Thursday - August 5

 Much warmer today after the low 70's for several days.    But it's the good ole summer time and this is how it's supposed to be!    We had breakfast at The Pavilion Cafe (Mark was in need of a biscuits 'n gravy fix) and I enjoyed my bacon/egg/cheese croissant.   

Mark rode his bike (1.5 miles) to the post office to mail a package and I came on back to Catrina after walking thru a residential area - everyone takes such pride in their homes, landscaping, etc.    Of course, the flowers are magnificent whether on the streets downtown are in people's yards.   And the American flags are flying proudly all over town!!!

Ryan has been in the UK and Germany for 2 weeks and trip was extended till the 17th.    Today he's in Tel Aviv.    Packages need to be delivered all around the world!

When we were in Vermilion 13 years ago, we were on Sail Catrina and docked just a few slips away.    Love this location as we're directly across from the canals (Vermilion Lagoons) and beautiful white homes (must have green or black roof and black shutters.)    All of these homes are unique and charming.   Last night as we were walking around downtown, we saw realtor listings in a window - these homes are $1 million+.    And they have beautiful boats/yachts right outside their front door!     Bummer we can't take the dinghy up and down the canals (4) which we did the last time we were here.

This afternoon we put on our swimsuits/trunks and gave Catrina a good scrubbing.   Boy, those spiders are just awful and I was talking to another guy on the dock about all the bugs (mayflies, midgets, spiders) we've encountered .....a real "buggie" summer!    UGH!

We walked downtown and stopped at Big Ed's Soda Fountain.....what a fun place and brought back so many memories with all the old-timey paraphanalia.    Mark had a chili dog and chocolate shake; I had a corn dog and chocolate malt - deeeelicious!

Big Ed's Soda Fountain

Mark waiting for his shake amidst all the memorbilia

Took a little longer route home past the beach.    

Dinner-plate size hibiscus

Tonight after supper we walked downtown one more time, to the beach and sat and watched the kiddies play and boats/jet skies out for a nice evening on the water.  

The Vermilion Lighthouse built in 1877.

In 2016 the city raised $40,000 to have the light working once again

  Then back to Catrina and enjoyed this lovely evening on the bridge and here are some pics from across the way at the Lagoons.

Our view from Catrina 

Tomorrow we are off to Port Clinton (around 33 miles) and hang out there several days and then take off again!

Wednesday - August 4

 An awesome day on the water for almost 5 hours.    We left Geneva-on-the-Lake at 9 AM and cruised on a calm lake with sunny skies and pleasant temps (Mark wore 2 jackets though as he was facing into the wind) for 80 miles to Vermilion.   

Calm as calm can be

Our kind of boating and a rarity on Lake Erie!

 We were last here in 2008 (July 31-August 1) and remembered all the lovely homes and flowers!!!    Well, that hasn't changed cause as soon as we arrived, there are all these canals with thee prettiest white homes and colorful flowers everywhere!!!    The town is oozing with charm.  

We settled in at the Port of Vermilion with the help of 3 nice guys to take our lines and welcome us.    We had lunch (tuna salad sandwiches) and then took off to explore downtown .    Talked to a few locals (more welcomes) who told us where to eat, etc.    The important stuff!  😀Vermilion must have stock in miracle gro cause the flowers are everywhere with ginormous, healthy blossoms.

We found the "Brewed Awakening" coffee shop (what a cute name in a neat old historic building).    We got our iced coffees and then meandered around the downtown.  

  Mark decided he was going back to Catrina and left me to check out the shops.    Enjoyed browsing some very nice (nothing touristy) stores in a 2-block area (Main and Liberty Streets).    Everyone so friendly and especially enjoyed "Clare's Stitching Post" full of counted cross stitch patterns, floss, and much more.   After sooo many years of doing this craft, wondered if many people still did this - apparently going strong here in Vermilion.    

So, here are just a few of the many many flowers in this town...

Every street lamp has 2 hanging baskets and Old Glory

I came back to Catrina, put my feet up, worked on the blog and read.    There is a wall behind us here at the marina (Port of Vermilion) and every 5' they have these huge pink/orange  geraniums in black boxes...

Sweet

Catrina is docked right by these beauties

We had a reservation at The Wine Vault (only 6 tables inside and about that many on the patio).    We sat outdoors on this awesome evening and wow.....another fabulous meal (filet for Mark and sea bass for me).    We topped if off with to-die-for-desserts (caramel pecan torte with cinnamon ice cream for Mark and butterfinger cheesecake with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for me).    My oh my oh my......

Waddled back to Catrina and settled in for the night stuffed and happy!    Tomorrow, walk, walk, walk this darling town and work off some calories!!!

