Tuesday, January 3 - Check in at Riviera Dunes, Bradenton

We waked up to a low house battery again.  The generator wouldn't start so we didn't even get coffee!

Danny called the repair facility that was recommended to see if they could Look at the boat today.  They had been closed since December 23 so couldn't work us in until Wednesday. We left a message with another repair place, then decided to go to a marina, charge the batteries, and go back to the repair facility on Wednesday.  John and Karen had messaged yesterday that they were at Riviera Dunes Marina and thought we would enjoy it, so that's where we headed.

We passed some beautiful houses, a VERY large sailboat marina, and a not so beautiful railroad draw bridge on the way to the marina.

Once again, John and Karen were waiting to take our lines!  It was wonderful to see them again.  And it felt so good to be standing on the side of the boat, ropes ready, as we pulled in.  Bright sunshine, blue water, and lots of boats.  I really could be a marina girl!

The unusual start to our morning interfered with our breakfast, so Danny was ready for lunch!  There is a restaurant on site, Blu Heron Grille, so we talked John and Karen into going there. The prices for lunch were quite high, but they had happy hour appetizers that sounded wonderful and were only $8.00.  That special didn't start until 4:00 but beer happy hour started at 12:00, so we drank a beer and went back to our boat for a snack.

Danny had met Charlie, a yacht broker, at the marina office, and when he saw him walk by our boat, he invited him to join us.  We had a great time getting the scoop on all the boats for sale.  He told us about a boat just down the dock that is identical to ours but with diesel engines and told us he would work out a deal.  His boss at Diamond Yacht Brokers came by so she joined us, too.  She is a telemedicine doctor as well as a yacht broker and was delightful.  We had so much fun taking boats.  After they left, we went to see the boat like ours but were NOT impressed.  Besides, I have moved enough!!!

Since we couldn't get into the boat yard until tomorrow, and would have to pay them to take our boat out of the water to check the propeller, Danny decided to call a diver that could take it off, hopefully saving us money.  One diver had an ear infection, one was going out of town until Tuesday.  We had another drink and decided to make more calls tomorrow!

We went back to the restaurant for lunch/dinner appetizers which were each small meals. I had clams for the first time, Danny's chicken fingers were meal-sized, and Karen and John got three sliders each on their plates.  Much better deal than the regular menu.

This complex is really nice, very protected, with floating docks, two floating HEATED swimming pools, great bath and laundry facilities, two condo buildings, and the pricey restaurant.   We are actually in Palmetto, which is across the river from Bradenton, but towns just run together down here.

Nice view on the way back to the boat!