Saturday - June 28

 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!

56 years and sooo blessed!

Exactly 56 years ago today (Saturday, June 28, 1969), Mark's sister Joan was celebrating her 14th birthday....a big milestone for her today!

After the very warm temperature and then heavy rain last night, today was cool and cloudy.    We did some jobs on Catrina and then walked 7/10 of a mile to the River Run Restaurant on the Maitland golf course.    We wanted to check it out and plan to have dinner there tonight.

Several were out golfing and also fishing as a big tournament on the Maitland River started today.

Erin called as she and Karen are traveling thru IL heading to Nashville.    Tomorrow....home sweet home at Lake James!

We had a nice leisurely day and the sun came out at 3:45!   Beautiful evening!

Mark and I really appreciate the text messages and phone calls today!   Thank you

We walked back to the River Run Restaurant and had a great meal - unique place with schnitzel as their specialty.   We met John and Linda from Blythe, ON (about 20 minutes away).   Tomorrow is their 6th wedding anniversary -  John is 93 and Linda, probably in her mid 80's?   Very nice couple who spent last winter in Port Charlotte, FL.   

Linda and John

Tomorrow we're moving on to Port Elgin (about 50 miles north) 

Friday - June 27

 We left Algonac at 8:05 this morning.    It was cool on the water and we had sun off and on.   Most of the time we wore our hoodies.    We cruised 92 miles arriving in Goderich, ON at the Maitland Valley Marina at 2:00.    A nice dockhand helped us tie up - had some strong winds, but my Captain handled Catrina like a pro (I don't do strong winds)!    We quickly shed our sweats and 77 felt so good.

Met our neighbor Joe next door - he's Canadian but spends the winters in Fort Lauderdale.

After checking in with customs and getting the scoop from Lisa (office gal) regarding favorite restaurants, etc., we waited for Ellena to take us to town.   What a nice gal and ride. Our marina is in a valley (thus the  name) and 172 steps to get to top of the hill and then several blocks to downtown (octagon-shaped "square" with courthouse in the middle,)   Lots of construction, but found Cait's Cafe for iced coffees and we shared an Italian panini.   Walked around a bit and then to Cravings for ice cream - love all these maple flavors - maple iced coffee/maple walnut ice cream!    It was warm walking around but nothing like the 90's they're having in so many places.

We walked the steps back (slow 'n easy) all 172.    Of course, going "down" is so much easier than "climbing up"!   

Ready to chill for rest of the day - it's 4:45 now and good to be back on eastern time since Port Clinton.   Hard to believe that just 1 week ago today, we were in Idaho visiting on the patio with our kids and tomorrow,  the wedding....

Some highlights from today:

The Bluewater Bridge

connecting Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON

Leaving the St. Clair River and now on Lake Huron

Love to see the Canadian and USA flags flying together!

Nice park in downtown Goderich (GED-er-ich)

And a BIG favorite - butter tarts!

Maeve and family are visiting their grandparents in IL

Maeve is giving "Mia" a ride around the house on her suitcase

We had thunderstorm warnings with a nasty looking radar tonight - it finally arrived at 7:15.       Very heavy rain, strong winds, violent lightning and thunder, just plain ugly!    It lasted about 30 minutes and the sun came out, and it really cooled down.   Ha....reading the blog from June 7-8, 2008, we had a nasty storm then, too, right here in Goderich.   Tonight's was a real doozy!

 Tomorrow, only a high of 68.    Planning to stay here 2 nights,

.

Thursday - June 26

 Hello from Algonac, Michigan and Harbour Club Marina.   We started the day by taking Catrina under the Portage River bridge at 8:30 and then tying up at the courtesy dock.   We walked to Lake Donuts and got a donut and apple fritters (this place is only open Thurs-Sun) and caters to all the fishermen going out early.    They have very good stuff!!!

I walked back to Catrina and Mark had a haircut appt. with Gina.    By 9:30 we were on our way out on Lake Erie.  The lake was pretty calm and after 2.5 hours, we were on the Detroit River.  We had a downpour but didn't last too long.   We cruised past Detroit on our left and Windsor, ON to our right.

The Gordie Howe International bridge is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025.    Final cost is $6.4 billion.

We remember it being under construction 4 years ago

 We saw several freighters like this one on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. 

The Algocanada

 We cruised 98.5 miles - Lake Erie to Detroit River to Lake St. Clair to the St. Clair River.   We arrived in Algonac at 3:00.    Got some diesel and settled in.    We were here in 2008 and 2021.

Had dinner (perch sandwich for Mark; meat lovers flatbread for me) at Port O Call here at the marina.  Good stuff and sat on patio...weather is threatening, so instead of a walk, we headed back to Catrina.    And then the rain came down fast and furious but after that, bright and sunny.   We went for a walk and remembered being here 4 years ago....

