Travels of Mark and Pat: May 2024

Friday - May 31

Beautiful day at Lake James. We packed up our stuff, tidied up our room and after breakfast, headed over to Philip and Annette's. They were leaving on a pizza cruise with friends - Philip took his small Little Joe grill for making the pizzas and other goodies.

Annette has pretty fresh flowers around the house including our bedroom/bath - love these lilacs

Such a sweet touch!

Mark and I left for Valdese to pick up all the meat from JD's BBQ for tonight's party. This was just down the street from the hospital where I had my CT scan of shoulder last November.

On home and later we joined the pizza cruisers for a nice pontoon ride Fun to be with their friends, Kathryn, Keith and Darrell again.

We had a nice visit with Ryan and girlfriend, Erin late afternoon (our 1st time to meet her)! Then we all went to Michael and Brooke's for big graduation party - lots of good food, beverages, visiting, cards, laughs, and a beautiful evening to sit around the fire! Along with our crew, there was Bob, Judy, Leigh (Brooke's sister-in-law and niece Caroline).

Cookie cakes for the graduates - Davis (NC State Bell Tower; Brady (Notre Dame)

Blair - (Salem Elementary)

Our sweet granddaughters with Millie

Philip and Annette, Michael and Brooke

Ryan and Erin

Daddy's Girl

The boys

Liam and Connor are in Columbia, MO tonight visiting high school classmates of Liam who attend Mizzou. They played some golf today - tomorrow....home sweet home!

Thursday - May 30

Beautiful day in NC - breakfast, exercised the shoulder/hand and on with the day. Brooke took Blair to school.....even though she's "graduated" to her new school, she has a full day plus 1/2 day tomorrow at Salem Elementary!

Brooke and I spent a good morning in the kitchen making goodies for tomorrow night's party - broccoli salad, deviled eggs, baked beans and moravian sugar cake. It was fun to work in a fully-equipped kitchen.....still can't do some things (twist lids, hold a hand mixer, etc.)

Mark and I went for a walk on the road....NO trails or hills for us. Drew had 2 friends here over the holiday weekend and now been working from here this week. Davis is home till he moves into new apartment in Winston-Salem mid June and then starts his job on July 1st.

Brooke always had so many endless roses blooming in a pretty deep pink shade, but this year they are so frazzled looking - the deer are having a feast! 😖

So......Dr. Andy at Hickory's Urgent Care (yesterday's visit) called this afternoon to tell Mark that x-ray was read by radiologist today and showed a "probable" fracture but not "definitive". So, the same recovery time - 4-6 weeks!!!

Liam and Connor are in El Dorado, Kansas tonight!

Tonight was all about Brady and his graduation from Patton High School. The ceremony lasted just 1 hour and was very nice! Brady did a great job with his valedictory speech. Congratulations!!!

Notre Dame, here he comes!!!

Brady - Summa Cum Laude

#1 out of 172

Brady and proud parents

Brady and siblings

Brady with Grandma and Grandpa

Gram, Brady, Grand Bob

Wednesday - May 29

Hello from Lake James - arrived here around 3 after a 1-hour stop at Urgent Care in Hickory to check on Mark's very sore side (apparently a bruised or sprained rib) which occurred when working on Catrina's engine compartment! Those take 4-6 weeks to heal! UGH!

We enjoyed our morning in Mt. Airy (Mayberry) starting with a stop at Brady's for donuts and coffee. We had planned to have breakfast at Barney's Cafe but found this cute coffee place, so......to Brady's we went! Good donuts and coffee sitting outside (just a walk-up place with outdoor seating on a deck).

Good stuff!

Then we walked around downtown Mayberry - oh my, all these little shops, restaurants, etc. and only saw one empty building formerly a restaurant. So, the tourist season is getting started and supposedly a happening place here in little ole Mayberry with lots of festivals and fun events.

Popular spot (#3 restaurant)

Barney's police car

One of many shops/businesses named after Mayberry

Back in the day

Lots of clothing and souvenirs

The many faces of Andy thru the years

Grandpa and Millie just chilllin'

On to the lake - Michael, Drew and Davis were here (+Jinx, Millie and Maverick). Blair and Brooke were in town for piano lesson.

We stopped in to see Annette and kiddos and give them some Brady donuts. Philip was flying to Detroit and then Cancun,

Grandma and kiddos

Luke and Maeve

This morning Blair graduated from Salem Elementary and will be going to Liberty Middle School this fall!

Congratulations Blair!

