Friday July 2

 Lots of wind overnight and today.    Cloudy all morning and cool - high was 73 but with the wind, felt much cooler.

Mark ran some errands and then I walked downtown and picked up our tickets for the ferry this afternoon, checked out 3 nice shops and got a caramel macchiato at Coffee Express.

Love all the patriotism here in Port Clinton with flags lining the streets (on our way to 1812 last night, so many lovely older homes and charming cottages along the lakefront and flags everywhere!)  And the same for downtown this morning.

Neat mural downtown

We took the 2:45 Jet Express ferry to Put In Bay and first checked out the venue for the Gatlin concert tonight.    It is off the beaten  path a few blocks from the downtown bar scene.   We found the Bay Landing Resort with a small bar/patio, pool, etc.   We sat on the patio and had a drink and then off for some food.    Ate on the Garden Patio of The Forge and had an appetizer (short ribs/fries/poutine/cheese curds in a bowl).   Delicious!    They offered several dessert crepes - I had the lemon/raspberry and Mark enjoyed his banana cream pie crepe - good food here!!!

Time to head back for the show.....we were able to get our same seats we had earlier and settled in.    Darryl and Andrea walked around 15 minutes before the show and had a good chat.    Told them we love their Fort Myers show and of course, they are so gracious, but don't think they remembered us - ha!   Of course, they didn't see us in 2021.     

Pat and Darryl

Andrea and Mark

These two can still belt 'em out!!!

Great entertainment

Had a nice chat with these folks from Cincinnati who recently bought a home here on Put In Bay

Dave and Judy

 We took the 9:30 ferry back - lots of people and many still going to the island with the last ferry returning at 12:15 AM.    It is a very happening place with bars, bars, so many bars!!!    The 30-mile round trip burns 110 gallons of fuel.    Each way is 1/2 hour long.

For the past 5 years, Mark and I have sponsored "Harold" thru the Unbound program.    This wonderful organization based in Kansas City, KS "partners with families living in poverty empowering them to become self-sufficient and fulfill their desired potential."    Harold lives in the Philippines with his family and writes the most endearing letters.    Hearing from Harold 3-4 times a year is such a treat as his grammar is excellent and he writes from the heart calling us Uncle Mark and Aunt Pat.    He's always interested in what our grandkids are doing, questions about our schools, travels, weather, the pandemic, etc.     His latest letter was heartbreaking as he told us his 46-year old Mother died suddenly (brain issue) and how devastating this has been for his family as she was thee "best" Mother.....I cried while reading this and the extra sadness that she died on Harold's 13th birthday.    What a wonderful, precious child who has dealt with so much in his young life.  

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

View coming back on the ferry