"Manuia" came in behind us while we were gone - boy, it's a biggie and from Cape Coral, FL.

Wednesday - June 25

 LONG day starting at 2:45 AM when we left for the Spokane airport.   Our first flight was at 5 to Denver.    Amazing how many people were at the airport, but it was already 8 AM out east.

Both flights (also Denver to Cleveland) were full.   We flew Delta going out last Friday and Southwest coming home today.

Loaded our bags in Ruby and on home arriving in Port Clinton at 5.   We went straight to Catrina and got the AC on, unloaded our stuff and then left to do a grocery run.   It felt really hot from where we had been out west!

Got groceries put away, suitcases unpacked and then prepared for our departure tomorrow and big boating trip.   We had most things ready, but put things in Flo that we won't need and also got a few things to take along.

Wishing Erin and Karen safe travels as they leave tomorrow and head east to NC (4-day trip)!

Nighty night!

Tuesday - June 24

 Hello from  Spokane, WA.    We had a very enjoyable day in Coeur d'Alene.   We were up early (this pacific time and 3 hour difference from eastern time zone has been a challenge + mountain time (Idaho Falls).    Mark suggested we go back to the Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co where we ate yesterday and loved the baked goodies (raspberry and almond buns).   Today they had totally different pastries and sandwiches..   Mark had the burrito and I had a huge cinnamon roll....both delish.   It was only 7ish, so we had our Ipads and just enjoyed this nice ambiance for awhile.

More pretty blooms downtown

Walked downtown - we both did some retail therapy and walked on the trail for a bit (Mark's foot is much better).   Back to the hotel for awhile, checked out and loaded up the car.   We had reservations for the 12:30 boat cruise (90 minutes) on Lake Coeur d'Alene - wow!    Absolutely beautiful day and spectacular scenery.   Ryan and Erin had recommended this.   We could be inside, outside, on top deck or wherever we wanted to roam - boat was only about 1/3 full.   

Our tour boat

So much gorgeous scenery

This resort on the golf course is very swanky - each condo is 6,600 sq. ft (none currently on the market).

Two boat slips and 2 lifetime memberships to the golf course which has a floating green are included

Feeling very blessed!

And then we were off to Spokane (35 miles).    Settled in our hotel and then found Frank's Diner (trip advisor ranked it #3 of 689 restaurants).   It has been in business since 1906 and the vintage rail car was so neat.    I had the 1/2 Reuben and fresh fruit; Mark had the meatloaf sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy.    Everything was delicious!

Frank's Diner

Elegant dining (back in the day, but still in very good shape) serving good ole comfort food with breakfast available all day

Drove to the airport to get our bearings for tomorrow.....we'll be up very early for our 5 AM flight to Denver; then to Cleveland and drive back to Port Clinton.   

What a whirlwind, but sooo fun and exciting trip for us - the highlight being Ryan and Erin's wedding.   Such a treat to travel thru Utah and Idaho and snowy Montana (that was NOT a treat), but very pretty country!   

We were in Spokane in early July of 2020 (traveling for 10 weeks out west during Covid).   It was fun to reminisce about what we did and similar areas we saw as we drove around.

It's only 5:30 as I'm finishing this up, but nighty night from Spokane!

Monday - June 23

 Coeur d'Alene (coor da lane) is just thee most charming town - we had a fun day starting with coffee/delicious pastries at the Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co (recommended by Erin).    What a cool place but then we saw many coffee shops around town.    Last August, Erin and Ryan visited this town and told us how much they enjoyed it - also Mark's brother Tom and Beth have been here!    If you have a bucket list, add this to it!  😊

The weather was MUCH better than yesterday and very pleasant walking around downtown - Mark found a shirt and cap to buy and we just meandered around the shops and restaurants (there are LOTS).    

We had lunch at Dockside (part of the beautiful Coeur d'Alene golf resort) - great meal topped off with huckleberry cobbler!    Huckleberries are BIG in Idaho.

Very good stuff!

After lunch we walked around a bit more - there are several wonderful trails in the area.   Mark's foot was hurting so we came back to the hotel and rested a bit.   No dinner tonight - still stuffed from lunch.    We did watch online Mass from Immaculate Conception in Port Clinton since we missed yesterday.   Father Jonathan was out of town for a 40th anniversary of his friend's ordination in Cincinnati.    The priest from Put in Bay said Mass.

After Mass there was going to be a procession outside for the feast of Corpus Christi, but because of the extreme heat, it was going to be a very short procession.    We took part in that a few years ago and then enjoyed a nice lunch with other parishioners.

Erin, Ryan and "Karen" our new grand dog

LOTS of red geraniums around the resort

And all around downtown, the light poles have flowers and flags!

Philip and family visiting Old Faithful in Yellowstone today

There was a fatal accident yesterday on I-90 in Montana which caused the big delay....

