We've all heard the name Apalachicola Florida but have any of us ever been there? It's a little town in the panhandle somewhere near Panama City that's famous for oysters I think. I looked at it on Google Earth and it's not really much of a town at all as far as I could see. I've wanted to go there but it's one of those "you can't get there from here" places off the track to any other place. It looks the same as it did a hundred years ago. That may be why Judy moved there.

Well I now know someone who lives there. Judy Blue Eyes really did move from Charleston to this little place and says that she loves it. She didn't know a soul there but figured it was time to make a change so she did. I'm not sure if she'd ever even been there. She's probably the most adventurous person I know. They had a boat show and she put the prettiest little melonseed you ever saw in it. "Freedom" is the Barto 13 that was built for Judy by master ship builder Mark Bayne and modified by me. It's a lot easier to sail in shallow water if you have a centerboard instead of a dagger board and gaff sails are much prettier than sprit sails. Don't give me that "eye of the beholder" crap, you know I'm right. Mark really is a master builder, he was the lead on building the Schooner "Spirit of South Carolina" for Charleston.

She said that Helen and I could come for a visit and stay in her guest bedroom. We'll take her up on that some day.

A reminder that Cedar Key is this coming weekend. I've already told you all about the happenings except for a couple of changes. The big welcome dinner they have on Friday up on the hill at the community center will be on Saturday this year and the beach cook out that the Trailer Sailors have done in the past is not happening at all. The forecast for this weekend is absolutely perfect; no rain, light winds, temp 80. Talk about a perfect Chamber weekend. I'll forward this to the Chamber so they know we're coming but they'll still be surprised that all of the rooms are booked up.

Just when you thought we were finished with the foam kayaks here comes another one. Josh just had to go and open the can of worms up again. This one is 12 feet long and weights 13 pounds. He had to try it out before it was really finished, he left it's cloths off so when he does cover it with something it'll be a little heaver. He says that he has three more cut out and ready to glue up.

Kevin Lott finished his Cortez Melonseed #14 just in time for Cedar Key. I've never seen a black boat with a black sail so it'll be fun. My poor Laylah boat will be looking a little ragged next to this one. I do have a new sail but it wouldn't hurt to refinish the whole thing.

Some of you know that back in the old days I was a hard working marine biologist of sorts and here's a picture to prove it; see, clip board, breathing tube thingy and mask for looking under water. My assistant in this case is typical of all up and coming marine biologists these days; they are eager young women who are really dedicated to the job. I always just thought it was fun to float around and look at the fish. I think Robin, Ernie and I were the last three men doing this sort of thing, the girls have taken over.

Oh no, I'm sorry but here's another foam kayak. Lance slipped this one in. His orange Tropic Anna boat came out so good that the whole family wants to trade their heavies in for these.

I need a custom steering wheel for my new custom boat so Howard made this one for me. He took a giant hunk of cherry and turned it into this. I wanted the rim to be extra fat so my arthritic hands could hold it easily. He isn't doing the finishing work and neither am I. Steve won't let either one of us touch the finish on some of Howard's works of art so he takes over. He's right, neither one of us is worth a dam at the really fancy detailed finish stuff.