Michael grilled pork tenderloins on the green egg and Brooke made roasted cheesy potatoes, asparagus and salad for a delicious dinner, After dinner, we sat outside around the fire and later, Drew and I beat Brady and Mark 2 games of euchre!!!

Riding in Cerrillos, NM

Also golfing today at Sandia in Albuquerque

Tuesday - May 28

Hello from Mayberry, USA, also known as Mt. Airy, NC. This cute little town (10,000+) is the birthplace of Andy Griffith and home to the popular Andy Griffith show featuring Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea, and Opie.....what a great family show that was!

We left Superior in Port Clinton around 9ish after a stop at Coffee Express for a latte and Mark picked up another package from Amazon. We hit I-77 near Akron and stayed on that all day. Stopped in Gallagher, WV at a rest stop that had a little cafe (not something you ever see). It was called "Mountain State Cafe"- Almost Heaven like John Denver sang in that popular song.

Cute cafe - shared a sandwich and chips

A good day of travel with clouds and sun, but did come upon 2 very serious accidents which stopped traffic. One was in WV - rollover with 2 vehicles and one ending in ditch and the other in VA where a car totally burned, Just an awful charred mess.....pray no one was seriously injured.

Liam and Connor went for a run this morning but the high altitude was a challenge so they only ran 2 miles. Then they played 9 holes in South Denver and tonight are in Santa Fe, NM.

They passed Trinidad, Co today and that brought back a memory from almost 5 years ago when we were on our way to the dude ranch for our 50th anniversary family trip. We stopped in Trinidad and found a cute coffee shop in an old bank building - the shop was called "Perkatory"!

The bad weather around the Midwest continues with so many horrific tornadoes.....such massive devastation and loss of life.

Yesterday was exactly 6 months to the day that I had my surgery (Monday, November 27th). An update on shoulder/hand.....not a lot of change. Need more mobility in shoulder and feels so heavy at times. Same sensations in the hand....burning, tingling, numb, stiff, etc., etc. Arghhhh...

TIME and PATIENCE ongoing.

We drove around downtown "Mayberry" and sooo many buildings, shops, etc., have a reference to the town and its characters. We plan to eat breakfast at "Barney's" tomorrow before heading to Lake James - 2 hours away.

We ate at the #1 restaurant tonight - Little Richard's BBQ - excellent ribs, potato salad, baked beans, hush puppies, and corn fritters! OINK OINK!!!

Outside our hotel when we arrived...

My friend Allie said you can ride around town in a police car

take a tour in this shuttle

Memorial Day - 2024

Thinking of and thanking those heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our country

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Rained during the night and early this morning - then a little sunshine, but mostly cloudy and VERY windy rest of the day! We did laundry and happy to be back with Barb and her immaculate laundromat here in Port Clinton.

Mark ran some errands while I was washin' and dryin' including getting us coffees and a breakfast sandwich for him at R Coffee Corner. Stopped at Amazon to pick up a package and on home. Got clean clothes put away and set to packing for our NC trip tomorrow. We're going to celebrate Brady's graduation Thursday night; party for the grads (Brady and Davis) on Friday night and Ryan's birthday next Sunday! We'll be gone a week....

Liam and Connor called this morning from Cheyenne - they were headed to Colorado and thought they would stop at Estes Park and remembered Grandpa and I had spent our honeymoon there. They wondered if we could recommend a good place for breakfast.....we had a good laugh as that was "55" years ago!!!!! We told them to check our trusty Trip Advisor so that was the plan!!! They are alternating staying in campgrounds (tent camping) and hotels.

Mark installed a new bilge pump and then we walked downtown at 2 to Waterworks Park and the big Walleye Festival......today was the last day of the 4-day event - lots of vendors for crafts, all kinds of food/drinks + the big carnival! It was actually chilly with the crazy winds and ominous looking skies but we thoroughly enjoyed our perch/walleye sandwiches, fries and lemon shake-up.

The downtown area has part of Madison Street closed off during the season for band concerts, dancing, eating, etc. They painted several of the concrete barriers - pretty cool...here are a few

On home for short naps and then finished up the packing and got Flo and Big Red settled in the storage building. Ran out of time and energy to give them a good washing, but with all the rain, they look pretty good

We knew that Michael, Chris, adult son and friend left this morning for Put in Bay.....wondered about that with the crazy winds, but away they went in their new boat (it's a 2003, but a real beauty). Bob told us they were stranded over there and probably would spend the night as the winds aren't to die down till late tonight and Lake Erie is pretty nasty.

Our new great niece, Parker James

Jim and Lydia's granddaughter

Liam and Connor spent today in Denver and this afternoon watched the Colorado Rockies beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-6. Beautiful day in Denver!

