FIRE! a boat on my dock

The boat directly in front of me, 

across the dock, 

about 20' away,

 caught fire today!

Prodigal sits directly behind this boat.  (Prodigal with shades)

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TIMELINE

A BIG squall blew through about 2pm bringing lots of lightning and incredible thunder.  I went up to the cockpit to read my book and watch the storm...  Closer and louder the storm blew, when suddenly a massive Crack of Thunder seemed to hit before the lightning and it was right on top of me.  I put my book down - heart pounding - and looked around.  Wow!  That was loud.  Then I noticed some marina guys out in front of my boat.  I got down and saw the smoke....

At 2:36:13pm I see Carl and Kenny from the marina studying Salty Lady.  I climbed down off Prodigal to see smoke starting to creep out of the eaves.  Carl started yelling for crew to clear the Dock... 

"Get everybody off all these boats 

and off C dock - NOW!"

At 2:37:40pm very heavy smoke started billowing out the top

2:37:52pm FIRE bursts out and I 'go to the end of the dock' as instructed.

2:38:42 The marina staff use dock water hoses to spray surrounding boats

2:41:17 The Fire Dept arrives and start hooking up hoses and fighting the fire. 

*the marina staff untie and move the ship immediately beside the burning boat. 

2:41:38 Fire!

2:44:27 Fire Fighting

2:49:57 The Fire is under control. (see water shooting up and out of boat)

2:57:41 The fire is out.

2:58:44 checking smoldering mounds of stuff

3:03pm

The Public Information Officer Brenda visits with the Captain.

Fire Inspector

The Fire Inspector and the Captain discuss things

A 57' Bayliner fiberglass boat ruined. $500,000 burned to trash.  Another neighbor two boats over said the power surge blew out all his electrics, both his 110 volt AC and his 12 volt DC.  I did not suffer any damage.  But it smells like an old wet sock that's been burned and left out to stink.  (when i was a kid we rode our bicycles out to the city dump.  It's THAT smell.  Moldy, rotten, burnt plastic and a smoldering ash stink.)  My hope and prayer is that they will tow off the burned hulk tomorrow!  

A huge thanks to the marina staff for quick action and heroic efforts, and to the Firemen & Firewomen who saved all the boats.

Wow what an afternoon.  I'm wiped out.       -Skip

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*next day - today, Friday

before

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But wait, there's more...   Today, Friday a crew from the city is out to repair the water line for the Fire Dept.  It seems that yesterday during the boat fire and 'All Hell's broke loose Fire Drill' around here, they burst a water line.  *but enough water got down the line to put the fire out!

finally, today a group of Fireperson Trainees was on property for some training.  How appropriate.  Thanks again Firefolk!

Florida Lizards?

There are Lizards everywhere down here! 

I remember many years ago, in my childhood, seeing THIS lizard in my neighborhood toy store.  It was big and thick with wildly stupid bright colors painted on it.  I remember at the time thinking how ridiculous it looked.  thinking, "no lizard in nature would be this bold and bright."  I see now that it's just another thing i was wrong about.  These very bright, thick, stupid lizards are very real.  They are pretty thick down here in south Florida.  They are also quick and take off to climb a nearby tree before you can get too close to them... 

An Iguana, or 'tree chicken' sitting casually on the sidewalk at the shopping center.  I've seen these over four feet long and as big around as my thigh.

Jet Ski hydro flight show

It's a bird, it's a plane...

Look quick.  This stuff aint easy!

(for ME it aint)

Ms Kelly makes it look easy.  (yes, i'm jealous)

We met at Little Jims Bait and Tackle Bar just across the Indian River from my City Marina.  Chris brought his boat there for transporting everyone around about 2 miles to "the cove" to 'party on the Sandbar.'  Kelly and Wally brought their Jetski and flying toys.  Aaron and Lydia brought a second Jetski, so we had a caravan transiting through the thick Saturday traffic of party boats out for a nice day on the water.  (it was very crowded with boats and people) 

Short Version: I was in a bar last week (sounds like the start of a bad joke) and met a friend.  In the same bar was a friend of theirs.  Turns out the friends friend had another friend with a boat...  Saturday all these friends got together and I tagged along with my camera. Yes, I tried this.  No I was not airborn long enough for a lot of photo coverage.  Yes, it was a 'trip.'  They told me to "bend my knees, then when i stand up, stick my butt out and lock my knees, just wiggle my feet and go in circles."  Simple!  Except it aint.  Imagine a toddler taking their first steps trying not to fall and you have the idea.

Brooks and Chelsea

Chris

Tyce

Kelly

Kristy

Lydia

An interested spectator

Kelly, Wally, Aaron and Terri discuss where to fly...

Jackie and Chet

Kelly working

Kelly and Wally teach Teri how to "hold her arms out like Superman and fly."

Teri waves after flying

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The day before, I met with my two adopted daughters, Tatum and Hannah.