We are finally back on board Big Smile. Drove over from VT late last week and spent a couple of days unpacking and cleaning up from a winter of storage. We are sitting at the dock in Portland, Maine waiting for numerous items to be completed by the marina staff. It’s been a long time since we dropped her off at Maine Yacht Center and we are both anxious to get underway. However, it will take about a week for the marina techs to finish all of the maintenance and upgrade items.

It was a good winter albeit lacking in snow. We kept busy and had numerous friends and relatives up for holidays and simply to enjoy Vermont.

I will try to recap the last few months as they were extremely enjoyable. Photos will do it best.

Thanksgiving was spent at my cousin Nancy’s beautiful home in CT.

Christmas was a wonderful repeat of last year except without the snow. Cath’s two brothers arrived with their families. Last year we hiked in the cold and snow. This year; well as the pics below show it was neither snowy nor cold. In fact it was in the 70’s on Christmas day.

New Years was again spent at The Landgrove Inn. The owner Tom, and his awesome staff, including our fav Karl made the event special.

Jim and Robin made it north.

As did Rob and Nancy

And Andrew and Taylor

Cath and Deb

A day at the office

Cath with her Green Mountain Ladies (photo by H. Schreibl)

Chili cook-off day in Middlebury

In February we escaped to Miami for the big boat show

In March we escaped again over to Portland for a weekend of good food and music. Very coincidently our hotel was hosting a visit by Donald Trump on the morning we checked out.

In early April, to end the winter that really wasn’t, we made a two week road trip to Charleston, SC. Our travels south took us first

To New York

Then DC to visit Andrew and see his new apartment.

To Morgantown WV to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Below is the New River Gorge bridge.

To Asheville, NC

To a beautiful wedding in Charleston.

And a few additional VT photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now we are in Maine at the Maine Yacht Center