The boys at Coors Field

Sunday - May 26

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Mark's Dad (Grandpa C) who would've been 103 today!

We decided to go to 8:00 Mass instead of our usual 10:30 at Immaculate Conception as we have plenty to do today and Mark wanted to take Catrina out for a little spin before the rain/storms arrive. So good to be bac with Father Jonathan Wight and thoroughly enjoyed another great homily.

On home for muffins, cereal and blueberries and then Bob and Donna joined us for a short boat ride to check some things on Catrina. Mark will be talking to Dave and team here at Superior to have a look while we're gone.

Brady and prom date, Camry

Mark and I weren't as peppy as yesterday - our get up and go, got up and went! HA!!! There's always tomorrow!

Rain started at 6:10 PM - nice and gentle. But then switched to very heavy! Soo sad for the folks in Texas and surrounding states.

Leftovers for supper and then zoom with the siblings...but with our stormy weather we didn't have video - we could see them but they couldn't see us, so just did audio.

Liam and Connor started their road trip out west today - just the brothers trekking across the country with their first stop tonight in Cheyenne, WY. We wish them a fun, safe trip!

Saturday - May 25

Whew..............very big day but very productive. Started out with a brief heavy rain shower at 6 AM but then rest of the day was breezy, sunny and warm. We had muffins from Coffee Express and then set to work! Back and forth, back and forth from Flo to Catrina all day long!! No extra exercises needed for the shoulder or hand today!

So good to see Bob (Donna's hubby and builder of our flower boxes) back - he and Donna live about 2 hours south of here. Also Michael and Chris who had gotten out of boating, then Covid and other issues, but they're back with a beautiful boat and sooo good to see them. Chris had a nasty accident falling off her horse and major shoulder issues, too, so we've been comparing notes!

Today was Connor's graduation party with 3 friends at Crawford's.

Connor - the graduate ready to party

I just love this modern technology - well, at least most of the time and so thankful I have my techie hubby to answer all my questions! My Monday Night Friend, Jody and Ed are currently vacationing in Norway and Iceland - she sent a text tonight from Oslo, Norway - having a wonderful time!

We walked downtown at 5:30 and met Bob, Donna, Michael and Chris at The Bait House for drinks/pizza/subs. Fun time and later Dave (dockmaster) and Cana joined us.

Pat, Chris, Mark, Donna, Bob, Michael

Lots of people out partying on this holiday weekend but the music was very loud. Donna invited us back to their boat (So Blessed) for more drinks and lots of laughs + a nice fireworks display.

Friday - May 24

Woke up by the water with clear blue skies and warming up to 80. Mark is ready to switch from happy camper to happy boater! He did some little odd jobs while Catrina was still in the building before she was launched this afternoon. Visited Dave, the marina manager - such a nice guy. Checked out the new bathrooms and showers - very nice!!!

I was looking forward to Coffee Express and a yummy treat .....of course, big crowd, great latte and muffins (tomorrow's breakfast as we'll be in the thick of transferring our stuff).

Donna reminded us that this is the big Walleye Festival (always Memorial Day weekend), so that's definitely on the agenda for sometime over the next few days. Bob (Donna's husband is very handy and likes to keep busy over the winter months).....so he built 12 of these very nice planters to place around the marina! Way to go, Bob!!!

And these pretty daisies just outside Superior Marine's gate!

Mark and I went to Dock's Beach Bar for lunch - very busy but good as ever (he had the crab cake sandwich and I had a pulled pork). I got my hair cut by Wendy at Salon 53, got the car washed and finally stopped at Bassett's for a few groceries (that place was a zoo).

When I returned Catrina was in the water and at 4, she was in her slip beside Flo.....tomorrow we'll start moving our stuff.

Soo good to be back in Port Clinton - new businesses and buildings going up, but also a favorite ice cream shop is closing. 😔

Catrina and Flo reunited again...

Mark was in need of an ice cream fix, so.....we went to Scooter's (he got a turtle sundae and I got a snickers flurry.) Yum! Very busy place with several teens and then a ball team arriving just after we ordered.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Thursday - May 23

At 7:22, our little mini caravan left KK on a very pretty sunny day! We took a different route than normal as Mark didn't want to go around Chicago or the country route (24) with farmers and machinery still going strong. So we did Indy to Fort Wayne to Toledo to Port Clinton.

