December 11, 2015
It’s time for another T-Shirt Contest! If you’d like to win a collector’s edition Shear Madness T-Shirt, it’s easy to try! Just leave a comment with the word T-Shirt in it and you’ll be entered in a drawing (click the comment button or REPLY if you get this by email). You can also include other stuff in the comment – we always love to hear from our friends – virtual and other!
We’re still at National Harbor, MD with a steady stream of friends and family coming by to visit. We’ve had a few people mention that they saw the boat on a local TV station. It turns out that NBC Channel 4 has a camera here at National Harbor that they use for periodic weather updates. Here’s how we look:
Channel 4 Weather Update with Shear Madness at National Harbor
Good friends and newlyweds Tom and Marina came by for dinner, joined by Mike, a boater we met here at National Harbor. Though it was a week after Thanksgiving, we cooked a turkey as it is one of our favorite meals! Tom mentioned that he had a spare ticket for the upcoming Redskins-Cowboys game on Monday night so I got to tag along. Alas, the (who would believe it) FIRST PLACE Redskins lost a nail-biter to the LAST PLACE Cowboys on a last second field goal. But it was great to get out to a game and I got to visit with step-daughter April and her nephews (and my step-grandsons) Kevin and Calvin. And, however brief it may be, the Skins are still in FIRST PLACE.
Kathy visits April and Kevin at Redskins game
Bob and Karen also stopped by for a boat tour and lunch. I somehow am a participant in Bob’s Friends and Family March Madness (college basketball) pool, which I actually won one year. At that time the only prize was bragging rights, but now there is an enormous trophy that the winner gets to keep for a year. So I showed Bob where I plan to mount that trophy – right up on the bow! We also met Bill and his friend Warren. Bill, who was introduced by a mutual friend, is thinking of buying a boat and possibly living aboard post-retirement. We enjoyed meeting them and talking about the cruising life.
Bob and Karen in the engine room
Tracy F., President of Shenandoah University, stopped by with her three kids, a couple of their friends, and Knox, a mutual friend of ours. So there are a couple of additions to the Shenandoah Flag collection. Good friends Sudhakar, Bina, and daughter Divya also came by and we hope to see them onboard for a cruise soon!! And Earl, who was a long time captain of a good friend’s boat, came over for a tour.We journeyed out to Margy and Bryant’s house for a Hannukah celebration with grandkids Tyler and Austin, where we cooked brisket and latkes.
Tracy, Knox, and kids
It’s also been a time for fixing a few of those little things on the boat. We’ve ordered some new hinges for a cabinet in one of the heads, a couple new door handles, and some “fiddle” parts – this is for the bars that keep things secure in open shelves. We also have had one large inflatable fender repaired and have replaced another.
Hinges to be replaced
The boat will be here until just after Christmas – we hope to once again spend New Year’s Eve on the water, en route to Norfolk.
Just a reminder that all our videos can be seen on my youtube channel. And don’t forget to check out the book reviews.
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- Bob and Karen in the Pilot House
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- Bob and Kathy show where that trophy will be mounted!
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- Kids with T-shirts – YOU could win one if you enter the contest!
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- 2015-12 President Tracy Fitzsimmons with the Shenandoah Flag at National Harbor
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- Tracy descends the ladder to the machinery space
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- Tracy’s kids and friends test out the berth in the Pilot House
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- Bina, Divya, and Sudhakar with Kathy
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- Kathy with Bill and Warren
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- Tyler pushes brother Austin
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- Austin liked the latkes, but LOVED the applesauce
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- Earl and Bradley on the Tender Deck
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- Earl and Kathy
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- Door handles need replacing due to broken internal springs
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- Corroded hinges
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- Fiddles hold items in place on shelves
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- Fiddle pieces we need to replace
Shear Madness 
#1 by Jason Kurtz on December 18, 2015 - 6:49 pm
Hi Kathy, Is there any new updates on board the Shear Madness? I have been outta the loop for awhile
Sent from my iPhone
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#2 by masterofmadness on December 17, 2015 - 7:09 pm
T-Shirts! T-Shirts! Looking forward to receiving a T-shirt (X-Large) from the crew of Shear Madness for me, the still reigning “Master of Madness!” Hmm, maybe I should have my own T-Shirts made up too. Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year!
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#3 by Jan Minter on December 15, 2015 - 8:42 pm
I love following your trips via emails and would love a Shear Madness T shirt. George
Sent from my iPad
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#4 by rbhunter on December 15, 2015 - 12:30 am
T-Shirt. Hello from the desert southwest. El Mirage AZ. Just to the NW of Phoenix. Wishing you good health and Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas,
Ron Hunter
Someday I am going to win the Powerball and when I do, a Nordhavn will be in my future. TAKE 5 is the picture on my desktop.
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#5 by Kim on December 14, 2015 - 9:48 pm
I could always do with another Sheer Madness tee shirt, but I guess I’ll just have to put Bradley in head lock sometime early next year and prise it out of him. Happy Harnaka
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#6 by D.Schneider on December 14, 2015 - 8:39 am
T-shirt – a wonderfull contest 🙂 I´m a great Shearmadness and Nordhavn fan from Germany and i´m look forwards to see new videos from you … soon ;-).
Merry Christmas and a happy new Year.
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#7 by Cyndy Morreale on December 12, 2015 - 11:34 pm
I’d love a TSHIRT !
Look forward to seeing you Thursday!
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#8 by Bryant Keller on December 12, 2015 - 7:45 am
T Shirt 😉
What a beautiful boat.
Hope you are enjoying the warmer than usual weather.
Thanks for sharing your voyage with us.
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#9 by jonthebuilder007 on December 12, 2015 - 6:34 am
Thank you for the travel log of your tours to various parts of the globe. The many differing scenes you photograph are spellbinding with the icebergs through to the rivers of the USA and the Caribbean. I would like to see you travel the Pacific coast up to Alaska and even come to the Australian region so you can appreciate some of the scenery we have in this country. A “T” shirt would be nice Size 22 though I do appreciate I do live in Australia and postage is a killer when delivering anything. Keep up the good work and I will keep on following your posts Merry Christmas and keep it safe
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:32:41 +0000
To: jonthebuilder007@hotmail.com
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#10 by Tony Peterson on December 11, 2015 - 6:27 pm
Merry Christmas to Brad and Kathy. Post a picture of your tree if you have one. I hope Santa brings me a Shear Madness T-Shirt!
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#11 by Cindy Gilmer on December 11, 2015 - 6:08 pm
T-Shirt 🙂
I flew into Reagan National from the South last Thursday evening and tried to see if you were still there. It was dark so I couldn’t tell for sure. Glad you are enjoying a nice long stay and having a chance to catch up with lots of friends.
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#12 by Joe Viar on December 11, 2015 - 3:10 pm
I enjoy your good life! Joe Viar
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#13 by Wayne Connell on December 11, 2015 - 1:27 pm
T-shirt
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#14 by zoila reyes-rezba on December 11, 2015 - 10:06 am
Fee fi fo fum..I smell the fibers of cotton in my draw..Beautiful boat.
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#15 by Robert Conconi on December 11, 2015 - 9:52 am
Merry Christmas, will be thinking of you New Years Eve, smooth waters, Bob and Diane
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#16 by Jim Condon on December 11, 2015 - 9:44 am
T-shirt? We don’t need no stinkin T-shirt. Seriously, how much longer are you guys in town? Maybe a quick bite to eat? You look great and Bradley looks happy – as it should be
Jim
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