Sunday - June 22

What a day.......we left the house with Anne at 6:50 and dropped her off at the airport.    We continued on as we had a big day of travel heading to Coeur d' Alene for a few days.    But.....did not realize that most of today's travel would be thru Montana and when the rain started and then turned to sleet and then snow.......YIKES.....not good.   It was downright ugly and we had yucky weather for a big part of the day.

We stopped in Lima, Montana (200+) at the Janzz Java tiny coffee house - we had our coffees and breakfast sandwiches as the snow came down.   Weather was just so unpredictable all day long.    We had a major delay of 1.5 hours (bad accident) an we took 2 different detours (1st one took us on back roads that were rough and winding and ended up turning around cause of lots of standing water.)    And then there was all the construction.   So, a very long day - 9.5 hours.   The last 60 miles were back in Idaho and we changed to Pacific time.   

We arrived in Coeur d' Alene around 3:30 (Pacific time) and settled into our hotel room and then walked to dinner at Anthony's.  (Prawn cocktail, Alaskan halibut and steelhead trout). It was very good and this area (Riverstone) is lovely.    Can't wait to explore it all tomorrow.

Some more pics from yesterday on the ranch runway...

Grandma and Grandpa with the littles

Anne, Erin and Ryan

Philip, Maeve, Erin, Ryan, Annette, Luke

Blair, Michael, Erin, Ryan, Brooke

Us with our son and new daughter-in-law

Our kids are here and there tonight - Michael, Brooke and Blair spent the day in Park City, UT and will fly home tomorrow; Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve are in Jackson Hole, WY for a few days and Anne is on her way back to Bloomington flying from Idaho Falls to Phoenix to Peoria.   The newlyweds are clearing out Erin's house - Ryan returns to Memphis tomorrow and Erin and Karen (Golden retriever) will start the long trek across country to NC on Thursday.   

And a few pics from today's weather...     June 22, 2025 traveling in Montana

Zoom tonight was with 9 of the family - we talked about the wedding; the death of 94-year old Sister Rosemary who founded Misericordia where our niece Jennifer (Doris's daughter) resides in Chicago, the extreme heat in the Midwest, the difficulty in getting a handicapped sticker for Joan, etc., etc.    Missing Sharon and Tom.

Brady returned from his 5 weeks in Rome last night!    What an adventure he had...

Florence, Italy

The Amalfi Coast

So thankful to Mark for all the stressful driving he did - we sure saw some gorgeous scenery but the roads were winding and twisty and of course, the nasty weather, construction, delays, etc.   

And that's it for tonight folks....nighty night!    Have a great week!

Saturday - June 21

 It's Ryan and Erin's wedding day - cool and windy but the sun is shining!    Philip and Michael went for a walk and brought back very fresh bagels from Panera and Duck donuts.   Nice start to the day!

We girls sat around the kitchen table discussing Drew and Tessa's wedding.....fun!   

We all went downtown to the Farmer's Market - it was huge with some neat vendors and lots of food items.   Anne and I got a coffee/hot chocolate and we all meandered around with big crowds - Erin had told us this is a Saturday event every week from May to October - definitely one of the biggest and best we've seen!   Some of us enjoyed honey corn dogs - so big and so yummy!

 Michael, Brooke, Blair, Pat, Anne, Maeve, Luke, Annette, Luke

Enjoying honey corn dogs

Mark was photographer

We stopped at The SnakeBites for some adult beverages and sat outside.   I took Maeve and Blair around the block - some very cute shops.    Mark, Anne and I walked on the green belt walkway - Idaho Falls is a really cute town! 

Idaho Falls

Back home and time to get gussied up for the wedding.   

And then we were off  the wedding at the 7N R Ranch in Ririe, Idaho.    Ryan and Erin were married on the runway (appropriate for a pilot? ) 

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Chamberlain

More pics and details coming tomorrow!

Friday June 20

 Mark and I were up at 3:30 AM and left for Cleveland at 3:53.    Big day of travel but all went well.    Arrived in Idaho Falls around 2:30 after some stops and delays with traffic/construction.

Philip found a great 6-bedroom house for all of us....we came directly to the house when we got to town.   Anne, Michael, Brooke and Blair were here.   Erin and Ryan stopped by and later, Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve arrived from their big trip getting off the cruise ship earlier with flights from Vancouver to Seattle to Idaho Falls.    

Luke was not feeling well, so Annette stayed home with he and Maeve - bummer....rest of us (Ryan and his friend Tom Frosch) joined us at Smokin' Fins for dinner.   Great place - on home and while the younger kiddos stayed up to visit, Mark and I retired early (still on eastern time).    Erin's friends flew into town this afternoon from TX and FL.

Pat and Tom (Ryan's Blue Angel boss)

Maeve and Blair enjoying the hot tub

Tomorrow is the big day.....Ryan and Erin's wedding!    Cant wait...

