Wednesday - May 20

 Alleluia!!!!    Anne called with some wonderful news this morning after Springfield Clinic called and said she did not need to come in today as all was clear with her Monday pathology report.    We are sooo thankful for this news and sooo appreciate all the prayers and good thoughts these past few days from family and friends!!!

Anne had more good news - Connor got a job at Lowe's for the summer!    Yay...

Yesterday it was 89 and sunny here in Port Clinton - today, more rain and windy and in the 50s.    Brrrr.......   we had 1.2" since we got here.

We kept busy with Mark working on Catrina inside as she won't be launched till early June.   I started packing all our stuff to take to NC - leaving tomorrow for 11-12 days.

I got a hair cut with Wendy and fun to catch up with her!    Then Mark and I had dinner at Casa Las Palmas - so good.   Back to Flo to warm up!    Chilly out there!    Ready to head south!😀

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.