Celebrating the arrival of 2013

 We arrived in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 29th, 2012. We have celebrated New Years in Lauderdale by the Sea before but never by boat so we were pretty excited. We contacted a fellow boater we had met several years ago at a Loopers conference to let him know we would be in the area. To our delight he helped us arrange dockage at his neighbors home. The location was perfect and the price reasonable. We were able to walk and ride our bikes to stores, the downtown area and to the condominium complex where Toms sister and family were staying. This stop was extra special for Tom because his daughter was also with us.

   New Years tradition at Lauderdale By The Sea was dinner with family and friends at the condominium then walk downtown.  The main street of town is blocked off and supports a lively party atmosphere with a live band at each end of the street, lots of food and drink options and a ball drop at midnight. We strolled from one end to the other listening to music and visiting with family and friends until the ball dropped. The best part? No driving involved.

The plan was to stay two weeks. After several "a couple more days" conversations, our fun filled stay lasted a month! Tom loved the daily 2pm Texas Hold em game and I enjoyed relaxing by the pool, and walking the beach everyday. It was fun to watch Tom reacquaint himself with old family friends and we met some really nice new Costa Del Sol friends.
  
Family and friends enjoyed several scenic boat rides down the ICW on Laughter. They really enjoyed the mansions and viewing the beach from the ocean. Our ocean run was quick as the inlet was pretty choppy and made several of our guests uncomfortable. Unfortunately one group also experienced the results of a holding tank pump out gone wrong when we stopped at a local marina. Channel #5 it wasn't! 
We took our toys, paddle board and kayaks to the beach one day. After several hard falls I gave up on the ocean boarding. It seems my balance is no match for the waves. Our inflatable kayaks were a big hit on the beach especially for those more mature and less adventurous( not willing to try to paddle board).  Full of new friends and great memories Tom gave the direction. Start the engines and we headed to the Keys.

                                    This big guy decided to walk down the beach with everyone else

Downtown Fort Lauderdale

The friendly 2pm poker game

On our way to watch the game on the big screen set up in town

                                         The ball drop in downtown Lauderdale by the Sea

                                       Taking a group of family and friends for a ride down the intercostal

                                                        A little kayaking on the ocean