Stardate 12394.3

Captain's Log: Stardate 12394.3
Last weekend, the Enterprise participated in the 2023 Venice Christmas Boat Parade, an annual "competition" to see who can get the most lights on their boat, followed by driving around a narrow, sometimes shallow, channel in complete darkness, all the while hoping your radar doesn't fail and that the captain on the boat in front of you knows where he is going.

There were over 40 boats this year and reportedly over 60,000 spectators along the shoreline of Nokomis, Casey Key, and Venice Island. In fact, the parade this year got some great press in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Here is a photo of the Enterprise in the parade (last boat in the pic):

Aside from the thrill of being on the Enterprise and the joy of hearing my wife and her friends (New band name: Ellen and the Off-Tones) singing Christmas carols, my favorite part of the parade is a slow drive-by past the main dock of the Venice Yacht Club, packed tight with our many friends and fellow members, who started chanting "Ent-er-prise! Ent-er-prise!"

One member even shot this video. I wonder if she thinks it's great?


So now with Stardate 12400.0 just a couple of weeks away, my best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season along with a happy and healthy (and fun-filled) new year.