Sunday - June 21

 WOW.....lots to celebrate today!    Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there including this guy.

The Captain of my ship

and thee BEST Hubby, Dad and Grandpa!!!

Mark and I have so many memories of our Dads - 2 farmers with a gentle, humble spirit and wonderful role models.   Remembering Patrick and what a proud Dad he would be of 

Liam and Connor.

Michael and Philip gave us 6 grands - thank you!   You guys rock!

Today is the 1st Anniversary for Erin and Ryan

Erin, "Karen", Ryan

Congratulations

June 21, 2025

Today is the 40th wedding anniversary for Tom (Mark's brother) and Beth.   Also the birthday of our Canadian friend, Ron and Prince William.   It's also the first day of summer and the summer solstice (longest day of the year)!

We started our summer 2026 cruise this morning when we went under the Portage River bridge at 8:30.    Lake Erie was a little choppy and chilly but we had mostly sun with off and on clouds.   Then to the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River.    98.2 miles later we arrived in Algonac, MI (2:30).    Had some Mayflies we brought along from Lake Erie, but a quick hosing off got rid of them

We've stayed here a few times in the past but never walked downtown, so this afternoon we set out - it was a good jaunt but we needed to stretch our legs and then found a DQ, so had a small cone and kept on.   Never did get downtown, but not sure there is much of one.   We did get our 10,000 steps so that's what it was all about.

Tomorrow's forecast doesn't sound too promising - 95% chance of rain!   

Zoom tonight was missing Jim and Tom H.    Matt (Tom's son) and Kara sold their home and will soon be moving into their new home.    The sisters who were at McCormick's Creek told about their 2 week vacation there (spending some time in the basement during tornado warning).   Joan updated us on her ankle recovery.  

Have a great week....    

Saturday - June 20

 Very pretty day but of course, WINDY!!!!    We were off to run errands after coffee at Biggby.   Think we got the last of our groceries and have Catrina loaded up with everything but the kitchen sink!  😂

Came home and put stuff away, had lunch and then set to cleaning Catrina - boy, she needed a good scrubbing and with the strong wind, made it challenging to not get each other wet!   Ha!    But that was the least of our problems - it was getting around (up and down) scrubbing away!   The ole bods were just not liking that ordeal!!!  😐

Mark needed to exchange a piece of hardware and get a different size (carbiner) so I went along and picked up a few more items at Bassett's grocery.  

We went to 4:30 Mass with Father Jonathan (great homily) and then 1812 for dinner.  This is one of our favorite places and tonight was great as always.   Mark had the brandied pork chop and I had my usual (need to try something new, but this is sooo good)

1812 Salmon with cranberry/orange relish and jasmine rice

We started with a cup of street corn soup (WOW) and ended the meal with chocolate lava cake.   Not the best Mark's had (his very favorite dessert) but still pretty darn good!

Catrina and crew are ready to start cruising!

HAPPY   FATHER'S   DAY!

Friday - June 19

 We were up early and off to do 3 loads of laundry at "Clean Scene" (our favorite after my she shed)!   Ran a few more errands and on home.    Mark left for a haircut with Gina (walked downtown).   Another windy day!

Philip and Luke called while he was gone - they were out and about.   Told them Dad/Grandpa was getting a haircut and I was getting one later today.    He said "well, Michael and Brady are getting haircuts now and I'm getting one later!    Tis the day to get the hair cut!!!   😊

We had lunch and then I left for my haircut with Wendy.    She's so much fun and always enjoy our visits and how she cuts hair.    Stopped for an iced latte and on home.

While I was gone, Mark the dear, washed Flo and then when I got home, we put Flo and Big Red away in the storage building for the summer.

I walked downtown for a mani/pedi with Danielle at CG's.   This is a different Danielle than I used to go to here in Port Clinton.   The original Danielle (Be-YOU-ti-ful) does a great job, BUT.....she's such a Debbie Downer, so decided to try someone else.

I really enjoyed the new Danielle - very chatty, friendly and FUN!   It was a very good experience.

Mark and I decided to go to Rich's for carry-out chicken and some sides.    Their chicken is sooo moist and flavorful - tonight we also had pasta salad, cole slaw and baked beans!   All very good.   Oink oink!   But we've got leftovers.  😋

Walked around the marina - winds are still very strong - one good thing about the wind it's keeping the Mayflies away!   

Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday - June 18

 Had some sprinkles this morning but the winds were really crazy!!!   We did a pump out and got fuel for Catrina.     

And then left for The Summer Kitchen in rural Helena, OH (a cute gift shop that we discovered last year.)   I browsed around - sooo much neat stuff.   And then we had lunch at The Chateau Winery.    These 2 businesses are in the same family and really nice!    We had not been to the winery so today was our 1st and what a treat.    Bill and Michele, owners were so gracious and fun to visit with and hear their history.

A small section of The Summer Kitchen

The Chateau Winery

It's a popular spot from Thursday-Sunday with nightly entertainment, wine, food, etc.    We enjoyed our lunch (chicken salad on a croissant for me and Italian panini for Mark) .   11 folks from a nearby retirement home came by shuttle bus for wine tasting and lunch.   Definitely a return place which is 1/2 hour from Port Clinton.

Onto Jackson Center to pick up Flo.   While Mark was settling up the bill, I walked to Sip + Stream for some coffees for the trip home.  2+ hours later we were back on Catrina and now making plans to leave (Sunday)? for our summer trip to Lake Michigan.

After supper we went for a short walk - still VERY windy!

Wednesday - June 17

A bright sunny morning after all the rain last night (8/10").   We left Flo at 7:55 and drove to Sip + Stream for our coffees and then back to wait in the lounge area for Derek to talk to Mark about our list for Flo.    They came with a little tractor (method to moving Airstreams into the bays from the terraport).

Derek and Mark went to Bay 10 to discuss Flo and then we were on our way by 8 to Wapakoneta for breakfast.    There's not much in Jackson Center (good coffee though) 😋   

On our way to Wapa (14 miles), we got a call from Levi at Airstream who was assigned to us that they found a problem thinking that from the bike rack and bouncing around, there is some structural damage and they have to add additional plates.    UGH~

He said it could take 8 hours (more or less) to fix so probably wouldn't be done till tomorrow!    Since it was already in a bay, they wanted to keep it there +++ there are severe storms in the forecast (including hail) and better to have Flo protected from the nasty weather.

We had a hearty breakfast at LuLu's Diner and then back to Jackson Center but first stopped at the newest very large Airstream facility where they actually build the Airstreams (when we visited in January, 2018, they were in a different smaller building and it was a very cold snowy day).

Wow....this building is quite something and they give tours Monday-Friday at 1:00.    They even have a coffee shop and gift shop.    Airstream employs 1200.

On back to Jackson Center to get some stuff off Flo, talk to Derek one more time and then left for Port Clinton.    We stopped at the car wash and gave Big Red a good scrubbing and put him and Ruby inside the building here at the marina with storms coming.

Also heard this morning that my boat sister Donna was taken to the ER by Bob.   She's had severe back pain but also been very sick with intestinal issues since Friday night.    They diagnosed a viral infection, so along with fluids to keep from dehydration, we hope she'll feel better real soon.

We went for a walk downtown - stopped at the Bait House for some adult beverages and on home as a  storm is a'coming!   

The rain started abont 7 and coming down steeadi;y but no storms yet.