Saturday, February 6th to Sunday, February 28th, 2016
We spend the first couple of weeks of February at the Green Turtle Club on the Bahamas’ Green Turtle Cay preparing for Silver Maple’s haul-out scheduled for February 8th. Lots of work to do like taking down and folding the sail (jib), waxing, oil changes and cleaning. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t cooperate much and we are fighting high winds to get things done. Thankfully, on Monday, February 8th, the sun is out and the winds have died down. It is the perfect day for pulling Silver Maple out of the water and ‘putting her on the hard’ for the season.
Dinner at the Green Turtle Club restaurant after a day of working on the boat.
Our favourite hostess at the Green Turtle Club restaurant. She remembers us every year and seats us at the same table. We are regulars!
Getting ready for haul-out.
Lifting Silver Maple out of the water at Abaco Yacht Services on Green Turtle Cay.
Cleaning and moving Silver Maple to her storage place.
When the boat is settled in the storage yard, we move into our usual apartment for three nights in New Plymouth while we finish up getting her ready for storage. All goes well and we are finished all the storage prep work with a day to spare.
View of sunrise from our apartment in the town of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay.
Captain coming out for the last time this season.
Silver Maple is put to bed for this year.
On February 11th, we fly home with an over night lay-over in Chicago. When we get home it is really cold, but it is still nice to be back.
Home sweet home!
The lake is well frozen now.
What?!! Okay, that is cold!
It doesn’t take much of the cold Canadian winter to move us on to our next adventure. We hit the road after two days at home and start on our five day drive to Scottsdale, Arizona. We stop along the way to break up the trip for a visit with our friends, Stacia, Paul and their kids, Celia and Andrew in Ann Arbor, and then again for a few days skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. Jackson and his girlfriend, Laura, fly down and join us. We have perfect skiing weather — sunny and not too cold.
Laura, Jackson and Lee on hill in Breckenridge, CO.
Out for Mexican food in Breckenridge with Laura and Jackson.
Driving in New Mexico…nice!
When we arrive in Scottsdale on February 24th it is 80 degrees F and lovely. Good to be back and we are still recovering from all the travel with lots of down time at the pool.
Recuperating by the pool in Scottsdale. Good to be back in warm weather. It is 80 degrees F. today.
That wraps up the blogging for this season. Have a great year everyone! Cheers!
With love — Lee and Randy
Silver Maple Blog 
March 1, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for the photos. You both are looking so well. Raining like crazy here today and it looks like it’s with us for a couple of days. Hiking this week could be problem. Keep the photos coming.. love them. Hugs. Mom