17th, because our daughter Natalie is going on a new type of Drug for her MS....It is an infusion called Tysabri so we are not going anywhere for now. or at least not until the 21st or so of January.

Back onboard AGAIN

Yesterday, Saturday,  January 11, 2014, I drove down from NY with the intention that by January 16 we will be underway again and maybe this time get on down far enough where there is no ice, freezing temps or snow....we shall see.