Thursday - June 23

 They're BAAAACK...............the mayflies returned overnight (winds out of the north)!!!    UGH!

Mark went with me downtown for coffee and breakfast at Coffee Express - his sandwich was so fresh and yummy with light fluffy eggs - nothing processed at this place.   I had a lemon/blueberry muffin!

One of the downtown storefronts!

Mark walked back to Catrina, I walked around downtown to get some steps and then had a mani-pedi with Danielle at BeYOUtiful.    Always fun to visit with her and had to take a picture of where she does the pedicures.    Never have experienced this neat set up other than here.   Walk up a few steps, sit back with a bunch of cushy pillows and so much easier on the girls' backs, too.   Very relaxing!

Cute sign in pedicure room - sooo true!

Great set-up for a pedicure!

On home and in touch with Annette and Brooke about the stuff the kids are bringing on Sunday!

Such a pretty day - only in the 70's!   We  walked downtown at 3 and had lunch at Rosie's (another favorite but 1st time this year) - Mark had taco soup and BLT and I had yum yum shrimp!    All very good.

Tomorrow we are leaving early for Cleveland and flight to Dallas.    Our friends (Paul and Kathy) daughter, Katherine's wedding is Saturday - looking forward to hanging out with friends and a good time despite the very hot temps predicted (101-103).   Sunday, we fly to Charlotte to pick up Luke and Blair, fly back to Cleveland and drive to the boat.     I'm taking a break from the blog while we're gone.    Praying that we have no problems with our flights coming and going as there have been so many cancellations lately!  😞

Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday - June 22

 Another summery sunshiny windy day in Port Clinton.    We had breakfast and then on with the day.    Mark had several outside jobs (between Catrina, Flo, Big Red and Little Navy - always something)!

For me, today was all about gathering our things and packing for our Texas trip on Friday-Sunday for our friend Katherine's wedding.    It's going to be HOT down there in McKinney (Dallas suburb) - 101-103, so taking as much "cool" stuff as possible!

Mark's brother Tom saw his eye surgeon today, got stitches out and a good report!   He no longer is a rotisserie chicken (family joke while he was having his head down and then switching sides during the night).    He can return to work, but has very limited activities and returns to Dr. in 2 weeks.

We cleaned out the inside of car so it's ready when we pick up the kiddos Sunday in Charlotte.   

Some large pieces of equipment have been coming and going here at the marina in preparation for the new storage building going up this summer/fall,     This morning the backhoe broke the water line, so......fortunately we have plenty in our water tank on Catrina.   And then our side of marina was restored - not sure how long for the other side closer to the construction.

We've got several favorite restaurants here in Port Clinton but always fun to try a new one.   We had heard about Bistro 163 but never been.    Now this is a unique place (6 years old) that is all about "Pay it Forward" and giving back to the community.  "Bistro 163 in Ottawa County is one of 50 such community cafes across the US that addresses hunger issues in a dignified manner while providing an avenue for building relationships."    The name comes from the address along State Route 163 stretching from Ohio Harbor to Marblehead.   More on Bistro 163

They have community dinners 2x a month (carry out) and everyone is welcome 

The menu was very impressive (one of those that EVERYTHING sounded delicious)!    Mark had the Tuscan sausage/bean tomato bisque and chicken salad on a croissant; I had the bacon, onion, Swiss, spinach quiche, salad and fresh fruit) - all very good!    And then we shared an excellent bread pudding (their signature dessert).  There is a suggested price on the menu, but give what you can + hopefully an extra donation.  The lady volunteers (and a few children) were so friendly - just a very special place open Tuesday thru Saturday from 11-2.   All meals are made from scratch with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  They recently donated over $36,000 to feed the Ukraine refugees.

Stopped at Dubberts as some Catrina parts came in (extras to have on hand).    Still waiting to see what Terry hears from Yanmar on software.   On home and Mark worked some more on the cloudy windows - he's making progress.   I walked inside late afternoon - too hot outdoors.    But around 8, it was very nice and breezy for a stroll around the marina.

