Another Monday (5/4/15)

It's been a rough week.  Andrew and I both came down with some kind of stomach flu and were sick most of the week.  I had been thinking I wouldn't do a daily blog since we aren't traveling -- I don't need it to be a diary of our day -- so I thought maybe I would just do highlights now and then.  But there weren't many highlights last week.  After another (mis)diagnosis of an ear infection at urgent care, John got Andrew in to a new pediatrician on Friday (he couldn't get in to see his regular pediatrician, so now they have changed), they diagnosed him with the stomach flu.  He had a fever of 104 when he got in so the doctor took him serious.  He had vomited that morning.  Mine worked the opposite -- I had low fever and diarrhea.  But I think finally by Sunday we had both kicked it.

So Sunday we got to go out in their new pontoon boat.  That was a fun day.  We started getting ready to go about 8:00, it was a beautiful day, and the boat was wonderful, very roomy.

I think Joe and I had only been on one pontoon boat before, and we were really impressed with how roomy theirs is, how easy it is to move around, and how much more maneuverable it is.  When we are stopped, Shooter has plenty of room to play with his toys (lawn mower, water table, etc.).

 And of course he has to help Captain Dad drive every once in a while.

We went out to Davis Island and lauched into Tampa Bay where we fished for a little while (John caught a mackerel), but then headed up Hillsborough River, past the harbor where the big ships and cruise ships come in, to a water park right across the river from the beautiful University of Tampa (UT) campus where Professor Bridgette spends her work day.

University of Tampa Campus

Shooter loves the splash park here, and they have a dock where you can tie up your boat and walk right over.  There was some kind of event going on, but we just stayed by the splash park, where he was a regular fashion model in his fish suit.

We loaded back into the boat and sat there and ate our lunch before heading on upriver.

Eventually, we turned around and headed back to some mangrove trees at water's edge, which looked like possible fishing hideouts.  We didn't have our lines in the water very long before Joe hooked the first fish -- a catfish!  All the way from Arizona to Florida to catch catfish!!!!

Then I hooked one.  Andrew had been napping but all that excitement woke him up, and he was equally excited to see the fish coming in.  He even touched it (unlike his Arizona "girly-girly" cousin Kaylee who is always reluctant to touch the fish).

Then Joe caught another one.  Shooter liked playing with the shrimp (bait), and he would put them in his water table, but then he would throw them over the side -- chumming for his Grandpa, I think.  Joe finally hooked a different breed, a white croaker, and he put it in the water table, but when it jumped a little, it scared Shooter, so it went back in the water too.

Bridgette played with a needlefish for a while but didn't get it in the boat, and I hooked a large blue crab, but again, didn't get it in the boat (which was fine with me!).  We finally had to quit and head back to the boat ramp, but enroute we had an interesting encounter.  A huge tanker ship was coming into the port, and the Coast Guard  was stopping all boaters to allow a 500 yard safety zone around the tanker, which essentially closed the boating channel until it got turned into the port.  It probably took 30-45 minutes for it to move out of the channel.

We finally got the boat loaded, made the 30-minute drive back home, stopping off at a car wash to hose off the truck and boat, and unloaded everything.  We were all exhausted, so John and I ran out to pick up dinner.  Their neighbors walked over for a visit, so we got acquainted with them, but finally got to bed shortly after 9:00.  Exhausted.

Sunday was a nice end to a week that wasn't very.  Nice, that is.  With Joe trying to baby his foot, and me and Shooter being sick, we all just got through the days.  Joe and I certainly haven't set the world on fire here, but so far they are putting up with us.  Maybe we can earn our keep this week.  Joe is working on that faucet this morning, so maybe he can get that finished today. 

Next Sunday we are all heading over to the East Coast for a 5-day camping trip at Long Point Park near Melbourne Beach.  We will all be staying in the RV and taking the boat.  Should be fun, although John said last night there is some "tropical weather" maybe heading that way.  Great.  I'll have to keep an eye on that.