Family Summer 2013

Family gathering July 4, 2013

Canada Day Weekend

Pickin' and a-grinnin' on Saturday night around the campfire.

Fishing on Lake Nipissing.

The south shore of Trout Lake last evening, with a bit of PS play.

Skippy, Doc Bain and da Coach pose by the waterfall at the 7th tee on the Mattawa golf course this past weekend - great fun!

We all had a great time this weekend at the 2nd Annual Reunion Team and Hooters Mattawa Golf Extravaganza and Sillyness Weekend.

Off to Mattawa today for the 2nd Annual Reunion Team and Hooters Mattawa Golf and Sillyness Extravaganza.

An official Jimmy Buffett margarita in Key West's Margaritaville - I prefer my margaritas, though.

This is the view from the Ridge at Manitou Golf Club's dock.  Pretty spectacular golf course - drive by car, boat or float plane.

This Bobby Orr display was at The Ridge at Manitou Golf Club near Parry Sound where my cousin Bruce and I played this week.  I thought the Boston Bruins connection was apropos considering the Bruins play Pittsburgh tonight, and the Bruins are hoping for a 4 game sweep.

Neat looking building located across from the back of City Hall in downtown Stratford, ON.

May long weekend sunset on Trout Lake.

Think I'll go to Mr. Cheapee's and get me some stuff.

 What do you do on a rainy day in Naples, Florida?

Sit and have a "pop" or two and watch the crab boats and their crews.

Although we were not there during this festival, during the first 2 weeks of May in Key West is the Key West Songwriter's Festival (you'll notice in the 1st photo, the sign indicates it's the "Songwriter's" festival - only 1 songwriter?  I think not, grammar error - should be Songwriters', eh?) - this year's festival is the 18th annual.    I'm thinking that would be a great time to return to Key West.

 More life size sculptures in Key West.

 UC is trying hard to look as busy-bushed as the next guy.

 "Now this is more like it!" said UC as he quickly got up to speed.

It's always sad leaving Key West.

 The Green Parrot Bar in Key West. This is my kind of bar, real and anything but upscale.

 Hmmm, choices ...

Lots of ex-pats frequent this place.  I enjoyed it way more than Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville on Duval Street.

I love exterior wall murals.  I find them way more interesting than graffiti "tags" of the "taggers'" names that can be seen everywhere.  This vibrant mural is just off Duval Street in Key West.

Cool Key West car

Shiver me timbers!  Aargh!

This is one mean looking US warship docked at Key West. 

HSV-2 Swift

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Career	United States
Name:	HSV-2 Swift
Ordered:	October 2002
Builder:	Incat, Tasmania, Australia
Yard number:	061
Acquired:	15 August 2003
Refit:	October 2008
Homeport:	Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia
Nickname:	Vomit Comet
Status:	In service; Run by US Navy in Key West Florida to intercept drug smugglers. [1]
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,668 long tons (1,695 t) full 940 long tons (955 t) standard
Length:	321.5 ft (98.0 m)
Beam:	88.6 ft (27.0 m)
Draft:	11.15 ft (3.40 m)
Propulsion:	Caterpillar 3618 marine diesel engines
Speed:	45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) maximum 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) operating
Range:	3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi)
Capacity:	Approximately 605 long tons (615 t) Approximately 28,740 sq ft (2,670 m2) cargo deck
Complement:	17 Contract Mariners; berthing for 107 with additional temporary berthing for 87 when seating is converted
Crew:	35
Armament:	4 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun mounts

HSV-2 Swift is a non-commissioned, hybrid catamaran originally leased by the United States Navy as a mine countermeasures and sea basing test platform. She is now privately owned and operated by Sealift Inc. and chartered to the United States Navy Military Sealift Command. She is primarily used for fleet support and humanitarian partnership missions. The HSV stands for "High Speed Vessel", and its home port is Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel has two CONMAR crews that typically rotate every three months to keep the ship deployed eleven months per year. The minimum crew size is 35; 18 are military with the balance civilian, provided through American Maritime Officers and Seafarers International Union. On rare occasion that she is in a United States port, it is usually Naval Station Mayport, Florida, supporting the Fourth Fleet or Charleston, South Carolina, for major maintenance. Rota, Spain, is considered by the crew to be the "Mediterranean home away from home".^[2]

Sunset at Key West

 Hell yes, we had a beer here!

And here it is.

Even Marilyn was in Key West!

On US1 to Key West.

Naples, Florida

A view from the beach at Naples, Florida.