Happy Holiday!  Our travels during the Christmas season have been cloudy and breezy and so different than anything we have ever experienced. Our holidays have always been traditional, this is great, but somewhat strange. We have the company of other Loopers and look forward to seeing them in the new year. Here are some pics that will keep you in our loop.

The Official Looper Burgee (had it sent to Mobile)

Cardinal Chime from gG

Still a Merry, Merry

Bridge to Santa Rosa Beach

Blue Sky and Palm Trees.  Yay!

Miss Hattie, Panama City Muni

The Great Escape

We've finally left the grip of Dog River Marina.  The paint job was completed last Sat, Bob washed the boat on Sunday, it went in the water on Mon, and off we went on Tues - in the fog and drizzle.  The weather forecast was awful for Wed - Sat/Sun, with high winds and waves on the bay, so off into the fog we went - thanks to all the great electronics onboard, it was a piece of cake.  We're now on the ICW and loving it.  Much to see and relatively well protected - we did taste the Gulf seas at a cut where 4-6 ft rollers came into our stb beam - that woke us up!  We'll continue along and probably spend Christmas weekend in Panama City, first on the hook and then in the municipal marina so we can go into town and take care of business - obtaining a Sojourner Permit for the boat.

Middle Light, Mobile Bay

Merry, Merry - and to all a good night!

No, we didn't fall off the looper map, we just had an extended waterless yachting experience.  Actually we did a bit of visiting: First, Lenore's Mom in Montgomery over Thanksgiving;  we also got to see the McKays while there - they were traveling through and we had dinner together. Then we went to "Valparaiso, our home town" (Lenore loves saying that when ever we drive through the town center);  there we spent time with the Hartmans and we had an evening with Rachel, Kris and Kris' Mom, Barb.  On our way back south we stopped at Mammoth Caves - very impressive (but no pics b/c we were too busy staying alive on the 500 stairs!!).  We also visited with Lenore's Mom again - we set up a small Christmas tree in her room and that made her very happy.

Now we're back at Dog River Marina - but on the hard - several days of rain has delayed the completion of our bottom paint job.  BUT, today the crew finished the paint job and we will go back in the water Monday (Dec. 20) - HOOOOOOORay!

Meanwhile, we've kept our rental car and have done a little touring - see the pics of the USS Alabama, a very impressive WWII hardware.  And



we're trying to keep the Christmas spirit - note the tree and the festive head gear.  If all goes well, we'll spend Christmas day on the hook somewhere on the Intracoastal Waterway near Pensacola.

A Little Bit of Christmas

Merry, Merry!!

living on the hard

Lenore and the Big Guns

USS Alabama