Carter very often says "Safety First". It's been raining so much lately making it difficult getting up and down the hill to the boat without slipping/sliding in the mud. Well, not anymore. Check out the steps he built.
We both decided that the single slat steps, as they were, was an accident waiting to happen so Carter added a 2nd slat to the steps and a ramp at the top to finish out the project. We are both very happy with the steps as they are now. It has also been decided that we will build a full size deck the entire width of the poles we had pounded in last season and take it 13' over to the property which will keep it entirely out of the water even in the extremely high tides we've been experiencing. We will build a handrail for the steps when the deck is complete as we may have to adjust their final position when the deck comes into play.
With all the traveling back and forth to Tennessee, Merritt Island, Virginia, and Crystal River, this season has taken it's time getting started. And now, it's also getting real close to February 1st, which is when I have to go back to Tennessee for election work. But, Carter has been vigilant about getting his supplies ordered and delivered. Also, he has begun to work on getting the Conex ready to be loaded. The plan is to unload everything from the Studio Trailer into the Conex and sell the trailer.
Carter found a really good deal on insulation for the Conex across the state in Crystal River and ran over with the truck to pick it up while I was gone to Virginia visiting the grands. So he has been in full swing installing it for the past couple days upon my return.
In the middle of all of this, it has been raining ... a lot ... so the property is drenched and very difficult to navigate, especially the little hill that we come down to get to the waterfront. So after Carter himself slipped dramatically, he decided it was time to build some steps ... for the safety of both of us. I love it.
We left Tennessee a couple days after Thanksgiving in a hurry to arrive to the boat and immediately leave for a rondeaux in Merritt Island with Bob to pick up the solar panels. We arrived and immediately rented a U-Haul trailer to haul the pallet to Bonita Drive. All went well with the pick up and then the unloading of the pallet into our new Conex. Carter had come down here about 1 1/2 months ago and purchased a 20' Conex. The delivery truck couldn't get it placed too far back into our property so Carter rolled it Egyptian style into place with 2 wenches. It worked great.
So onward to Merritt Island to pick up the pallet of solar panels.
As soon as we unloaded this, we went to return the rental trailer, and on the way back to the property, the truck decided to break down. We called triple A and got towed back to the property, leaving us with no ground transportation at all. So, we untied the Arc and headed for Palatka. Ha! There is always a solution. The first night we anchored out at Mason Creek. The next morning Carter pressure washed the top deck which is one of the first matters of business upon our return for the season. Later that day we continued on to Palatka and anchored at the SE side of Palatka Bridge which is within walking distance of the auto parts store and CVS pharmacy so I could pick up my meds.
The winter season is over and we have completed all of the projects we started. Didn't get to all the projects that we would have liked to but...we are getting older and more tired.
Carter did complete the culverts for the driveway and they look good.
Jeff, Stacy and boys flew down for a quick visit so we took them for a short cruise over to Deep Creek. They also rented a house in St. Augustine so Carter and I went over to spend the day with them at the beach. It was all good. They also took my car and drove over to Pensacola to visit with Jeff's Marine buddy and family.
