Tuesday - May 19

 Big day for we nomads.    We left KK at 6:40 with lots of good memories of our month-long stay.

Mostly cloudy in the morning but later the sun came out and a nice day for travel with no rain which had been in the forecast!    The wind did pick up in the afternoon but Flo handled it just fine..

It was a 7-hour trip + stops (4) so made the trip in 8 hours and 5 minutes and now back on eastern time.    Found a cute coffee shop in Fairbury - "Dream Cabin Coffee" and had lunch in Huntington, IN (I made sandwiches last night).

It got to 89 today and we arrived at Superior Marine around 3:40 - so good to be here, stretch the legs and visit with Dave, the Dockmaster.

Lots of boats in the water and he said the marina will be full this year!   WOW....

We were tired and not wanting a big meal, so decided to go to Doc's Beach House for drinks and appetizers - it was so pleasant sitting by the water and even had a familiar waitress.    

Lake Erie - where are all the people?    Just wait for a few more weeks!

This is the "calm before the storm"

Came back to Flo and the sky looked threatening - Mark checked the radar and it wasn't pretty.    About 20 minutes after we were settled in for the night, it started to sprinkle and then heavier and oh my........the wind blew like crazy, lightning, thunder and VERY heavy rain.    Yikes!    Talk about a drastic change.    

So today Anne was to have her 2nd slow Moh's procedure but she got a call when she and Connor were on their way to Springfield.    They had not received the pathology report from yesterday's test, so canceled today!    Arghhhh.....frustrating waiting for test results over and over!    Back tomorrow.

Monday - May 18

 Forgot this pic yesterday from Rob Dobs...

Connor, Mark, Pat, Anne, Liam

We've been at KK for one month and have seen 15 states and New Brunswick, Canada.

I left for the Hornet's Nest to meet the Monday morning group and Mark drove to Darrel's and rode with him as we both needed a vehicle today.

Good breakfast and nice having Pat's 2 sisters from Texas join us.    It poured while we were eating.    We all left at 10:20 with good bye hugs for Mark and me (and good luck to Anne).  

The girls:

  Tammie, Brenda, Sigrunn. Pat, Sue, Debbie

The guys

Pat, Darrel, Mark, Ken

 I had a 11:00 lab appointment for bloodwork.    Then I picked up Anne and we were on our way to Springfield.   Just light rain till the last 10 miles when it came down really hard.   

We stopped at Grab-A-Java for some hot beverages and then onto the clinic.   Today was Anne's first slow Moh's procedure (excision).    Plenty of time waiting but actual procedure took 12 minutes.    She has to go back tomorrow - same time, same place.   Connor will take her.

Took Anne home and good bye hugs for she and the boys.    Hate good byes!   Stopped at Menards for some clamps for Philip (he loves Menards and they don't have that store in NC).    Got some gas for Ruby and on home.    

Tomorrow, we are on the move again heading to Port Clinton.

Sunday - May 17

The wind was strong again and to continue thru tomorrow!    We met Anne and the boys at 10:00 Mass at Holy Trinity with Father Bo.    We planned to go to Egg Republic for breakfast but even with call-ahead seating, it was going to be an hour wait and it was very loud!   People people everywhere!   So we went across the street and ate at Rob Dobs - all good and so fun to be back with Liam and Connor and catch up.

Stopped at Olive Garden for the salad I'm taking tonight to our pizza party.

Happy Birthday to our granddog

Frankie is 5

Idaho is new state at KK tonight.    

Our friend Gary invited us to his homemade pizza party tonight - thought it was going to be Barb and Roger H, Roger P, Gary and us.    And then we arrived to these familiar faces we had not seen in years.....oh my!    So much fun.    The pizza was sooo good along with lots of other yummy stuff.

We share so many memories with these folks;  Gary, Roger P and Leon have all lost their dear wives (Judy, Carol and Helen).    Tonight was really special....with tears and laughs.  Gary shared the video of memories thru the years with Judy that was shown at her celebration of life.    And what was extra special was how far these folks traveled.

