Cruising on Omega: GOOSE POND ACTIVITIES

It will soon be time for us to leave Goose Pond and start the cruise back home to Summerland Key. We have had a wonderful three months here and have mixed emotions about leaving. Had hoped to get a covered slip and leave OMEGA for the winter so we could enjoy another summer and early fall here in 2012, but that evidently wasn't meant to be. So on October 19, we will say farewell to our good friends here and head downstream.

Following are photos to give you an overview of some of our activities since our last update in August.

We took on a canvas sewing project for our friends Don and Connie Rounsavall...making taft curtains and frame for the aft deck of their yacht. In exchange, they let us use their truck during our stay, which enabled us to do lots of things we couldn't do otherwise.

BILL INSTALLING TAFT CURTAIN ON DON & CONNIE'S YACHT

THE FINISHED TAFT CURTAIN PROJECT

OUR FRIENDS, ED and SARA, GOING OUT FOR A CRUISE

Ed and Sara Dennerline arrived in late August from their home in Cape Coral, FL. They keep their houseboat here at Goose Pond. We have enjoyed their company; they introduced us to several new out-of-the-way great places to eat including Barry's Barbeque, which is behind a farmhouse out in the country. Wonderful all-you-can-eat buffet including catfish, fried chicken, barbequed pork, lots of veggies, and three kinds of homemade ice cream! They have a run-about boat here,and they have taken us to several places on the river to eat.

CAPTAIN BILL RECOVERING FROM SURGERY ON HIS NOSE

On Sept. 1st, Captain Bill had corrective surgery done on his nose in Huntsville. Believe it or not, he did take a few days off to let it heal.

It wasn't long before we were out and about again. Our good friends, Ray and Patsy Whitney, who had been away for two months on an RV trip to western Canada, returned home and invited us to attend the Oldtimers' Festival in Rosalie, AL with them.

CHARLOTTE WITH RAY AND PATSY WHITNEY

LOCAL BLUEGRASS GROUP ENTERTAINED

LOCAL MAN DANCING

A SAMPLE OF CRAFTS FOR SALE

ANNUAL TRIATHALON AT GOOSE POND

Sept. 10...It had turned pretty cool during the week before the Triathalon, and the temperature was in the high 50's the morning of the event when the swimmers dove into the water for their swim. Brrh! I'm sure the water was cold! It is fun to watch as they come out of the water and head for their bikes.

SWIMMERS CHECKING THEIR TIME AS THEY FINISH THEIR SWIM

Sept. 24 - Daughter Diane and hubby Lee came up from Montgomery for the weekend. Ed and Sara took the four of us down river to South Sauty Creek in their runabout to a little cafe for lunch.

ED AND SARA DENNERLINE WITH BILL AND CHAR

LEE, DIANE, CHAR AND BILL

That evening friends Ray and Patsy Whitney hosted a great Welcome Home/Loop Completion party at the marina pavilion for Ron and Jan Baysden (Jolly Tolly). Ron and Jan left Goose Pond, their home port, last October and completed their 7,000 cruise. Everyone enjoyed welcoming them home.

PATSY SERVING HONOREES JAN AND RON AT
THEIR WELCOME HOME PARTY

CAPTAIN RON AND FIRST MATE JAN

DIANE, LEE, BILL, CHARLOTTE, ED AND SARA

After dinner, we went to a Casino Night on Dock 3 hosted by the Goose Pond Boatowners' Association. Games included roulette, blackjack, poker, and human slots; the latter was hysterical! Every person received $3000 in chips upon arrival. At the end of the event, an auction was held and you could bid on prizes with your remaining chips.

LEE AND DIANE AT CASINO NIGHT

BLACKJACK DEALER MARGIE WITH PLAYERS RAY,SARA,CHARLOTTE AND ED

JACK RUNNING ROULETTE TABLE; DIANE AND HUBBY LEE ON LEFT.

HUMAN SLOTS - NO MATCHING FRUITS, HOUSE WINS!

THREE MATCHES - PLAYERS HIT THE JACKPOT!

TRIPLE THEIR $$$$!

SLOT MACHINE GIRLS SCREAM AND DANCE

WHEN YOU HIT THE JACKPOT!

Charlotte and Diane had $12,500 when the auction began. Charlotte was able to purchase a $15 gift certificate to Mimi's Cafe in Grant, AL with her $12,500. It was a hoot!!

Our friends, Lee and Lynn Hornack from St. Joe, Michigan, came to visit on Oct. 3rd. We had a great four days together with perfectly beautiful weather.

LEE AND LYNN JOIN US FOR GREAT CATFISH DINNER

LYNN AND LEE CRUISING DOWN THE TENN RIVER

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET FROM GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK LODGE

BILL AND CHAR AT GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK LODGE

CAPT. LEE AND CAPT. BILL IN THE PILOTHOUSE

On October 10th, we welcomed friends Ed and Nancy Ranquist from Michiana Shores, IN. Ed and Nancy have a second home across the street from us on Summerland Key. Their visit was too short, but we made the most of it!

NANCY AND ED CRUISING DOWNSTREAM TO GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK

NANCY, BILL AND ED AT STATE PARK LODGE

LOOKING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO

WHERE OMEGA IS DOCKED

ENTIRE MOUNTAIN DENUDED AND CAMPGROUNDS

DESTROYED BY APRIL 27TH TORNADOES

BEAUTIFUL GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK LODGE

SUN RAYS PEEKING THRU THE CLOUDS

ED AND NANCY ENJOYING CRUISE

CAPT. BILL AT THE HELM

The folks here on our Dock (2) have been so welcoming to us, and we have enjoyed getting to know them. They have regular gatherings, especially on weekends; lots of laughs are exchanged.