TF Gathering in SE Florida 2020...2/20-2/23

[cardude01]

Best business name ever!?

At the farmers market.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. B. "...Watfa is Snow White." So, that begs the question...Which one are you?

 

[Moonstruck]

Well, what to say about Olivier and Pilou? They are such warm, gracious and wonderful people. It was great just to see them again. Also, I’m glad the surprise worked!

Lou and Don

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

?

Yes. Not one of my better ideas.

Naw, we all had fun! No harm, no foul.Probably do it again tonight...

 

[Moonstruck]

Wifey B: And who oh who are or is the mystery? I've got it....it's...

It's me, it's me. It's Ernest T. [/Ernest T Bass was my favorite hero. He had never seen a window that didn’t need breaking.

 

[Bigsfish]

Senor RT. I’m Humpty Dumpty.

Sorry you couldn’t make it but perhaps next year.

 

[BandB]

It's me, it's me. It's Ernest T. [/Ernest T Bass was my favorite hero. He had never seen a window that didn’t need breaking.

Wifey B: It seemed that he was always around, but Ernest T only appeared in six episodes.

 

[Yahoo 1]

Wifey B: I guessed when Pilou posted, but only messaged her in private, not going to give away the secret. My guess was sort of unfair too as I knew she was in the country, not far away as she said in the post. You're all lucky to see Olivier and Pilou. Very nice and very interesting people. I miss them here.

Thank you Belle (BandB) you are a sweetheart.

Also You were the proof that contrary to popular belief, women can easily keep a secret

Thank you for having kept in regular contact over the past years, I much appreciated your messages and your thoughtfulness.

 

[BandB]

Thank you Belle (BandB) you are a sweetheart.

Also You were the proof that contrary to popular belief, women can easily keep a secret

Thank you for having kept in regular contact over the past years, I much appreciated your messages and your thoughtfulness.

Wifey B: You're too sweet. Wish you and Olivier were active here.

I didn't think my hubby could keep a secret from me but we were in Rome and went to meet the plane and I saw my niece, Aurora, and just screamed and ran toward her. I don't like surprises, but ones like that I could always take. Her grandparents were with her, but I was expecting them.

 

[User915]

It was truly our honor and our pleasure!!! Very nice to meet y’all!!!

John

John,

We were glad and honored to meet in person the founder of TrawlerForum, thank you very much tor taking the time to explain us.

You are an amazing man, very interesting.

Olivier and Pilou

 

[User915]

Olivier and Pilou

Jewel and I really enjoyed meeting y’all, and your English is much better than my French! I’m sorry I made you drink the pink rum...

Bill and Jewel

Bill and Jewel

It was great to meet you as well, we had lot of fun talking with you.

Please, don’t be sorry even if the pink color was not at all what it seems (which was funny). Anyway be sure that we always stand ready for new adventures .

Until next time,

Olivier and Pilou

 

[cardude01]

Nice out here today! Put the jib out so the power boaters have to give way. ?

 

[Bigsfish]

Well the TF 2020 Gathering is over, it was great fun and we got to put faces on names.

Special thanks to John and Pricilla for the water puppy 12 by pump for the prize table, it was the first picked. And for donating the large bottle of Flor de Cana. I think this year the Gotcha netted more alcohol then it started with. Baker and Wendy didn’t do their normal impression of drinking and Steve brought his own PBR and Jack brought his own Bud so Gotcha still had 24 Buds on board.

A big thanks to Don and Larry for putting this on, it hard work and really a thankless job. Thanks to Ted who took command of the first night and put out a great spread with peeled shrimp and put us all to shame. The second night Don had about 20 large pizzas for about 20+ people and the were good.

Al got the long distance award. Car Dude got the nastiness booze award for his south Texas pink “rum” damn it was nasty.

Watfa is already planning the meal for next year, she really loves to entertain for her friends. Thanks to the last group to leave for taking out the truckload of trash.

Thanks to all for attending, it was great fun.

 

[Yahoo 1]

Wifey B: You're too sweet. Wish you and Olivier were active here.

