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PGI CRUISING CLUB Ray Alexander, 651-334-8473, fleetcap@aol.com

In the first line of a famous (excruciatingly long)
poem, T.S. Elliott states that “April is the cruellest
month." I would venture that Mr. Elliot never spent
April in Punta Gorda Isles. March was beautiful,
and April has the promise of being even more
pleasing. I can’t remember a year in our 16
seasons when the flowers in bloom were more
gorgeous. Perhaps it takes something like a hurricane to stimulate growth
and renewal.

The PGI Cruising Club activities continue. Check out the club website: Bouganvillea Tree
pgicruisingclub.org for a full list.

March saw Mark Kenyon arranging long range cruises to Sarasota and to Naples.
Mark is a master arranger. Would that we were all equally skilled mariners.

We enjoyed David Dines’ piping down the sun at Ponce de Leon Park on March 7.
There is something calming and spiritual in listening to “Amazing Grace” and waiting
for the “green flash.”

There were two Dart Nights at the Ice House Pub (one for our club alone, and a
second all-inclusive Dart Night on
March 22 that was a fund-raiser for
the Homeless Coalition).

The Spring Poker Run participants on Sunday, March 11 visited five
docks located in the sailboat areas of the Isles, allowing our sailing
brethren and “sisteren” to join in. Social hour and dinner followed at the
PGI Civic Association. The large number of poker players allows
winning hands to enjoy big pots!

Jane Recine organized our evening at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
on March 14. We saw Mamma Mia. Thanks to Jane for her loving skill in
organizing our trips to the theatre. She and Tony were founders of the
th
PGI Cruising Club back in the 20 century. David Dines’ Piping Down the Sun

Our First Annual PGI Cruising Club Scavenger Hunt on March 17 drew
much interest as many groups of four people sought to locate and
complete a challenging list of objects compiled by Cheri Nichols and
Mark Kenyon. We had fun on the hunt and at the gathering afterward at
Angela’s Café Italiano. We will consider making the Scavenger Hunt an
annual event.

The Supper Faire evening occurred at members’ homes on March 21.
The end-of-year Supper Faire evening will be April 25, hosted by Tom
and Gay Weekes at their beautiful home.

Our March General Membership Meeting on March 25 was a short one.
It was followed by a Brown Bag Auction (sort of a “White Elephant” sale
Crew of Serenade on Poker Run in which prospective buyers get to bid sight unseen on items sealed in
brown bags). It is always fun to see how creative some sellers are in
providing clues on the contents of their brown bags…for unsuspecting bidders. Larry Mac Kinnon was his excellent self
as auctioneer.

The club participated on a trip to the Seminole Casino in Immokalee on April 4.

We will provide sign-ups at Happy Hour for an evening at the Visani Restaurant & Comedy Zone with Rich Guzzi,
Hypnotist, on April 14.

Another high season main event is the PGI Cruising Club Picnic and Pig Roast at Ponce de Leon Park on April 15. Great
food and prizes make the picnic fun for all.

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