Wednesday - June 5

Today started out so pretty and fresh after the rain.....with sunny skies and upper 60;s, we went for a long walk - felt so good (been really neglecting the exercise/walking, etc.)     As many times as we've been here at Oneida Shores, had never walked this pretty trail.

Very pleasant walk

We did some more packing of clothes (me) and stuff (Mark) and then at 11, we took off in Big Red on a little road trip.     Drove thru some of the towns we visited on Catrina last summer on the Oswego Canal.    And just like that, the nice day turned very wet!    We drove thru Phoenix (home of the Boat Brats who bring you food, supplies, newspaper, etc.).    Schools are still in session, so no kiddos at the marina.    Onto Fulton and then stopped in Oswego at Connection Point (books/gifts/little cafe) and had coffee/almond latte and shared rhubarb/blackberry pie - excellent.   Life is too short - "eat dessert first"!

So as we drove along, the rain finally tapered off and the sun came out for a little while.    Saw so many pretty flowering bushes....

Wildflowers

We arrived in Sodus Point on Lake Ontario.    We plan to leave Catrina here in July while we're gone 18 days.    Catrina will have a 500-hour check-up on her engines.    Well, despite many pics we've seen online about all the flooding on the lake, whew......being up close and personal was really something to see with oodles and oodles of sand bags trying to keep the water from coming into homes.   Sometimes successful....other times, not.   Here are a few pics:

 just one of many homes surrounded by sand bags

 temporary docks on top of submerged docks

 sand bags, so many sandbags and dock under water

Some of the marinas are closed.   Since Lake Ontario is where we had planned to spend the summer, Mark is now rethinking that plan and wait a few weeks till the waters recede.    No problem as we can return to some of our favorites on the Erie Canal.

We stopped in Weedsport for a late lunch/early dinner at Devaney's (a favorite by boat (1x and 2nd visit by land).    Their chipotle chicken quesadillas are sooo fabulous!    Mark had the haddock and it was excellent.

Came out of Devaney's and it was raining cats and dogs and all the way back to Flo (about 40 miles).     We returned at 6 - enjoyed this little getaway.    More rain overnight and then????? promise of 4 days of sunshine!     We saw a little bit of corn popped up but fields are so wet!

    

 

Tuesday - June 4

Sunny morning but rainy afternoon and evening here in Brewerton.    We went to "The R Diner" for breakfast and then Mark took me to do the laundry and he came back to Flo.

He got some jobs done in preparation for transferring our stuff from Flo to Catrina which we thought would be launched tomorrow.    They did get the bottom paint done but still working on the boot stripe and needed to order more supplies, so probably closer to Friday for launching?

We ran a few errands in the afternoon including some groceries and on back to Flo as the rain began.
Our campground will be muddier than ever with all the rain coming tonight and throughout tomorrow.

We had a wonderful visit from Drew this afternoon.   He called from the Cimba University campus (north of Venice) where he's taking 2 classes.    He sounded like he was right there with us - enjoying his classes and all the sightseeing he's been doing on the weekends.     Off to Barcelona this weekend.

On a sad note.......the boys have been playing hockey for several years and even before hockey became so big in Bloomington, Joe Olson was Mr. Hockey who was always there as coach, administrator, mentor, friend and knew all the kids (over 350) and parents names.    Joe passed away Friday from a massive heart attack at the age of 60.    Big loss to the hockey community!     And even more ironic, Joe's brother Richard died on Saturday.   He was very big into hockey in Peoria.    The brothers were born on my birthday (February 20) 8 years apart.     How sad....

Liam, Mr. Hockey and Connor

nice memory from a few years ago

Monday - June 3

Beautiful sunny day but cool and breezy.    We left Roundup Lake at 7:50, stopped for diesel and quick breakfast and on our way.    Had lunch in Buffalo at Tim Hortons!    Yeah....happy to be back at Tim's.     Arrived at the Oneida Shores Campground in Brewerton (Flo and Big Red's home till they go into storage) around 3.   It is 58 with 20 mph winds!

Another muddy, wet campground.    Everyone has had so much rain.....supposed to have more today, but fortunately, didn't happen.     Next 2 days, though.

Mark drove over to Winter Harbor to check status of Catrina.....launch date is Wednesday.

Another chilly night - 43.



 

Sunday - June 2

HAPPY   BIRTHDAY,   RYAN

Nice memory from National Harbor

Washington, DC

Ryan is 34 today!

Hello from Mantua, Ohio (40 miles from Cleveland).    We had a good day of travel (450 miles) with nice sunny skies and cooler temps.   We left Kickapoo State Park at 7:50 and arrived here at the Roundup Lake RV Resort at 4:15 (back on eastern time).

The roads, however were another story - it was a rough drive for poor Flo (and us in Big Red)....we had been complaining about Bloomington streets, but some of the interstates we were on were in terrible shape!!!

Lots of water here in Ohio, too....standing in muddy puddles at the campground.   We got Flo settled and then walked around and lo and behold came upon something new and unique?

We kept hearing dogs barking and saw tents set up and lots of cars, so we checked it out.    Several times during the season, here at Roundup Lake, they have Dog Jumping and Diving competition.   "Duke's K-9 Dash 'N "Splash" 

They are training for national titles jumping for height and distance into the water!

Folks were set up in their tents watching all the action as various dogs jumped into a large pool - lots of shouting and cheering on who could go the farthest?   They had a food booth (Mark had a delicious pulled pork sandwich) and just a different type of how to spend a Sunday afternoon...

Going to get down to 43 overnight...some cooler days ahead as we head to Brewerton, and oh boy.....rain in the forecast next 4 days!

Have a great week ahead...

Saturday - June 1

Warm sunny day and perfect  to be at the ole ballpark.   Liam was lucky to play his games today at the Corncrib,  home of the Cornbelters and on a major-league size field.

Mark and I left Kamp Komfort with Big Red pulling Flo after a great 5-week stay at 8:20 AM.    We watched Liam's first game with Patrick which they lost 5-4.    They also lost the 2nd game but both games, their opponents were boys who just completed their freshmen year.

Batter up Liam!

Anne was with Connor in East Peoria.    They won all 3 of their games!!! 

We were then on our way to Danville and a retirement party tonight for sister-in-law, Beth.

Stopped in Oakwood for lunch and then got settled at the Kickapoo State Park 

We went to 4:00 Mass at St. Mary's in Westville (Mark's sister Joan and Joe were with us)    And then to the Danville Country Club for Beth's retirement party (Beth is wife of Mark's youngest brother, Tom).    She's been teaching for 35 years  chemistry, physics, etc.    What a fun evening with family (10 of Mark's siblings and spouses were there - missing Nancy and Mark).   Great food, visiting, music, etc.   

Beth

Our sweet sister-in-law.....congratulations and best wishes for many fun, healthy years of retirement!