Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Hey guys! Jennifer and I hope that all of you had a joyful and safe holiday season. Can you believe that it’s already 2019 ?!
For us, the holiday season and boating go great together. I don’t know if it’s the warm Florida winters or the fact that there is water everywhere around us. Maybe it’s the community of so many boating folks in the area that we live in. We think it could be all of it at once.
During the holidays, things can sometimes get busy and hectic. We try to be involved in every Christmas event possible. It can be CRAZY!
Take the second week in December for example. Let me break down the “Four Crazy Christmas Nights “ for you.
Thursday Night:
After work on Thursday, we attended the “Captain’s Meeting / Party” for the 2018 Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade. Our son Robert also attended the event with us and our friends Kim & Tony were there as well.
The party was held at a waterside restaurant on the Banana River in Cocoa Beach. The turnout of boat parade participants was HUGE!
After we registered our boat for the parade, we walked the sponsor displays in the tented area outside. Then it was time to drop our tickets into the raffle buckets for the items we wanted to win.
Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner?!! Nope.
The three of us dropped over 60 tickets, but we didn’t win a thing. Even our friends left empty-handed. It says alot about the size of the crowd that was there buying raffle tickets.
It’s okay. I’m over it now (except that one time when I missed it by only one number. So close! ) But anyway. . . Robert did win some cool SeaDek pads for his boat during the random giveaways.
It was a great family night out. We had good times with friends and we got some good information regarding the Christmas boat parade route. Maybe it was a winner after all.
Friday Night:
After work on Friday, we stayed in the Orlando area and headed over to a friend’s house on the Conway Chain of Lakes. He just had his new dock and covered boathouse finished so we set up a party on the dock complete with Christmas lights.
The purpose for the party (like you need a reason), was so that we could cheer on the well-lit parade of boats as they cruised by the dock. The Friday night parade was the first of a (3) night Lake Conway boat parade bonanza.
The weather that evening was slowly deteriorating and the parade started around 8:00pm. The turnout may have been hampered due to the coming weather as we counted only (12) boats participating.
We cheered them on at the tops of our lungs as each went by. While the turnout was low, the enthusiasm level was very high!
I’m certain that Jennifer and I overstayed our welcome and after partying late, it was time to head home and rest up for the day to come.
Saturday Night:
After struggling to recover from Friday’s partying, we were off to provision for tonight’s event. The 2018 Merritt Island Christmas Boat Parade.
Ice? Check. Meat and cheese platter? Check. Pillows and blankets? Check. Something hot in the thermos? Check. Let’s Go!!
We launched the boat from Kelly Park on the Banana River where we met other boaters heading to the parade. It was only 2:30, so we had plenty of time to cruise the river and the Canaveral Barge Canal before picking up Robert from the marina.
It Begins . . .
By 4:30 we had Robert in the boat and we headed towards the Sykes Creek bridge. By 5:00 there were already more than one hundred boats gathered and more coming. Idling with so many boats in a small area is exciting and nerve-racking.
There were hundreds more people on and under the bridge trying to see the boats before the parade started. But, the REAL magic happened when the skies darkened and the lights came on. It was AWESOME!!
By 6:30 the parade was underway and with Robert at the helm, Jennifer and I spent most of the time waving back to the masses that were greeting us from their homes and boatdocks.
Some canal residents were tossing candy onto the passing boats, while some of the “themed” boats were throwing candy back the other way. Crazy!
We navigated some (17) different canals on the parade route. Some were straight in and straight out, while others went deep into winding mazes. It is UNBELIEVABLE how the larger (30′-40′) vessels are able to manage such tight areas.
After we finished the last canal, we took Robert back to his truck at the marina. Then Jennifer and I went right back to Sykes Creek to watch the remaining boats finish up.
By 11:30, only a few boats remained in the creek and the plans we had for anchoring near the ICW changed to a new spot at the south end of Sykes Creek.
With the skies clearing and a slight cool breeze, the bugs that would typically have surrounded the mangroves were non-existent. All was quiet as Jennifer prepared the cabin for bed and we slipped off into a peaceful and very welcomed sleep.
We would need it . . .
Sunday Night:
After waking up to a beautiful sunrise over glassy water, we pulled up our anchor and headed back to the Kelly Park ramp to start another day of Christmas craziness.
By 9 a.m. we were back home making coffee, showering, eating breakfast, and doing some laundry. We were back on the road by 11:00 and heading towards Orlando.
Back at our shop, we did a quick boat clean-up and spent a few minutes tightening any loose lights from the night before. After loading our freshly-packed coolers, it was off to the boatramp.
We were in the water by 2:30 with a couple of hours to spare before the parade and we used that time to cruise around and enjoy the beauty of the Lake Conway Chain. After another stunning Lake Conway sunset under our belts, we headed over to pickup our son Robert.
What beats having your family with you on the boat?
I’ll tell you what beats it . . . when one of them shows up at the dock with a huge, steaming hot, cheesy PIZZA!!! (Thanks Robert)
Time to Start. Are we first?
By 6:30 or so, the giant crowd of Christmas boats began to move in a somewhat orderly fashion. The jockeying had begun and soon the lead police boat turned on his blue light.
Now, I’m not jealous or anything, but how is it that we’ve been in this parade for 16 years and I’ve NEVER been near the front of the line? Robert is at the helm this year, and he squeezes in right behind the cop! We’re the FIRST boat!! Whaaatt?!!
As expected, the parade was awesome. The weather fully cooperated and we got to see so many friends that sadly, we don’t see as much since we’ve moved away.
All of the usual suspects were there and a ton of newer participants. We don’t have an official number, but the turnout was well above one hundred boats.
Like we mentioned before, the Conway Chain of Lakes has (3) different Christmas boat parades held on Fri / Sat / Sunday in December. Check out all (3) if you can or as many as possible. The kids will love it.
So . . . those were our “Four Crazy Christmas Nights “. They weren’t really that crazy, but it was hectic. Most of all, it was FUN!
Jennifer and I are already excited to do it all again next year. Who knows, maybe we can have a summer boating season in between.
Happy New Year!!
Once again, Jennifer, Robert, and I want to wish all of you out there a very safe and Happy New Year. Thank you to everyone that stops and takes the time to read our posts. And an extra special thanks to all of you that subscribe. Happy 2019!!
Be sure to watch for our first post of 2019. We’re excited about it. We hope you’ll leave a comment on this post and please don’t forget to subscribe below.
“See you on the water!”
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