Sunday - June 5

 Cloudy most of the morning then a little sun and finally around 3, it reached 79, but didn't feel like it with strong winds out of the southeast.

We went to 10:30 Mass at Immaculate Conception...

Our summertime church - Immaculate Conception

then to Kroger for some Rx and groceries and finally WalMart.    Mark has been checking on how much some of our meds have gone up, so long story short, we had always used CVS in the past.....now we're into Kroger (IL and OH) and Publix (FL).    Amazing at the difference.   

I used a Lenovo tablet for playing euchre, solitaire and reading.    The area where cord goes in for charging no longer holds the cord.....arghhhh.    Very frustrating when trying to get that little red light to stay on.    So, Wal Mart had their Ipad  mini on sale and I now have a nice new device!!!     This has so many features but reading will be what I do most!!!

We've been to 1812 Food and Spirits several times last year and always enjoyed their food.    Had lunch today and another winner.....their salmon comes from the Bay of Fundy (been there) and they put a cranberry/orange sauce over top and served over jasmine rice!!!   It is excellent!!!

My techie hubby got my new mini Ipad all set up with what I previously had on my tablet, plus much more!!!   

Anne and her boys had a fun day.    Uncle Tom (Mark's brother) who is recovering from the detached retina (no golf and many other restrictions for at least 3 more weeks), invited Liam and Connor to mow his lawn in Danville in exchange for them getting to play 18 holes at the country club.    Tom and Anne rode around in the golf cart!   A win win for all!

Walked late afternoon and then enjoyed zoom with 7 other siblings.    New baby boy coming in family (grandson for Doris and Rich for their daughter Theresa and Richie).

Drew is in Orlando this week for orientation with his new job!

Have a great week!

Saturday - June 4

 Very bright sunshine was streaming thru Catrina's windows when we woke up today!   Love all this daylight time - doesn't get dark till after 9 PM either.

We walked to the Island Grind for a latte for me and then to the Middle Bass town hall for pancake and sausage breakfast that the MBIFD  (Middle Bass Island Fire Department) was putting on.    This tiny island does have a downtown (so they call it) which has the general store and the town hall for community events including 8:30 Mass each Sunday.    Lots of people here - locals and tourists for this excellent breakfast.    Walked back to Catrina and got ready to depart for Port Clinton, our home sweet home for the summer.

A very pleasant ride (15 miles) but we'll be back to Middle Bass sometime this summer (one of our favorites with great walking/biking areas, wonderful restaurant, coffee shop, etc. + quaint and quiet!)

Hello from Lake Erie

Coming back into Port Clinton - these folks are all fishing

and the carnival from last weekend's walleye festival is still set up and going again

We walked downtown in the afternoon - only in the 60's but refreshing!    When we returned to Catrina, I read and Mark did logistics for a trip into Canada that we're planning.    Hopefully leaving next weekend?

  

Friday - June 3

 A delightful day of sunshine and mid 70's    Mark walked to the post office to mail some cards and I went to The Coffee Squall for a cinnamon/vanilla latte. We had a very short day of travel (2.3 miles) across the way to Middle Bass Island.   Arrived around 10:30, did a pump out and settled into our slip (me doing the navigating today)!   😀

The Lonz Winery 

a very popular place back in the day but now a museum and venue for private gatherings.   I talked about this a year ago when we were here.   Next door is the Island Grind which along with coffee/pastries/desserts/wine, etc., has entertainment in the courtyard of the winery.   They had just opened when we were here last year.

While bike riding along the water admiring the color to match the sky

After we were settled and Mark had checked us in at the office, we got the bikes off the boat and went for a 6-mile ride.    This island is small (1/2 mile wide by 2.5 miles long) and shaped like the big dipper.   It has only 95 year-round residents.   After our ride we stopped at J.F. Walleyes for lunch - this is one of our favorites and lunch and drinks were delicious on the screened-in-porch.

GREAT place!

One of my favorite summertime drinks is an orange crush (vodka/fresh squeezed oj and a little sprite).    It is so refreshing but seldom seen on menus.    It originated in Maryland where I first had one many years ago.    Tranquility Bay in Marathon, FL serves these at their tiki bar (had some in January when we were with Jim and Lydia.)    Anyway, J.F. Walleyes had "orange oasis" on their drink menu and our waitress said she squeezes the oranges (the real secret).    Just not the same if they use regular oj.   It was sooo good!

On home with leftovers and took a little nap, read and did some computer stuff.   Feels so good to have all the windows open - such a pretty day!

About Lake Erie in comparison to all the Great Lakes, it is the 4th largest in surface area and the shallowest in depth.   It is the 11th largest lake on the planet.

Lake Erie is the smallest in volume of water but has the most industry surrounding it.   It also has the most shipwrecks and sinkings of all the Great Lakes.

Over 1/2 of all fish come out of Lake Erie (ahhhh, yes to the perch and walleye).

If you took all the Great Lakes and put them inside Lake Superior + 4 more of Lake Erie, they would all fit!    Lake Superior is HUGE and COLD!

We walked down to the General Store (little bit of everything for the island - food, clothes, bar, restaurant, hardware, etc., etc.) and then checked out Hazards Resort.    We missed this place on our bikes earlier but it is a very colorful with individual cottages (orange, turquoise, royal, purple, yellow, hot pink, etc.) and then a big pool/bar/restaurant.    Quite a happening place for mostly the younger folks!   The resort also has an RV park!

