Happy Valentine's Day

Happy valentine’s day to everyone. Love is the one and the only thing that can make the world into a better one.

I can’t believe we are halfway through February already and if this pace keeps up it’ll be spring time before I know it.  Although weather wise here in Florida it felt like summertime these past weeks. I am ready for a bit of a cooldown so we can enjoy the outdoors more and I don’t break out in a sweat when just sitting outside our travel trailer.

Yesterday we drove all the way down to Miami. The International Boat Show is on and runs until Sunday evening. We have been to this show over the years a number of times but not since 2013 I think. Lots has changed since then, but then what hasn’t. 

We were most interested in the vendors at the Marine Electronics Pavilion

So to start off, no longer are tickets for the boat show sold at the gate. You have to pay by credit card online and use that QR code digital Eventspass on your phone to enter. If you leave and reenter the show you have to show your phone with the Eventspass every time. That was new to us. Btw they were the most expensive tickets we’ve ever paid for entering a boat show and that even after using a coupon code.

The Miami International Boat Show is spread over 6 locations but you could take free shuttles from one to the other. Even water taxies were available, but for an extra charge. Miami is very congested, so parking can be a problem and with summer like temperatures you would not want to be too far parked from your destination. We were lucky to find parking at the Convention Center parking garage above the show halls, but they would not take cash, only a Creditcard to pay the $20 all day fee. While driving up to the parking roof, Benno said to me “Next time you drive!” as he let out a sigh of relief not having scratched up the truck after the umpteen tight turns going up and later down the parking house, which were going round and round and round. 

Ground floor to all the exhibit halls

We opted to only visit the halls of the Convention Center. Other locations like the Museum Park Marina you could view sailboats. Powerboats were at the Herald Plaza and Super yachts, where bording for a look around was by invitation only, were at the Yacht Haven Grande. You could test drive over 75 sea trial vessels at the Venetian Marina. There were seminars held and a VIP Lounge at theWindward Club etc. Enough to tire you out for sure.

No need to show you all the vendors but the booze stand ($9/shot) had no takers

I had the dogs with me and they behaved great. Benno and I split up but would meet up at certain vendors (we called each other) There were no other dogs that I could see. Lots of people stopped us to pet Reggy and Elsa or to tell me they had a dachshund at home. Later in the afternoon I took the dogs to the truck so they could rest, have a drink and a dog cookie and we had a snack too.

Major cities of the world were on display on the ceiling
"Brampton, 1,241 miles" is a small suburb of Toronto!
Was the installer from there??

The traffic out of Miami was more like a slow moving parking lot :-) We were in no hurry so it didn’t matter much to us, but we sure were glad when things got moving again and back at the RV Park we just wanted to rest up. The show was a good experience and we were glad we had gone to see it. Benno’s highlight was ordering a complete package of a smart “Simrad AP 44” autopilot unit, complete with Hydraulic Pump etc. for our Pocket Trawler. Now he can hardly wait to install it :-)

Next up: the Presidents Day on Monday (but I will hold on to my wallet) 

Finally, here are a couple of photos of our resident Sandhill Cranes. I believe it is a him and her and they keep striding around our grassy areas but loudly complain if you come too close.

Thanks for dropping in everyone.