Spring Training Baseball - March 9-14, 2017

With a "Land Yacht" now at my disposal, adventures away from the water are more easily accessible.  The first CaptMurph land adventure was shared with Harry from Annapolis.  Although he's an accomplished sailor, Harry is also a rabid baseball fan.  We've shared a number of baseball games together over the years including trips to Pittsburgh and Boston.

Pittsburgh, May 22, 2014

Boston, September 9, 2014

Now based in Florida, it only made sense that we should begin our baseball season early with a round of Spring Training games.

March 9, 2017 - Karen joined us for the first game just a few hours after Harry's plane landed in Orlando.

Karen, Harry at Champion Stadium, NYY vs ATL

Harry let the world know what we were doing  .  .  .

Atlanta Saxophone Quartet by Harry Jones

Harry and I set up the RV in a pretty little site
across the river from Bradenton, FL in Palmetto, FL.

March 10, 2017, before the Pirates' ball game

The Bradenton Police all wear
Pittsburgh Pirates ball caps!

March 10th was the second day of our Spring Training extravaganza. The next five days were all Pirates' or Orioles' games, so it felt like we had some "skin" on these games, unlike the NYY vs ATL.  The kickoff for these "important" games began at the former McKechnie Field, now LECOM Park, Spring Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Harry & Murph at Lecom Park.

We met briefly with Carl, a sailing buddy who has one of the best retirement jobs . . . 

he is a professional cameraman (video and stills) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Carl is using his video camera in the center of this photo

Of course the game was a great experience regardless of the outcome . . . AND the PIRATES WIN!  

Harry's facebook post says it all:

Dinner was at the Bridge Tender Inn, Bradenton Beach, on the ICW.

View from our al fresco table

The sign at the head is correct:  "Women are Always RIGHT!"

March 11 - Today was Pirates vs Orioles, the BIG GAME!

Harry & I resemble this poster!   :-)

Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota was the venue for this game and it proved to be a terrific game with both clubs in it until the O's wrapped it up with a walk-off home run!  Two games in a row ended the same way!

Harry truly enjoyed his team's BIG WIN!

Josef and Murph before the hockey
game.  by Harry Jones

Frank, Harry, Joseph and Murph at Amalie Area

There were numerous fights as the Bolts and Panthers are fierce rivals.

The home team won as the TB Lightning beat the Florida Panthers, 3 to 2.

March 12 - Back to baseball!  Harry and I returned to Bradenton and LECOM Park to watch the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins, 4 to 3.

Pirates Score!

During our walk in downtown Bradenton before dinner, we saw these fish off the pier

March 13 - We followed the Twins to Ed Smith Stadium and the Orioles for our 5th baseball game in as many days.  The O's were successful, beating the Twins handily, 8 to 6.

The teams warm up in Ed Smith Stadium

Harry got this great pic of his O's banners at Ed Smith Stadium.  As a Pirates fan, I couldn't help but notice the AL Champs banner for 1979.  We all know the Pirates won the World Series in 1979, defeating the Baltimore Orioles!

O's Banners on Display at Ed Smith Stadium

March 14 - Our last day of Spring Training Baseball was celebrated at Ed Smith Stadium again, however, this time the O's succumbed to the Tampa Bay Rays, 6 - 9 in a sunny slugfest.  Great fun to watch, even though the Birds came up short.

Harry enjoying sun, beer and baseball

We got another fan to catch a final photo of our enjoyment of Spring baseball while our friends up north were digging out from the blizzard of 2017!

Our final appearance at Ed Smith Stadium!

New-to-me Land AND Water Yachts replace Kelly IV - March 1, 2017

To expand my cruising grounds, a motor home and trailerable sailboat have now replaced my Endeavour 32, Kelly IV.

The end of October brought the Thor 23 Majestic RV aboard and in late February a 1996 Catalina was added.

The total rig extends over 50 feet in length when you include the trailer tongue and boat overhang aft beyond the trailer.

For details about the motor home, Click Here.

The Catalina 250 is now named Irish Rover, reflecting my Irish heritage and love of Ireland, her people and most things Irish.  Rover recalls the plans I have for trailering the boat to a variety of wonderful venues for many new sailing adventures.

There was a lot of work done to convert Irish Rover from a daysailer to a small cruising sailboat I can safely trailer multiple thousands of miles.

I installed a rear camera on the boat's aft rail so I can see behind the boat and trailer while driving and maneuvering on the roads.  In addition, the trailer needed new brakes, rebuilt bunks & guide boards, new ball hitch, new wiring and a full inspection of the bearings to confirm it is ready for a long summer trip.

As the mast must be stepped at every sailing venue, I confirmed that two people can raise and lower the mast unaided.  Two support spars were added to better stabilize the mast and keep it from swaying in the breeze until fully upright.  A mast support that fits the tabernacle was built for use while trailering.

Irish Rover, ready to splash

To make Irish Rover more amenable for living aboard and cruising (even for just a few nights at a time) we:
- Made the water tank easier to fill by adding a siphon pump
- Added a 300W Inverter
- Installed Bimini that can be lowered when trailering
- Installed 12v fans in the V-berth
- Replaced the broken compass
- Corrected a jam cleat improperly located on the rudder
- Mounted the whisker pole on the lifelines for travel on both the highway and water
- Adjusted & marked the wheel center line
- Added a bolt for the emergency tiller
- Provided wing nuts, bolts and lock washers for mast base
- LEDs replaced old lamps for the anchor, steaming, bow and stern lights
- Installed GPS/chartplotter in cockpit
- Added solar panels & MPPT controllers
- Added a second house battery (3 batteries, total)
- Enabled recharging of batteries from engine
- Added new breaker panel with two 12v outlets
- Added 2nd electric cooler/freezer
- Repaired the aft berth steering access
- New, inflatable dinghy and new Torqeedo battery for motor

Gear and features already installed when I bought Irish Rover:
- Water ballast so trailer load is lighter
- 9.9 Honda four-stroke outboard engine
- Wheel steering
- Autopilot
- Main, jib and drifter sails

- Battery monitor
- Electric cooler (NOT a freezer)
- Propane grill
- Butane cooker
- Boat cover

Texas

My former roommate from 1980-82 had crowned his highly successful career with the BSA a National Director at their National Headquarters in Irving, TX.