Thursday - June 19

 What a messy, nasty, yucky day with lots of rain, very windy and cool!   We moved Catrina to get a pump out and fuel and while we're gone, the guys are going to do some thru hull work.

I picked up Chris and we had a fun girls outing despite the weather - we shopped, had lunch at MacStack and shopped some more, coffee break at R Coffee Corner.    Back home, Donna joined us for almost 4 hours of RummiKub - I won, but it was a hard fought battle with all 3 of us trying our best to win.   We played on Chris's boat - "Journey" and was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Coffee time

Chris and Donna - my RummiKub buddies

Michael, Brooke and Blair are in Idaho Falls tonight; Anne is in Phoenix with her friend Sue and will fly to Idaho Falls tomorrow.    Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve arrive tomorrow.    We'll leave Catrina at 4 AM tomorrow and drive to Cleveland; 4 hour flight to Salt Lake City and then 3 hour drive to Idaho Falls.

The sun came out late this afternoon and just a beautiful ending to what was a really miserable day (weather wise).   Till tomorrow....

Wednesday - June 18

 Tidied up Catrina this morning, vacuumed, etc.   Not only getting ready for the wedding in Idaho, but also our big cruising trip (Georgian Bay, North Channel, Mackinac Island) when we return.    We did this trip in 2007 so really looking forward to going back.

Chris, her sister-in-law, Jill and I walked downtown (I got a cold brew...expresso machine was broken at Coffee Express)😒   We kept on walking but so humid....Jill got 2 protein shakes (one for her and one for hubby Nick) at the nutrition store next to Coffee Express and on home with 5,000+ steps!  Took a while to cool down!

Pretty blooms along our walk

Rain came on strong around noon - another gully washer!   I got a manicure with Danielle in the afternoon (made it there in-between showers)!    Did facetime with Blair - she and Brooke had just gotten pedicures and we chatted about travel plans to Idaho.

Chris and I played rummikub in the afternoon under the tent!    It had been so warm/humid when we were walking thus morning but definitely cooler this afternoon after more rain.

Pat and Chris playing RummiKub 

Chris and Bob joined us for dinner at Dock's Beach House - we sat inside with the big garage-style doors closed.    We missed Donna and Michael.

Bob, Chris, Pat, Mark

Around 7:50, our phones blared a tornado warning till 8:15 and then the sirens went off (1st time we've heard these in Port Clinton).   All 4 of us got off our boats and headed to one of the big storage buildings.    Very heavy rain and ominous looking clouds.    We stayed put til 8:20 and then in just very light rain, walked back to our boats.    Seeing and hearing reports of damage in IL and OH.

Scary sky

 

 

Tuesday- June 17

 Cloudy but warm today  We left at 8:30 to do laundry.   Got the washers going and I went to R Coffee Corner for a latte.    And then Mark was off to Sandusky and Home Depot for some supplies.    A few drops of rain on our way home.

Put laundry away and pretty well finished with our packing.   At 12:15, the heavens opened up with  a downpour and then more later in the afternoon.   And then the sun came out - hot 'n humid!   1/4" of rain

I got a haircut with Wendy at Salon 53.    Good to visit with her.    I picked up a crab egg roll (sooo yummy) at Nagoya a few doors away and on home.    

We walked after supper and visited with Bob (neighbor on "So Blessed") who is up here to help Dave (dockmaster) move to a new condo tomorrow.   So happy to hear Donna's (boat sister) back is much better - she's now wearing a patch on her back - good for 1 week and then change it.

Michael and Chris (boat sister) went on a little getaway with Michael's brother Nick and wife Jill on "Journey".    They spent last night at Toledo Beach and today (after finding a really neat coffee shop in downtown Toledo) they cruised to Kelleys Island.    Bob, Mark and I helped them with lines when they returned coming thru the 8:30 bridge tonight

Pat, Chris and beautiful sunset

Monday - June 16

 Cloudy all day and mid 70's - BUT, the mayflies are back.    A few had appeared about 10 days ago, but then nothing much till today....time to get outta here!

We started packing for Idaho where it's to be really warm all week UNTIL Saturday with a high of 67 predicted?    😒 Oh well....we'll deal with whatever!   Finally going to warm up here in Port Clinton, too.

Mark went to the post office and West Marine.  He changed the dinghy lift line to a larger diameter to make it easier to lift.   Gotta save his back any way we can!

We washed Catrina in the afternoon but probably a wasted effort since it was the hose against the mayflies and the mayflies seemed to win!!!     Soooo annoying!

We walked to Scooter's for ice cream late afternoon.

Philip and family are enjoying Alaska despite the temps in the 50's

Sweet Maeve was all dolled up for dinner last night

Hanging out in Portage Cove - Haines

Selfie with their ship in background

Luke and that gorgeous scenery