I didn't think my hubby could keep a secret from me but we were in Rome and went to meet the plane and I saw my niece, Aurora, and just screamed and ran toward her. I don't like surprises, but ones like that I could always take. Her grandparents were with her, but I was expecting them.

Thank you, definitely we are active again, we will make up for lost time and to correct our past mistakes ?.

Saturday night I heard Bill - Carduce01 - saying that he would like us to organize a TF gathering aboard Lutin.

Gladly anytime ! No kidding here. As you can see, Don Moon already paved the way aboard Lutin 1 year and half ago.

 

[Bigsfish]

Shame on me. I almost forgot the most important Lena who was the biggest help to Watfa again this year, she did yeoman’s work in the galley, Jewell also helped out as Lena’s assistant.

Sorry Lena, it wouldn’t happen without you.

Wendy's big job was keeping Baker under control which she did a great job.

Thanks to all.

 

[User915]

Olivier

I think I can speak for all, it was our extreme pleasure to meet you and Pilou after reading your posts on TF for years it was great to put a face on the posts. Your both very gracious and your English is great, I’m use to Watfa. We hope you and family enjoy your trip to the states and hopefully you make it back again soon.

Thanks also for my present, the coffee tasted better this morning.

Thanks for visiting with us you added some class to our group. Enjoy your trip.

Irvin and Watfa,

Thank you so very much.
We just sent PM.
All the best.

Olivier, Pilou, Fabienne, Cesar

 

[angus99]

Such a fun time! Special thanks to Irv and Watfa, Don and Lou, Ted and alpha helpers like Lena and Jewel for making the get-together so enjoyable. I sort of felt guilty for picking the Water Puppy first (for about two seconds) but after a morning battling the Ft. Pierce health care system, I almost felt entitled.

 

[Baker]

Thanks again to everyone involved!!! And thank Olivier for the kind words...way too kind...

I felt a different dynamic this year and in a good way. It may have just been me and it probably was. I know a lot of y'all see each other during other times of the year. But the first time we came out, we met knew friends. The next time we came out, we got to know our friends. The next time we came out, we became brothers(and sisters). Anyway, I/we had a blast. And it was great to strengthen our friendships to the point of brotherhood. Please, if any of y'all are down in SE Texas, don't forget to give us a holler...we can show you a little southern hospitality.

Thanks again and see y'all next year....if not before!!

Baker and Wendy

 

[Moonstruck]

Well, another TF gathering is “in the can” so to speak. Thanks to every one attending. I echo what John Baker said in his posts. Lou and I always look forward to the TF gathering.

This time it was a rare privilege to introduce. Olivier, Pilou, Fabienne and Cesar to the group. You got to see what great people they are. Cesar is going to be a real heart breaker for the ladies.

What more can I say about the hospitality of Irv and Watfa. Wonderful! Also, thanks to Ted for stepping up Thursday evening for the welcoming cocktail party. No one went away hungry. Thanks to Irv for picking up the tab for our barbecue dinner.

Looking forward to next year. As we would say in the 1950s, “be there, or be square”.

 

[FlyWright]

Thanks to all for what was, IMO, the BEST TF Gathering so far! They keep getting betterer and betterer!

Great friends, great food, great drinks, great boats, great times...what more could you possibly ask for besides great weather. But the stormy skies and near-gale force winds didn't really slow us down a bit. Pilou's sweater was almost lost to Davey Jones' locker while touring Irv's 54 GB Gotcha but her recovery was successful!

Here are my photos and I know others have some great group pics from Friday and Saturday nights. I hope Ian, Wendy and the others will be able to post them up here.

Irv, I think Ollie and Pilou deserve the Long Distance Award this year. France is about twice as far as Northern California. It was so great to finally meet them after several unsuccessful attempts in the past on the best coast. Great Secret Guests, Don!

Ollie/Pilou and I now looking forward to a summer cruise into the California Delta with our boats following the July 4th celebrations. Anyone else want to join in a TF Delta Gunkholing Cruise in July 2020? Good ground tackle and a dinghy required for maximum fun and flexibility. (New thread at a later date.)