Bill, Director of Exploring, BSA and I worked together as lowly DEs in the late 70s, but he stuck with the BSA movement and made a great career of it!  Thousands of youth and leaders have Bill to thank for a great experience.  Pics were taken by professional photographer, Roger Morgan.  Thank you, Roger!

After a brief visit with him and his beautiful wife, I enjoyed several days with my Aunt PeeWee in the Houston area.

Even a truck stop can provide a beautiful sunset, Arkansas

Lewiston Lake

Lewiston Lake

By Roger Morgan

By Roger Morgan

Aunt PeeWee baked a wonderful
cake for me, "Welcome 
Capt Murph"

The Murphy Coat of Arms

One of several wild peacocks near Aunt PeeWee's home

Evansville, IN

After Kooser I drove to Ohio for the night, then on to Evansville, IN

Kim and I had a nice breakfast before
I turned the RV towards Texas

Then onward and westward!

Kooser Ski Weekend - February 3-5, 2017

For many years now, Bill has organized a group of gents for a ski weekend at Seven Springs.  We stay in a cabin at Kooser State Park, catch a meal and a beer at the Laurel Mountain Inn on Friday night, Ski at Seven Springs on Saturday and Sunday, with a huge steak cookout at the cabin on Saturday night.  We've always set up a tailgate party on the slopes but this year we added my new-to-me RV to the mix.

February 3 - I arrived at Seven Springs early Friday morning to secure a spot for the RV to host our tailgate parties as we skied on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Bill, some friends and I skied all day Friday so we were ready for the steak dinner at the Laurel Mountain Inn that evening.  More friends joined us that evening and we headed to the slopes the next morning.

February 4 - We piled into a couple cars for the short ride to Seven Springs, used the warm (generator and heater running) RV to put on our ski boots, then we hit the slopes.  Sean took a video with his GoPro mounted on his right ski.

The sun was glorious as the snow was plentiful.  In fact the snow was a pleasant surprise given how warm the weather had been all through January.  When it was time for a lunch break we all collected at the RV for some sandwiches, beverages and snacks.  Sean's facebook post highlights the success of our tailgating.

Sean's jury-rig table.  No on is surprised, as Sean is a sailor among sailors and sailors know how to jury-rig almost anything!

The tailgate party is front and center to the skiing.

Fans and newly-minted friends drop their skiis and join the fun.

This video, below, has another view of the tailgaters.

After some great ski fun we returned to the cabin at Kooser and the steaks hit the grill.  we had steak appetizers, steak salads, and of course, steak entree!  It was certainly a satisfying dinner.

February 5 - We were back on the slopes, but today was a bit cool and cloudy, plus we were working off a huge dinner and legs already beat from two full days of skiing.  We still enjoyed our continuing tailgate party, but wrapped up by mid-afternoon and made our way back to normal(?) society.

The final tailgaters share some adult beverages.

Florida Keys - December 19-22, 2016

Our greeter, an iguana

For our first RV adventure we drove 332 miles to Sunshine Key RV Resort on Ohio Key.
It is immediately east of the well-known Bahia Honda State Park and 39 miles from Key West.

Towing the small kayak trailer was no problem even though we couldn't see the little guy hiding behind the big, boxy coach.  Early and late in the day we could see his shadow or when turning, he'd peek at us around the corner.  He behaved well and we stayed out of trouble.  There was room at the site for us to leave the trailer attached.

Sunrise, December 20, 2016

We captured the sunrise the next morning after walking across the highway so we had nothing but ocean east of us.

US 1 at Ohio-Missouri Channel, east side of Ohio Key

Later that morning we launched the kayaks in the marina and paddled around the northern coast of the island, Ohio Key, until we could see the highway bridge. 

A tropical downpour kept us inside the motorhome early in the afternoon so we enjoyed our books until dinner time.  The resort hosted everyone for a free concert performed by Redhead Express, a touring troupe of redheaded sisters.  Their played and sang quite well for a fun and entertaining evening.

The next day was our chance to be tourists in Key West.  The pictures below tell the story.  Our drive back on the 22nd was, thankfully, uneventful.

The southernmost USA city

Karen's obligatory pic

Murph's Obligatory pic

Duval Street eatery

Rooster's cock walk

Hemmingway's hangout

Mallory Square sunset

The sailboats off Mallory Square

A schooner

Another sunset schooner

Shakedown Cruise: New-to-Us RV - November 10-12, 2016

Tampa, FL

Our "new-to-us" motorhome, a Thor Majestic 23A

Karen and I took our new-to-us motorhome and drove to a campground outside of Tampa as a "shakedown" cruise.  Actually, that's what we called it on board a boat, but I don't know the term for RV's.  We heard there was a small RV show at the Tampa Fairgrounds so we went there for a couple hours, but mostly we just tested the systems by plugging in at the campground and using everything on board the motor coach.

Happy Birthday, Karen!

To celebrate Karen's birthday, we enjoyed a dinner and show at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa's historic Ybor City.  The Flamenco Dancers were excellent and amazing to watch.

Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City

Below is a tour of the new-to-us RV.

Dining and cab

Galley

Freezer and Fridge

Master cabin

Dining

Bath sink

Shower & toilet

Wires and hoses plugged in

Lots of stowage below

Aft view