WOW!!  What a month March was...

Lots of Activities

Croquet Tournament

...very casual.

.....very competitive

But always....very collegial!!

..and always a party to follow!!

THEN...THERE WAS THE

ST. PATTY'S DAY PARADE

Led by Useppa Island Fire and Rescue

With Judges

...that were chauffeured in their own cart....

decorated, of course!

And, much like the Pied Piper of Hamelin....

we all followed!! 

   
The kids.... 

   
The adults driven by kids...

The kids driven by adults....and the three generational families with Senior driving!

And, LAST BUT NOT LEAST....

the old folks with a message to be shared!

There were the wee ones.

...followed by even the wee-er ones.

THOSE THAT WATCHED WERE "OF THE SPIRIT" AS WELL.

 Pets and People, alike!

Drinking....something healthy, no doubt! 

Laughing (at his own pink shirt/hat duo)

claiming green undies!

Maybe, a little green around the edges...

Dancing in the street....

and watching neighbors act more than silly!

THERE WERE SEVERAL PRIZES!

To include our Useppa Island Fire Family

 But the overall winners were....

THE PATRIOTS

Those guys from New England with a message!

GO, TOM BRADY!!

YEAH, PATRIOTS!!!!!

We all retired to the Tarpon Bar for

Green Beer 

and 

Corned Beef stuffed Potatoes!

YUMMMMM!!!

WHAT A FUN FAMILY DAY!!!

Stay tuned for

More on Useppa in March!

MORE ABOUT SUMMER PAST

YES!!!! SUMMER IS OVER BUT THE STORIES LIVE ON!!

We've told you about the Useppa Mooch March...Useppans visiting other Useppans at their summer abodes.  And, we've told you about the Swigerts who drove almost 10,000 miles to see their many friends.  While taking all prizes for time, tenure and distance, we did have other travelers.

The Trinos visited us in Maine where we were joined by the Beisswengers for some hiking in Acadia National Park.   
                  We did eat some Lobster!!

And climbed to the top of Great Head!! 

 

And, "marched" through the woods on our way to the beach.  In August....we could hear the screams when they hit the water!! COLD!

 

          And, we did some boating in Somes Sound

And, then there's Ligibel, who left Useppa a year or so ago, but keeps showing up. 

Once a Useppan, always a Useppan.

And, he just can't stay away from those sailors...or they, him!

                                    ....visiting with the Bacons
                                                      Did you notice the pig....on the wall??

And, then again with the sailors'n crew    

                                            

AN ORIGINAL USEPPAN

Here's Gretchen with Chessie, one of the first people we met when coming to Useppa in the early 80s.  Guess what Gretchen is holding??!?! 

Our ad in Croquet News!!  Complete with a full page story!!

Check it out!!

The Summer was good for us all... and there are many more stories to share.  To be quick...

The VanVeldhuizen family, new neighbors in The Village,  

              married off one of his 11 kids....

Who then flew off into the sunset?  Just a couple more daughters to go.

Another new neighbor, Dave Thomas and wife, Julie Lachman, had some suggestions for Useppa after being up in Cedar Key for a long weekend.

....thought Useppa should think about having a "real bar"... to go with the Grotto theme?!?

Speaking of the Grotto....

it  has continued to collect collectibles with varying messages, from young and old...

....the artistic

...the demented

...and the WINNERS!!!    38 TO 20 !!!!!!

GO GATORS!!!!

Kim and Aimee Lockhart went out west, where Kim caught tons of fish 

And Aimee took GORGEOUS photos

   And, Kim caught more fish...and more fish

and then, more fish....

 I have another couple dozen photos. 

LET'S JUST SAY...it was a good "fishing summer!!"

Last of all...

Brian and I joined Vic and Suzy Trino in Lerici, Italy

Their apartment is at the top of the hill, to the left of the old fort.  GORGEOUS VIEW and a fantastic little town.

Brian learned the most important Italian phrases

And, Suzy and Vic saw to his every gastronomic need in the most gorgeous places.  This takes "Boating for Food" to a whole new level.

The Hosts with the Most

We boated La Spezia Bay on the Ligurian coast and climbed mountains in the Italian Riviera on the way to the highest of the Cinque Terra towns, climbing above the town, then down, into Corniglia, the only town in the Cinque Terras that is not on the water,  residing on a bluff near the top of a mountain.

  

 using the same trail used by those picking grapes.

 2500' ASL and straight up!

                  And, that was our SECOND day
                          with the Trinos!!! 
The rest of our stay in Italy was fantastic but the Trinos are an impossible act to follow!!
                          Ciao, for now!!

            FALL IS HERE!!!  IT IS COOL!!
            BRING YOUR STORIES TO US!!
What do Useppans do when they're not doing
                       "Useppa Stuff"???