PS. I counted 25 people seated and eating in Irv and Watfa's salon, galley and lower helm during our Saturday night dinner. That was most impressive!! Then, after dinner, we ALL congregated in the cockpit for the raffle! Thanks to all who contributed prizes. No left empty handed, hungry or unhappy. Just sorry Trina fell ill before the big night. Hope she's on the mend or over it by now.

 

[angus99]

Here you go, Al. Even though these are panos, they give an idea of how spacious Gotcha’s saloon is. Great times, indeed!

 

[cardude01]

Here are a few pics I took:




Jewel and I had such a good time. She doesn’t let me out of the house to meet people very often, so it was a real treat! [emoji56]

 

[cardude01]

Thanks to all for what was, IMO, the BEST TF Gathering so far! They keep getting betterer and betterer!

Great friends, great food, great drinks, great boats, great times...what more could you possibly ask for besides great weather. But the stormy skies and near-gale force winds didn't really slow us down a bit. Pilou's sweater was almost lost to Davey Jones' locker while touring Irv's 54 GB Gotcha but her recovery was successful!

Here are my photos and I know others have some great group pics from Friday and Saturday nights. I hope Ian, Wendy and the others will be able to post them up here.

Irv, I think Ollie and Pilou deserve the Long Distance Award this year. France is about twice as far as Northern California. It was so great to finally meet them after several unsuccessful attempts in the past on the best coast. Great Secret Guests, Don!

Ollie/Pilou and I now looking forward to a summer cruise into the California Delta with our boats following the July 4th celebrations. Anyone else want to join in a TF Delta Gunkholing Cruise in July 2020? Good ground tackle and a dinghy required for maximum fun and flexibility. (New thread at a later date.)

PS. I counted 25 people seated and eating in Irv and Watfa's salon, galley and lower helm during our Saturday night dinner. That was most impressive!! Then, after dinner, we ALL congregated in the cockpit for the raffle! Thanks to all who contributed prizes. No left empty handed, hungry or unhappy. Just sorry Trina fell ill before the big night. Hope she's on the mend or over it by now.

OMG, that last pic. [emoji23]

 

[Baker]

OMG, that last pic. [emoji23]

I know!! I can feel the pain of the next morning!!!

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

OMG, that last pic. [emoji23]

AAAANd thats how it starts...Lunch and good conversation. The next thing you know, Dwight Yokums on the TV and dancing bears appear...and its 0030

 

[cardude01]

aaaand thats how it starts...lunch and good conversation. The next thing you know, dwight yokums on the tv and dancing bears appear...and its 0030

??????

?

 

[angus99]

Just sorry Trina fell ill before the big night. Hope she's on the mend or over it by now.

Thanks, Al; just saw this. She’s all good. Just rotten timing.

 

[Lena B]

Larry and I are headed back to Hobo tomorrow. It was weird being part of the TF gathering without her this year, but this group is so hospitable and welcoming that even van campers can feel at home. Thanks to all for all the hard work (Watfa outdid herself again) but most especially for the camaraderie - and the occasional belly laugh!

 

[Moonstruck]

Thanks, Al; just saw this. She’s all good. Just rotten timing.

Ian, glad to hear that Trina’s better. Lou had an arthritis flair up, and I took her over to the same “doc in the box” on Thursday. She was in terrible pain. The doc was good and seemed to have a handle on her problem. When she got home and went to her arthritis specialist on Monday, her doc said the inflammation was under control. So, it was worth the long wait.

 

[angus99]

Ian, glad to hear that Trina’s better. Lou had an arthritis flair up, and I took her over to the same “doc in the box” on Thursday. She was in terrible pain. The doc was good and seemed to have a handle on her problem. When she got home and went to her arthritis specialist on Monday, her doc said the inflammation was under control. So, it was worth the long wait.

Hate that she had to go through that, Don. The doc at Urgent Care was great—once we finally got in. CVS was spectacularly awful . . . right down to the stereotypical passive-aggressive “clerk-who-doesn’t-give-a-s**t” who ate up much of our Saturday. I ended up calling CVS corporate to complain.