Quaint place

Some of the colorful cottages at Hazards Resort

named after Oliver Hazard Perry - the real hero here on the Bass Islands

"Don't Give up the Ship"

Liam went to the eye doctor today and will be getting contacts and glasses!    He's the 2nd grandson (after Brady) to need these.   

Mark has been retired 16 years and 2 days......June 1, 2006.    

Thursday - June 2

  HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  RYAN

How can our "baby" be 37?     Time flies when you're having fun and Ryan has certainly

 blessed us with many moments of pride and joy. 

After all the rain (1.15") things are fresh and cool with a high today in the 60's.    No sunshine, though!   

My captain was getting antsy and thought we should get out on the water for a little trip so we left just before 10 and caught the 10:00 bridge opening and headed across the lake to Put in Bay (13.8 miles).   It was a little choppy but Catrina handled it well!   This place is always hoppin' with it's big party atmosphere (Boats, Bars, Booze and Babes).    Today, however, during the week and not the best weather, it was really empty with just 3 other boats in the harbor when we arrived. 

Our marina and park were discovered and bought by Mr. DeRivera in 1854. 

  Put in Bay is a town on South Bass Island

Two nice dockhands helped with our lines and power cords.    Then we were off (in the rain) to get some lunch.    The Upper Deck was just a short jaunt and had heard they have great lobster bisque......that it was and hit the spot on this chilly day.   We also shared a perch sandwich 👍👍👍

Catrina is docked near the Perry Victory and International Peace Memorial

honoring hero, General Perry in the War of 1812.

Mark took a nap after lunch and I checked out some shops.     Amazing the difference from when we were here last summer which had oodles of people and golf carts.   

11 months ago today - July 2, 2021, we were here for the Gatlin show and what a fun time that was.    Our favorite husband/wife team (Darryl and Andrea from Fort Myers) had a 1-time appearance at the opening of a friend's new bar.    We came across by the Jet Express ferry.    Bummer they are not coming for any shows this summer. 

Around 2, the sun came out, the wind died down and wow - a gorgeous afternoon.    We rented a golf cart for 2 hours and explored the island (1.5 by 3.5 miles).    

My chauffeur and ride

First stop was at The Chocolate Cafe for coffee/hot chocolate.  

The Chocolate Cafe (museum, restaurant/coffee/desserts/ice cream)

and pretty flowers

 Still chilly in the shade and when moving down the road.    Everyone was wearing hoodies or jackets of some sort!  We checked out the residential areas of small cabins/cottages and the gorgeous homes on the water.    

Love the names of some of the homes...Shangri-la, Westwind, Puddin' Cove,  My Happy Place and on and on.    Here are a few of the lovely homes (old and new) 

we saw...

This is an old ship converted into private residence.   We've seen this place from the water, but today, got a bit closer at the Alfred Parker Park 

Bunches of padlocks on the fence in the park like on Kelly's Island and in 

Marathon, FL on the 7-miles bridge.

New home under construction

with garage to the side and pool in back!

The view these lucky home owners will have when they move in!

And then the flowers...

Pretty poppies

Ladd Car Wildflower Woods

Lovely Iris

Climbing bush (clematis?) outside the Anchor Inn

We enjoyed walking around the downtown area and then a glass of wine on Catrina's bridge - nice ending to this awesome day.    There are now 14 boats in the marina.

Sun setting over Put In Bay

   

Wednesday - June 1

 Welcome to JUNE !

Another pretty day and I walked downtown to Coffee Express (so close) for 1/2 lemon/blueberry muffin and an iced hazelnut latte.   Mark had an omelet, fruit and toast on Flo.    The other 1/2 of muffin is for Mark.  😉

Jacinda is my new hair stylist here in Port Clinton - really liked her and the cut/style she gave me.   Made a future appt. with her and also Danielle for nails/toes.    This salon is called "BeYOUtiful".     When I was making these nail appts., Danielle could fit me in at 5AM, 6 AM....what?????   No thanks.    She is so busy but very accommodating.    In fact, last week, she did someone at 4 AM.   Unreal!!!

Walked on home - windy and warm today.    Mark had taken the dinghy for a little spin and made sure all was in good working order.     Speaking of the dinghy.....last August, Mark ordered a new one with no clue when it would arrive.    Well, here we were in June and guy said "maybe" late summer?    A shipment came a few days ago that was ordered in March, 2021.   Crazy, crazy!!!

Update on my friend Marsha.....she and granddaughter, Maddie are still hanging out in Dublin due to Covid - hoping and praying they'll be home later this week?   Boy, that's a long time to be confined to hotel room, have meals delivered, etc. 

At 3, the heavens opened up big time with thunder, lightning, strong winds and very heavy rain with radar showing green/yellow/red.   A real gully washer that lasted about 40 minutes.

We walked to Dock's Beach House around 5:15 - sun came out and very calm after the storm.    But water standing everywhere and many of Dock's parking spaces were under water.    We shared an order of beach bread (totally different than Fort Myers Beach) but excellent.    And then we shared a summer salad of romaine, with watermelon, blueberries, candied walnuts, cucumber and raspberry vinaigrette topped with delicious blackened salmon - this was a WINNER!!!!  

Cheers to our birthday boy (Ryan) one day early!

More rain came at 8 tonight but nice 'n gentle.   Blair called and we facetimed going over the plan for when she and Luke come to Catrina in late June!    She's a character!!!