We stopped in Ingalls, IN for lunch (McDonalds at Loves truck stop). We traveled 423 miles - long day for we nomads but happy to be in our summer home of Port Clinton. Donna, our neighbor greeted us with big hugs and we also met a boat delivery captain and his teenage-son who are leaving tomorrow with a beautiful 58' Sea Ray delivering to its new home in Fort Myers. How about that. The guys actually live in Cape Coral. We were curious which marina they were taking "One More Thing" to as there are very few marinas in operation after Ian hit. It's new home will be at The Landings which is private.

Tomorrow Catrina will be launched and then we'll start the transfer of all our stuff from one home to another. Big Red, Flo and Ruby all need a good washing so that may be on the agenda too.

We took our drinks and walked around Superior Marina checking on all the boats - new ones and those familiar to us, Should be a busy holiday weekend.

Connor and friends (Patrick, Luke A and Luke B) at the Cubs game today

Unfortunately, they lost to the Braves 3-0.

Leftovers for supper and then we watched the Blue Angel documentary on Amazon Prime. We highly recommend this very exciting, informative, thrills and chills movie - this Mama's buttons are popping once again knowing Ryan was one of them!!!

Wednesday - May 22

Another windy day, but not as bad as yesterday! So sad for the folks in Iowa, especially Greenfield.

We were off to town at 8:10 to meet long-time boating friends for breakfast at Bloomin' Cafe. We had never been there - what a great place and very good food. Catching up with everyone's families, health issues, summer plans, etc. FUN time and hope to see them all in September.

Pat, Barb, Roger H, Gary, Roger P, Mark, Gerry

We drove past Weibring Golf Course and waved at Connor (didn't see him but knew he was out there somewhere doing what he loves so much)! Stopped at Holy Cross Cemetery and chatted with Patrick - he would be sooo proud of his boys! And of course, Anne who is doing a fine job with Liam and Connor.

Went to Martin Health Center to see Donna Rae and another dear friend, Rhea. Had great visits with both and continued prayers for their health and well being.

Donna Rae

Rhea

Our last stop was to see Sigrunn and Ken and give Sig a little gift as she recovers from her knee replacement. More hugs and good byes......did a lot of that today! Till September!

On home and started putting stuff in a safe place for travel. Several RVers came in this afternoon including 2 guys next to us from Idaho and Seattle traveling to the Indy 500. Micci stopped by and we hugged good bye. Hope it's a profitable summer for KK - the pool is ready to open this weekend.

Blair graduating from 5th grade!

They do it up big in North Carolina!

Best of luck in middle school, sweetie!

The 2 weeks and 1 day we were at KK have flown by and packed in with so much fun and good eating! Enjoyed family and friends big time but now onto Catrina and a summer on the water.

Tomorrow Ruby and I (+my oldies) will follow Mark, Big Red and Flo wherever they may go.........

Tomorrow night is the Blue Angel special on Amazon Prime!!! One final walk around KK.

Tuesday - May 21

Wow................what a crazy VERY windy day with gusts at 45 mph. We left for town at 9:30, had several errands including stopping in to see Liam for a hug and good bye.

Gibson and Frankie watching us from the window!

Mark dropped me off at Destihl for lunch with Brenda, Sharon and Sue. Great lunch and visit - miss these gals when we're gone for a long time. We sat outside - winds were still blowing hard but we were a bit protected.

Long-time friends enjoying delicious sangrias

We shared this sinfully delicious banana cream pie

different than the typical pie

Mark had lunch with his friend Henry at Times Past and they enjoyed catching up. He picked me up and we drove to Green Gables as we wanted to see the new place. They did a nice job with the new building and a lot of people there at 2:30.

Stopped in Gridley to see Barb and Roger and a final visit till fall.....always enjoy our chats.

On home as the winds were just so strong. Took a little rest and then time for dinner at Jack's and dessert (rhubarb crunch and ice cream) with Peggy and Steve at their home. Plenty to yak about and compare notes on my accident in November and Steve's in December. The wind is still very strong but just a few raindrops on our way home. Our phones were going off earlier tonight with dust storm warnings,

Monday - May 20

Busy Monday as we wind down our time at KK. Today we were off to Cracker Barrel to meet the Monday breakfast bunch - great to see these folks and hear their news. Sigrunn is recovering from knee replacement and started her PT today. I sure wish her all the best! Ken bought lottery tickets for all of us - Pat M was the only winner - $4.

Sue, Pat, Mark, Brenda, Pat, Sigrunn, Ken

We ran a bunch of errands and then did laundry - sure nice having new machines and using cards instead of all the quarters. On home. At 4:30 we left for Busy Corner and met the Monday Night Friends and hubbies - 8 gals and 4 guys tonight. We always sit at separate tables - we girls can carry on and same for the guys - hard to visit when there's such a big group.