Back:  Leon (Muskegon, MI); Rod and Sharon (Towanda)

Front:  Gary (Hudson); Roger P (Boomington)

Mark and Pat (KK)

Back:   Barb and Roger (Gridley), Dave (Bay City, MI)

Front:  Viv and Mike (Lake of the Ozarks, MO)

Saturday - May 16

 Big day for we nomads.....left KK around 8ish and went to Revive in Goodfield for coffee and shared a bacon/egg/cheese sandwich on some delicious grilled bread.   Then to Costco in Davenport for some supplies for Philip and Brooke.

Met Tessa (Drew's wife) who drove over from Cedar Rapids at the Machine Shed in Davenport for lunch and great visit.    So good to have these one-on-one visits.   Drew is in NC with his family this weekend after working in Cincinnati.

Tessa, our granddaughter-in-law

Midwest  folks with ear of corn outside Machine Shed

Pat, Tessa, Mark

Bye bye to Tessa - hope to see she and Drew for Thanksgiving in NC.

Next stop was Sterling, IL to visit Mark's sister Joan and Joe.    Joan had the recent ankle surgery and a long recovery.    But she's a trooper and was working away in the kitchen and had made a 4-berry pie (cherry, blueberry, raspberry and blackberry) - delicious!    Her surgeon said she should stay active so just has her leg propped on her wheeled walker and moves around the kitchen like a champ.    We also got to see their son Tim and his daughter Sophie.    Great visit and Joan will be going back to Cleveland Clinic on the 27th for next check-up.

Joan and Joe

And finally arrived at KK at 5:20 - big day but lots of fun!

Walked around KK - Montana is a new state tonight.

Friday - May 15

 WOW....11 years ago today Mark and I closed on our Jackson Street home and became full-time Nomads!    Who would've thought.....and we're still having FUN!!!

Rained earlier today and after one calm day, the strong wind is back!

Liam is back from his junior year at U of Iowa!    Now in a few weeks he'll start his summer internship in Minneapolis.

We went into town at 11 and picked up Nancy, a long-time friend (Jim and Mark worked together at SF), we went to the same church, etc.    Jim passed away April 10th.    Such a nice guy.....it's been awhile since we've seen Nancy, so.....let's do lunch at Lil Beaver Brewery.  We had a great 2 hour visit over lunch with tears, laughs and memories.    3 of  4 of Nancy's kiddos live in the area, along with many grands and 23 great grands scattered here and there.

Mark, Nancy, Pat

We took Nancy home with hugs and went to Starbucks to get some coffees for Donna Rae and us.    She had just returned from the beauty parlor and looked as good as ever.    What a delight she is at 94.    Another 2 hour visit catching up on a little bit of everything.

Donna Rae

And then to Martin Health Care to visit our friend Paul who was admitted there from the hospital a few days ago to regain some strength.    This was a short visit as the nurses, occupational therapist, etc. were coming and going in his room.   We wish Paul the best for recovering his strength and going HOME which is where he wants to be!

Next stop was O'Reilly Auto Parts for new batteries for our key fobs.    Then to Culver's for a small cup of their flavor of the day - "chocolate toffee crunch".    Yummy and finally on home!

We walked and then chatted with Greg and Patty from Ocala, FL.    They are originally from Clinton, IL where Greg was a chiropractor before retirement.    Now they travel all over and usually spend a month here at KK.   We've been with them at least 3 springtimes and just a real neat couple who used to boat.     In fact, before they moved to Ocala, they owned a lot at Cypress Woods next door to Cypress Trail (CT).    They are going to be in Sandusky, OH in September but we'll be leaving Port Clinton right after Labor Day.

I watched the last episode of "Call the Midwife" tonight for Season 15.    Lots of tears and such a heartbreaking story but yet joyful, too.    

Connor received his Associates degree tonight from DACC (Danville Area Community College).     Proud of him and wishing him all the best as he pursues an engineering degree from the University of Illinois,

                                                                   Congratulations Connor!