   

Tuesday - August 3

 Nippy morning but a beautiful sunrise - enjoyed it from cozy, warm (yes, we had the heat on) Catrina but didn't have the energy to go outside and walk to the hill overlooking Lake Erie and take a picture.

Wiped down all the spiders on the boat - ugh!   A morning ritual and they are everywhere day after day!!!    Arghhhh.    Made a batch of tuna salad and then went for a walk and discovered they have a little restaurant on site here at marina - little grill serving breakfast/lunch/dinner.

March 13th was the last time we rode bikes.   WOW..........got 'em off Catrina, dusted 'em off, 'greased the brakes and away we went.   Felt so good and enjoyed some awesome paved trails here in Geneva State Park in the cool forest!

Just before we left on our bikes, a boatload of Amish men and young boys came into the marina.   And then while riding thru the woods, we saw some Amish ladies pulling a wagon with little ones heading to the beach.    I respected their wish to not take a picture as that's not something they want strangers to do

Mark worked on some boat jobs and I caught up on e-mails and read.    Still frustrated with the dinghy engine.    Several people have walked past our long dock and comment on Catrina.    A couple from the Tampa area rode their bikes from the campground (they are full-time RVers) and were asking several ? about our lifestyle, the boat, etc.    They will be host campers at a campground in Lake Wales, FL and the guy will be in charge of the food truck.     Lake Wales makes us think of Crazy Fish and great seafood.

We went to the little grill (nice selection) for lunch and sat in the sunshine - absolutely perfect day at 75.   I had a grilled 3-cheese/ham sandwich and a burger for Mark.    Really good!    There are 4 scooters at the end of the dock for the transient boaters to use.   They all look brand new, so Mark tried the dark green one out for his transportation to the grill which is a little jaunt.    And here he is...

A new way to get around

We went for a walk in the afternoon and some hiking in the woods.    Canopy Tours is here in Geneva State Park and is quite something for those who love to zip line or enjoy other obstacle courses.    There are 8 stations for zip lining and thought how much our 5 older grandsons would enjoy this place

Wow....way up there!

 Blair, Maeve and Luke would like these paddle boats

Something here for all ages

Mark and Catrina

BLT's for supper and then one more bike ride on this glorious evening.    Saw a bunch of Amish at a beach bash???

We usually have a plan for the next day but not tonight as Fairport Harbor would be our next stop just 15 miles away.    We know they have a few marinas and yacht clubs, but one marina turned us down - no room; and the other places have not returned our call, so????    May just drive by and wave...one thing we do know is that they definitely cater more to smaller boats.    We shall see....

   

Monday - August 2

 Mark is always up way before me plotting the day (especially when we're going to be moving on).    Thought we were just going across the bay to Presque Isle State Park and either anchor or maybe get a slip (first come first serve) at the marina.    Since we don't have an operating dinghy (only by paddles), we couldn't take our bikes off but just anchoring out is peaceful and something we've not done yet this year.  

But then......my Captain had the thought that we should just leave Erie and be on our way to Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH as the waves were to be less than a foot and calm winds and getting calmer as the day went on.    We wanted to go back to Ember and Forge Coffee Shop downtown + Ye Ole Sweet Shop for some yummy muffins before we headed out.    Everything delicious as we remembered and by 10:10, we were leaving Erie.   

When we were walking downtown we came across this big flatbed truck as men were trying to unload after unwrapping the clear plastic and with a crane erect this sculpture in the neaby park?

Wonder what the significance is?

\

And then this colorful "ribet" "ribet" on a downtown street corner!

Sweet Frog

 We cruised 58 miles and arrived in Geneva-on-the-Lake (GOTL) at 1:40.    Once again, we were wearing jackets and I had a blanket.   The waves were 1 footers and kind of a wobbly ride, but not bad.  But once we were back on land, nice 'n warm.   

When we were in Erie with Flo (returning from Brewerton in June) we had taken my car and driven thru the state park and it is huge and so pretty with lots of trails.   So we can say we've been there and check off the list.  Glad my Captain made this decision and we'll be staying 2 nights.

After lunch, we went for a nice long walk (much warmer than predicted) and checked out the Geneva-on-the-Lake Lodge which is gorgeous and made a reservation for dinner tonight.    Kept on going to the downtown which is very touristy but found some great ice cream at Katie's Corner, home of Masden Ice Cream since 1938.    Mark had rocky road and butter pecan and I had Reese's!  👍    

Geneva-on-the-Lake Lodge

Beautiful!!!

Entrance to the lodge - as Mark predicted, inland, absolutely no wind!

