Friday - June 10

 Beautiful day in northern Ohio.   The mayflies were everywhere and not just on boats - windows, buildings, cars, signs, etc.   Mark hosed down Catrina but they keep coming back!

We had breakfast, exercised, stowed stuff on Catrina, put car in storage with Flo and Big Red and prepared for our little jaunt to Middle Bass Island.    We made the 10:30 bridge and had just gone a short ways on the lake when I got a phone call from Kroger that my Rx (2) were ready.    Arghhhhh.....we had totally forgotten about them especially since we dropped them off last Sunday - what took so long?    So....we turned around, went back (11:00 bridge), tied up Catrina at marina, got in the car and off to Kroger.   Mark picked my meds up while I got a few other things and then back to marina, put car away, hopped on Catrina, made the noon bridge and on our way!!!    We arrived at Middle Bass at 1, settled in and walked to J.F. Walleye's for lunch (I had an orange oasis; Mark, a beer and we shared walleye bites and cheese curds - probably not the healthiest of lunches, but sure darn good!)

AND.....no mayflies here on Middle Bass!    I was talking to a guy who said they were really bad in Toledo (40 miles away) and even showed up on radar!

After lunch, we hung out on Catrina and took naps, read and enjoyed a nice quiet Friday afternoon.

This trailer was delivered to the parking lot a few days ago - a new building will be going up here for more boat storage and workers will hang out here.

The building where Flo and Big Red are stored has 3 very tall doors and this one (under light) was really covered.   These bugs love the nighttime "lights" so anything that is near really gets it!

HUGE hostas at J.F. Walleyes

With all the rain, the Portage River flowing into Lake Erie was dark and dirty till we

 finally got into the pretty clear stuff.

Tom got a good report today from his eye surgeon, but 2 more weeks with his head down.   Tom's wife Beth got a good report from Cleveland Clinic and had multiple trigger injections to hopefully bring back blood flow in painful areas (back/neck/shoulder)./

Mike Kagan (Janet's hubby) had knee replacement today so he and Janet are recovering together with their daughter Colleen as caregiver.   Janet is on prednisone now so hoping that will help with her sciatica pain.

There are 17 boats here on A dock tonight and a several of them are friends together for the weekend having docktails and appetizers.   Sure brings back memories of us doing that with our Mid Illini friends in Racine.

Last Friday when we arrived here, the big yellow sign said gas price was $6.50 and today sign says $7.59.    OUCH!    

We got out our Canadian flag, passports, proof of vaccinations and correct amount of alcohol onboard so Canada....here we come!

We did remove some wine and other liquor bottles today (transferred from Catrina to car) as we had read about the maximum # of bottles allowed coming into Canada.    Dennis at the marina told us a friend of his was given an $800 fine for being over the limit.   YIKES....

Threat of rain early evening but just a few sprinkles.    This is a state park and so nicely maintained - really like coming here.   Another good walk....

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Thursday - June 9

 Started out cool, windy and sunless, but ended up a really nice day although only in the upper 60's.    We walked downtown and had breakfast at The Coffee Express.    While Mark was getting a haircut with Gina, I walked around some residential neighborhoods.   

Attractive Ottawa County Courthouse

 Back home and gathered some stuff and off to the Port Clinton Fire and Rescue Department.    We had 2 fire extinguishers on Catrina that were more than 12 years old .   New rule from the Coast Guard is no older than 12 is acceptable, so.....ordered new ones from Amazon and the fire department was happy to take our old ones.

Nice guys....

Mark dropped me and a set of new sheets off at laundromat and he went onto West Marine.    We got some new bedding (RVSuperBag) and wanted to wash the sheets before using.     He got what he wanted and was back to help me fold these very long sheets which go inside the bag!

We walked downtown to The Brick House for pizza and salad (had heard good things about this place and it was in an old building with brick walls which I love.)    However, we were disappointed in the pizza....nothing special and probably won't return!    I walked back with Mark (and leftovers) and after 1/2 hour or so, I walked back downtown (getting plenty of steps today - almost 14,000) for a manicure with Danielle.    Back home and enjoyed this beautiful evening.

It was a good day - had wanted to do another bike ride, but fizzled out when it was chilly and windy this morning!    Planning to head out on a little trip tomorrow.

UGH....the mayflies are back!    Such a nuisance as they attack Catrina.   What are the odds that Port Clinton, OH is famous for its mayfly outbreak (usually in May)!  

 Let's hope we can escape and leave these little buggers behind.

Wednesday - June 8

 Sunny start to the day but that didn't last long as the clouds came rolling in.    We walked downtown to Coffee Express for breakfast, then home to exercise, load up the bikes and off to Fremont to ride on the North Coast Inland Trail.   WOW....this is awesome with absolutely all flat pavement and very straight with very few riders or walkers.    We did 11 miles total (1/2 way to Lindsey, OH (poop 422) and then back.    So enjoying our  electric bikes, too.

