Sunday - June 29

 We watched 8:00 Mass live with Father Jonathan in Port Clinton.,   And then left Goderich at 9:20 - it was sunny but chilly on the water.  

Salt mine still in operation at entrance to Maitland Valley Marina in Goderich.

 We were bundled up in our hoodies and a blanket.   I spent part of the trip down below but Mark prefers to be on the bridge which definitely has the best visibility.   We cruised 57.2 miles today and arrived in Port Elgin (aka Saugeen Shores) at 12:55.    We got diesel and settled in along the wall where lots of folks walk past going to and coming from the beach.   Changed into shorts and t shirts - upper 70's on land.

We were last here in 2007 - boy, Mark has a remarkable memory from 18 years ago.   I wasn't familiar with the various landmarks, but he sure does know his marinas!   

A good walk was in order and we are .9 miles from downtown and part of it is uphill!😓  We found the Rabbit Dash coffee shop (cute but strange name - rabbits were a big part of the decor)!  😊We sat in the AC and enjoyed our iced coffees and then took Green Street back down to the water.   We passed so many cute cottages and other unique older homes that have been lovingly cared for.    And of course...........the wonderful flowers everywhere that we love about Canada.    We talked to a gal who lives in a big remodel going on of home built in 1880.  Young couple who are enjoying it all....

The beach was packed....

Just a small section of beach lovers

Happy to hear that our newlyweds, Erin and Ryan (and Karen) are together at Lake James - LONG 4-day trip from Idaho for Erin and Karen!

Tuesday, July 1st is Canada Day so lots of folks enjoying a long holiday weekend.

We have music here tonight on the beach!   The Harbour Lite Restaurant is just outside Catrina's door - a happening place with all kinds of sandwiches, fries and ice cream.   

Zoom tonight - all on except Doris.    All kinds of things to chat about.....we are just sick hearing about the senseless and sickening shooting in Coeur d' Alene today.    We were there 1 week ago - such a beautiful area.   Praying for the victims, those injured and all families.

   

Saturday - June 28

 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!

56 years and sooo blessed!

Exactly 56 years ago today (Saturday, June 28, 1969), Mark's sister Joan was celebrating her 14th birthday....a big milestone for her today!

After the very warm temperature and then heavy rain last night, today was cool and cloudy.    We did some jobs on Catrina and then walked 7/10 of a mile to the River Run Restaurant on the Maitland golf course.    We wanted to check it out and plan to have dinner there tonight.

Several were out golfing and also fishing as a big tournament on the Maitland River started today.

Erin called as she and Karen are traveling thru IL heading to Nashville.    Tomorrow....home sweet home at Lake James!

We had a nice leisurely day and the sun came out at 3:45!   Beautiful evening!

Mark and I really appreciate the text messages and phone calls today!   Thank you

We walked back to the River Run Restaurant and had a great meal - unique place with schnitzel as their specialty.   We met John and Linda from Blythe, ON (about 20 minutes away).   Tomorrow is their 6th wedding anniversary -  John is 93 and Linda, probably in her mid 80's?   Very nice couple who spent last winter in Port Charlotte, FL.   

Linda and John

Tomorrow we're moving on to Port Elgin (about 50 miles north) 

Friday - June 27

 We left Algonac at 8:05 this morning.    It was cool on the water and we had sun off and on.   Most of the time we wore our hoodies.    We cruised 92 miles arriving in Goderich, ON at the Maitland Valley Marina at 2:00.    A nice dockhand helped us tie up - had some strong winds, but my Captain handled Catrina like a pro (I don't do strong winds)!    We quickly shed our sweats and 77 felt so good.

Met our neighbor Joe next door - he's Canadian but spends the winters in Fort Lauderdale.

After checking in with customs and getting the scoop from Lisa (office gal) regarding favorite restaurants, etc., we waited for Ellena to take us to town.   What a nice gal and ride. Our marina is in a valley (thus the  name) and 172 steps to get to top of the hill and then several blocks to downtown (octagon-shaped "square" with courthouse in the middle,)   Lots of construction, but found Cait's Cafe for iced coffees and we shared an Italian panini.   Walked around a bit and then to Cravings for ice cream - love all these maple flavors - maple iced coffee/maple walnut ice cream!    It was warm walking around but nothing like the 90's they're having in so many places.

We walked the steps back (slow 'n easy) all 172.    Of course, going "down" is so much easier than "climbing up"!   

Ready to chill for rest of the day - it's 4:45 now and good to be back on eastern time since Port Clinton.   Hard to believe that just 1 week ago today, we were in Idaho visiting on the patio with our kids and tomorrow,  the wedding....

Some highlights from today:

The Bluewater Bridge

connecting Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON

Leaving the St. Clair River and now on Lake Huron

Love to see the Canadian and USA flags flying together!

Nice park in downtown Goderich (GED-er-ich)

And a BIG favorite - butter tarts!

Maeve and family are visiting their grandparents in IL

Maeve is giving "Mia" a ride around the house on her suitcase

We had thunderstorm warnings with a nasty looking radar tonight - it finally arrived at 7:15.       Very heavy rain, strong winds, violent lightning and thunder, just plain ugly!    It lasted about 30 minutes and the sun came out, and it really cooled down.   Ha....reading the blog from June 7-8, 2008, we had a nasty storm then, too, right here in Goderich.   Tonight's was a real doozy!

 Tomorrow, only a high of 68.    Planning to stay here 2 nights,

.

Thursday - June 26

 Hello from Algonac, Michigan and Harbour Club Marina.   We started the day by taking Catrina under the Portage River bridge at 8:30 and then tying up at the courtesy dock.   We walked to Lake Donuts and got a donut and apple fritters (this place is only open Thurs-Sun) and caters to all the fishermen going out early.    They have very good stuff!!!

I walked back to Catrina and Mark had a haircut appt. with Gina.    By 9:30 we were on our way out on Lake Erie.  The lake was pretty calm and after 2.5 hours, we were on the Detroit River.  We had a downpour but didn't last too long.   We cruised past Detroit on our left and Windsor, ON to our right.

The Gordie Howe International bridge is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.    Final cost is $6.4 billion.

We remember it being under construction 4 years ago

 We saw several freighters like this one on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. 

The Algocanada

 We cruised 98.5 miles - Lake Erie to Detroit River to Lake St. Clair to the St. Clair River.   We arrived in Algonac at 3:00.    Got some diesel and settled in.    We were here in 2008 and 2021.

Had dinner (perch sandwich for Mark; meat lovers flatbread for me) at Port O Call here at the marina.  Good stuff and sat on patio...weather is threatening, so instead of a walk, we headed back to Catrina.    And then the rain came down fast and furious but after that, bright and sunny.   We went for a walk and remembered being here 4 years ago....

"Manuia" came in behind us while we were gone - boy, it's a biggie and from Cape Coral, FL.

Wednesday - June 25

 LONG day starting at 2:45 AM when we left for the Spokane airport.   Our first flight was at 5 to Denver.    Amazing how many people were at the airport, but it was already 8 AM out east.

Both flights (also Denver to Cleveland) were full.   We flew Delta going out last Friday and Southwest coming home today.

Loaded our bags in Ruby and on home arriving in Port Clinton at 5.   We went straight to Catrina and got the AC on, unloaded our stuff and then left to do a grocery run.   It felt really hot from where we had been out west!

Got groceries put away, suitcases unpacked and then prepared for our departure tomorrow and big boating trip.   We had most things ready, but put things in Flo that we won't need and also got a few things to take along.

Wishing Erin and Karen safe travels as they leave tomorrow and head east to NC (4-day trip)!

Nighty night!