Pretty blooms at GOTL

This is the oldest continuing-still-operating mini golf course in the USA

Right here at GOTL

Pretty day on the water and one lonely sailboat

From our marina, we cross this bridge to get on the grounds of

Geneva State Park and the Lodge

We sat in the shade and enjoyed our cones and then walked back to Catrina.    A sailboat came in behind us this afternoon.   We talked to these folks when we returned from our walk.    They saw we were from Fort Myers and they live in Okeechobee, FL.    He is a boat delivery captain and they picked this boat up in Kingston, ON and delivering to Traverse Bay, MI.    Since he's a captain and it's his business, he can cross from Canada into US.   But they've had so many issues with the boat......the new owners will be in for some surprises?

Amazing how many folks just in the past few days are from Fort Myers or have a connection!    Small world.

Our sister-in-law, Beth tested positive this morning for Covid.    She's fully vaccinated and just experiencing a slight sore throat.    Beth teaches a summer science camp for 2 weeks and one of her students caught Covid, so....as the nurse, said "you are one of the unlucky 5% who are vaccinated and still catch Covid."    Tonight we heard that our niece and her husband both have Covid.....both were vaccinated but apparently caught it from their 2 small children when there was an outbreak at daycare!

We walked to Horizons in the Lodge for dinner.    A young couple checked in before us and were told they were full and nothing available tonight.    The dining room is huge and the entire time we were there, way more empty tables than full.   We had a nice table by the window (outside tables were all kept full) with a view of all the flowers, gazebo, lake, etc.   Amanda, our waitress said they just don't have the help and are turning people away.    So sad.....dinner was good but VERY slow!!!!    Interesting that when we were in PA the past 2 days, no masks at restaurants and now in Ohio, the hostess, wait staff and lobby check-in gals were all masked............................again!!!

It is a beautiful cool evening and enjoyed our walk back to Catrina.    Low of 54 by morning and it's August 2.

Lovely view on a lovely evening at GOTL

  

Sunday - August 1

WELCOME   AUGUST

 Slept in this Sunday morning and had some light rain off and on.    After breakfast (waffles, sausage and blueberries), we gathered the laundry and headed to the marina laundromat.    While I was doing the 4 loads, it really rained with thunder and lightning..   Mark helped get all the nice clean clothes back on Catrina, the sun came out and turned out to be a very nice Sunday despite the all-day rain predicted.    More is maybe coming tonight?

Corrrection from yesterday's blog.....we met Beeb and Frank in Dunkirk, NY for the 1st time; then Erie, Cleveland and Port Clinton.    Hopefully our paths will cross again sometime, somewhere?

Also, yesterday we passed Conneaut, a small port 10 miles from Ashtabula and just before we crossed into Pennsylvania.   We could not stop there as they are not equipped to take boats longer than 30'.    We did wave as we passed by for Mark to get credit.  😊  

Our little NC grandchildren are having more summertime fun since we took them back home.    Blair made her theater debut Friday night with "The Lion and the Mouse".   She was the mouse and we enjoyed a short clip Brooke and her GrandBob sent us.   This past week, she was a camp for theater/dance.    Blair did facetime with us this afternoon and we got to see her sweet painted face.

 And then there's these 2 munchkins with some artfully displayed face painting....

Someone is quite talented!

Late afternoon we walked to Pier 6.    This new place has a rooftop bar with nice views of the lake and lakefront.   The lower 2 floors will be an upscale seafood/oyster bar.   When we were here 6 weeks ago, we heard they had not opened yet cause of shortage of help?    Pier 6 was very nice - we enjoyed our drinks and the view on this lovely afternoon with a high of just 72..

There are at least 7 boats here from Tonawanda, NY with young families.    They are traveling together and spending 4 days in Erie.   It's so neat to see them on the dock with their chairs, food, drinks, visiting, laughing and making happy memories.   Earlier when it was raining, they were on the back of their boats playing cards and games.   Reminds us of our years of boating at Reefpoint Marina in Racine and all the fun we had.    

Artwork on the dock

I made a charcuterie board tonight - assorted cold cuts, cheeses, crackers and fruits.    It was really good and we are seeing this more and more on menus.    Our first time to order this was in Frankenmuth, MI with my brother Bob and Linda.   It was on our anniversary - June 28, 2016.   Remember sitting on the patio and enjoying this "new" dish!

Just before zoom tonight we had another gulley washer - rained very hard for about 10 minutes.    All but 2 (Jim and Doris) were on tonight - lots of lively discussion covering health issues, hole-in-one for Janet's hubby, new grandbaby coming for Sharon in CA any day, etc., etc.   

Enjoy your week!