Stopped for WalMart for a new tire pump for bikes and then to Chuds for lunch.    This morning at the coffee shop, 3 men were talking a about their favorite places to eat.   They mentioned "Chuds" in Fremont and agreed it was great.    So, we went there today only to realize we were here on August 19, 2014 (thank you Mark and blog).    We were back in IL for my Aunt Lois's funeral and then drove to Fremont for the night enroute to Oxford, MD where we had left Catrina.    That same day, our niece Nora and Pat welcomed their 1st son (Jack) - the Circle of Life....

On home and gosh, the temp dropped and just a chilly, dreary afternoon.   The rain started at 6:15.   

Update on Tom...successful retinal surgery but a long recovery with head down 2-3 weeks.    He'll be back to Dr. this Friday and will know more then.

We've noticed that restaurants are charging anywhere from 1-4% for using credit cards!!!

Tuesday - June 7

 A rainy evening and overnight....one of the new features on my Ipad mini is rainfall recorded and as of 6 AM this morning, we had 2.2" with more since then!    I'm like my Dad giving out forecasts, daily weather report, rainfall, etc.    Dad always mentioned the weather 1st thing when he wrote in his diary (MANY years) and now I'm doing the same with my blog.   😊

Happy to wake up to an e-mail that our nephew, Justin and Jessa from Charlotte are expecting their first baby in November.    Yeah....and with this baby and 3 others due this year, we'll be getting close to 70 great grandchildren for Mark's parents!    We will see Justin and Jessa over the 4th at Lake James.

Dreary skies and everything very wet this morning....we did computer stuff, had breakfast and on with the day.   Nothing special planned and love these leisurely "don't have to be anywhere" days.

Around 1:00, decided to needed a change of scenery so took off in car for Oak Harbor (12 miles to the west and where friends that Joe and Joan (Mark's sister) met in Arcadia this winter live in the summertime.    We will all get together in August.    Drove around this small town of 2700 and then headed south to Fremont.    We were here last summer for delicious dinner at Scarpetto's.    Today we checked out The Garrison (#2 on Trip Advisor) and it was a winner - neat old building with brick walls.    Mark loved his open-faced roast beef with mashed potatoes and Garrison gravy.   I had French onion soup and a wedge salad.  Definitely a return to place.

Mark had been doing some checking on possible walking/biking trails in the area.    There is a 13-mile trail (North Coast Inland Trail) so decided to check it out and walked 1.2 miles.    It is very straight and flat so may take the bikes there (tomorrow)??

Weather was really wonky today - cloudy and rain, then sun, then more rain - cool and then warm....way more clouds than sun.

Back from our little outing in the country - talked to Dave (dockmaster) and told him of our trip as he's from Fremont.   We both clunked out for little naps and then more walking.

It turned out to be a beautiful evening here in Port Clinton and once again, like most nights during the week, it's just us!    Most of these boaters come for the weekend, cruise to the Bass Islands or somewhere, and then return their boat and go on home.

Mark's sister Janet is still in so much pain AFTER she had her spinal surgery....her sciatica is really hurting and now going on 9 days of prednisone.    We're waiting to hear how Tom's retina surgery went tonight?   🙏🙏🙏🙏

Monday - June 6

 Hot 'n sunny.   We decided it was time to get back to exercising.    Besides the walking, it was time for me to start lifting weights and doing some stretching stuff.    Mark has his routine for his back, but......been waking up stiff in the mornings and takes a bit to get all the kinks out, so....the owners have a nice set up in building where Flo and Big Red are stored.    Weight bench, weights, floor mat, etc.   

 We did our thing and after breakfast, loaded up the car with an avalanche of laundry including all of Flo's bedding and off to the laundromat.    If I can't have my own washer and dryer in she shed, this place is top notch as laundromats go.    Stopped along the way at a new place "Root to Rise" all about being healthy with food/drink and cycling!   A whole bunch of funky sounding foods/beverages. I had my latte and on with the laundry.    Mark helped get it all in and sorted, then he ran some errands.    

Stopped for lunch on the way home at Dianna's, a deli/breakfast/lunch/dinner place that we pass many times and always busy, but 1st time for us to try!    HUGE menu and we enjoyed our lunches (Mark - tuna salad with fresh fruit and Santa Fe quesadillas for me).

On home to put away the clean laundry and kept an eye on the weather as we could get storms next 24 hours.    Just a few sprinkles around 3....but later, LOTS of heavy rain, thunder and lightning!

So happy and thankful our friend Marsha and granddaughter Maddie returned home safely last night from Dublin after 1 day shy of 2 weeks confinement!

Miss Maeve got into Mommy's lipstick today!

She was wearing the appropriate shirt!

Around 7:30 when there was a little lull in the rain, we got to the storage building and finished our steps for the day!    Tah dah!    Success and in the nice confines of being high and dry as it was coming down again when we left!

Waiting to hear about Tom (Mark's brother) who had some hemorrhaging in his eye this morning and may have become detached again requiring more surgery?    His surgeon was out of town and latest is surgery (2-2.5 hrs) scheduled for tomorrow night!  🙏🙏🙏