Wednesday - August 27

 The nomads were busy busy - I was moving stuff from Catrina to Flo and Mark was fixing this 'n that, cleaning filters, etc., etc.   By 1:15, we were ready for a break!    A very good 1st day of transferring!

Very sad news from  Minneapolis this morning.   Innocent little kiddos at Mass for start of the school year - just unfathomable.    What a sicko!!!!!!!!   Praying for the victims, those injured, their families and first responders.

We had a fun afternoon when we met Joan (Mark's sister) and Joe at Gideon Owen Winery at 4 for early dinner.   We sat outdoors on this beautiful day and so enjoyed our visit and dinner - bang bang shrimp, shrimp tostados, BLT and lobster bisque.   

Said our good byes - they are headed to Cleveland where Joan will have several tests tomorrow for her ankle issues (she's had 2 ankle replacements 8 years ago but now in so much pain again.)    We sure are praying for her and that she gets some relief SOON!

Joan and Joe

Back home - walked around the marina - just us here tonight.

Tuesday - August 26

 Cloudy dark skies and "felt" like 47 when we got up1   Yikes....it's still August (maybe some warmer weather for a few more days?)    We left for Brewed Awakening at 7:45 for coffee and breakfast sandwiches.    Then back to Catrina, stowed our stuff down below, undid the lines and water hose and off we went "bye bye Vermilion"- choppy water with the waves 2-3' and winds out of the NW and we were going west!    Not our most fun trip, but a wild and wooly last ride of the season back to Port Clinton - 37.2 miles.

We had lunch and then Mark changed the oil in the engines.   A brief  "surprise" shower (we had 2 heavier rain storms last night after I posted the blog) around 1:45.    Wish we could send this rain south!

Flo is out of the building and parked beside Catrina - we'll start transferring our stuff tomorrow.    After the quick shower, it was a beautiful sunny afternoon with a high of 69.

We walked downtown and ate at The Brick House (great pizza).   We ate here a few years ago....not sure why we haven't been back as it was very good.   Back home and ready to call it a day!

Maeve got a haircut and style today - wow, our soon-to-be 3rd grader is such a pretty, sweet little lass!

Miss Maeve

Monday - August 25

Yikes....woke up to a bunch of mayflies on Catrina along with other bugs, BUT....mayflies?   That's a May/June bug and here we are almost September???   Not happy to see those buggers.

 Cool day with a high of 69 and clouds/sun ....I got a latte at "Brewed Awakening" and then we went to Granny Joe's for breakfast - you can't come to Vermilion and not hit these 2 popular places!

Mark worked on scrubbing the scum line on Catrina - we are down to our last week!    Crazy fast summer but we're ready for fall and lots of fun stuff coming up.

I walked downtown but disappointed that so many shops are closed on Mondays?  Same goes for restaurants?   What the heck?   It's still in-season and with this being such a popular boating community???   I don't get it and neither do the shop folks I visited with....... 

Walked back to Catrina just as Mark was finishing up!   We did facetime with Philip and family.   Luke and Maeve have 1 more week of vacation.

Quiet afternoon - read, played games and Mark took a nap.   It was such a pretty day, we really shouldn't spend it indoors, so another walk.   We are amazed about the lack of boats here - the season is definitely winding down.    We are at the Vermilion public docks and there are 2 areas - 1st one where we are has 20 slips and Catrina is here by herself?    And then further up the river is a long wall and that's where we walked and again, NO boats?   Usually this is a very busy place and full of boats!   We've never been here this late in the season.

We would've gone to The Vault (old bank building) for dinner as it was really good last visit, but they are closed Mondays.....arghhhh along with others, so we ate on Catrina.

Fall is definitely in the air and these pleasant temps will continue thru the week.

Pretty flowers around downtown

Flags and flowers are everywhere downtown

Even high above the trees

We went for a walk down by the beach to watch the sunset....

Ominous looking sky

Vermilion lighthouse with pretty sky

Last sunset for us in Vermilion

Heading back to Port Clinton tomorrow...

Sunday - August 24

 We had 3/10" of rain overnight - sure wasn't expecting that.   Port Clinton and surrounding areas have been blessed with plenty of rain - grass/crops all very green and healthy.

We went to 8:00 Mass with Father Jonathan.   To Catrina for breakfast, pump out and  ran several errands.    Back to the marina, started up the engines and went thru the 11:30 bridge.

We arrived in Vermilion at 2 and settled in slip #1 at the Vermilion City Docks with 2 nice guys grabbing our lines.    Got Catrina secure with power and water hooked up and ready to take on this favorite town.    First we had a light lunch.   It is a gorgeous day!

And then went for a nice walk thru this charming town full of lovely homes and spectacular flowers - I wonder if there's some sort of competition for who has the most beautiful gardens/yards?

Congratulations to Liam who finished 1st place in his age division (20-29) this morning in Manchester, IA (Hero Hustle triathlon.)  So proud of him!   He and Connor have really been into the healthy cooking and eating!

Tomorrow, Liam (junior), Brady (sophomore) and Blair (7th) are back to the classroom!   Good luck kiddos - have fun and study hard!

The mums are back - fall is just around the corner

Today is the 57th anniversary of our engagement.   Mark proposed on August 24, 1968.    We celebrated tonight with a fabulous dinner at Chez Francois in Vermilion.   This is a special occasion place and just phenomenal in ambiance, service and food!   Our 3rd time to dine here over the years.

Catrina in the background!

Saturday - August 23

 Well today was very fun!   Started out by leaving Catrina at 7:50 with a stop at Lake Donuts (sooo good and only Thursday-Sunday).  Today we each had a fritter (apple for Mark an blueberry for me).   

Then a quick stop at WalMart and finally on our way to Columbus (2.5 hours).   We went to the Polaris Fashion Mall for some shopping - I had not been to a Von Maur or Barnes & Noble in eons.     Mark bought a pair of jeans and our clerk was so nice visiting about this and that and lo and behold, she used to work at State Farm in Bloomington.    Mark remembers her brother.    Small world.

Our niece Megan (Tom and Beth's daughter) has been in Japan for 2 years teaching English as a second language.   She arrived home last Sunday and today was a big "surprise" welcome home party at her brother Matt and Kara's home.    Beth did a great job coordinating the guests, games, food, decorations, etc.    Since Megan has missed 2 years of birthdays, and all the other holidays, that was the theme - bring something related to a holiday.    We did birthday and got her favorite candy bar (10 Wunderbars) that's only found in Canada.   We picked them up for her this summer - she was excited!!!    They are delicious!   7 of Mark's siblings came and several of Megan's friends.    We played 3 games (Left, Right, Center; a Thanksgiving game and did an Easter egg hunt)!   Great food, got to meet Matt and Kara's baby, Roman (5 months) and so fun to catch up with family.   

We were on rural roads (different routes coming and going) so saw lots of Ohio countryside.

Back to the marina at 6:30 - we are tired but a happy tired!!!

Tom and 1st grandchild, Roman

Tom, Megan, Beth

So happy to have their girl back in the good ole USA

Party guests + Tucker!