So ready to be done with the mayflies but had to share this picture which was in the Port Clinton news 

Crazy huh?

    

Tuesday - June 21

 Hot 'n sunny today with a high of 95.    Appropriate weather for the first day of summer!  We had breakfast, exercised, I washed the car, we did a pump out and then hosed down Catrina - we "hope" we've seen the last of the mayflies, but who knows.    For now, we've washed 'em away - GOOD RIDDANCE!!!    

Next year we'll have to make sure we're outta here when those bugs appear!   But who knows?    They're called "May" flies, but past 2 years they've come in June.

Went to Dock's Beach House for lunch - sat outside along the beach/lake, but really warm!    Then ran some errands and I got a new top at another cute shop (Fabulous Female Boutique)(where have these places been hiding on me)?   😀    Mark also got some new shirts at Newport and then picked up a few things at WalMart in preparation for our little visitors (Luke and Blair) coming next week.

Not sure what's going on with my knee, but been feeling fine since I said it was hurting?????   Very weird but not gonna complain!

Stay C O O L!!!!

Monday - June 20

 Woke up to rain drops hitting the windows?    Hmmm...where did that come from as last night the forecast was for cloudy all day with a high of 88.    So we had a change of plans as we were going to ride bikes on the trail this morning before the heat and then come back and do laundry.   It was a nice gentle rain and by 7:30, it had stopped so loaded up the laundry in car and off to do that task.    Got 5 wash machines going and then drove down the street to the R Coffee Corner for coffees and breakfast sandwich for Mark and coffee cake muffin for me to go- all good!   Mark went to Wal Mart and then back to help with the laundry (he's my favorite sock folder). 😀

Back to Catrina and unloaded clean clothes and waited for more rain that was "supposed" to come according to phone alerts, but the sun tried coming out - no additional rain

My right knee (actually left side of knee) has been bothering me especially at night?    But today is acting up so taking ibuprofen and icing?    Almost feels like it's bruised?

The light wind shifted to the south overnight so while the mayflies are everywhere, not many new "live" ones arrived although some still flying around and trying to get inside car/boat, etc.....will be so happy when these buggers are GONE!!!    Mark hosed down Catrina as we are stepping all over them - what a mess!

After lunch we drove to Elmore, parked and hit the trail - another awesome ride and enjoyed these sites along the way.

Pretty covered bridge on a golf course 

New tomato plants

Much bigger tomato plants

Sweet baby daisies

Lovely lilies

Some type of leafy lettuce?

My cyclist buddy movin' down the trail

Not much happening rest of the afternoon/evening.    Leftovers for supper, the sun came out and enjoyed my walk!

 

Father's Day - 2022

Hope all "Fathers" had a wonderful day celebrating as the rest of us appreciate and thank you for being such great role models.

Cheers to the Patriarch of our family!

Mark and I remember our Dads today with great pride and love!    And many memories of spending past Father's Days with them.

We thank Michael, Philip and Patrick for giving us Drew, Davis, Brady, Blair, Luke, Maeve, Liam and Connor!   And so proud of their parenting with their kiddos.   Patrick would be so proud of his boys!

 A special tribute to their Dad

 

Woke up to the sound of a high-powered blower - Dennis, one of the owners was attempting to blow away the gazillion mayflies that returned last night worse than ever!    Sure appreciate his efforts.   Mark went out later and used our little shop vac, but almost an endless task as those little critters had covered the windows, door, boat, dock, etc......they were EVERYWHERE and today the wind is almost nil???    We concluded that with the strong wind the past 2 days, the big majority of mayflies arrived and promptly died so the dead bugs were all over the place.   But without the wind, they are alive and well and very bothersome.   We heard stories of towns getting the snow plow out and using the blade to scoop them up when the streets are inundated with them.   Unreal!!!

Later Dennis came around and power washed the dock!    What a guy!   He is one of 4 owners and a real workaholic here at the marina (his regular job is an oral surgeon and name of his boat is "Jaws"). 

At 11, we left for Lindsey, Ohio (pop 440) first getting the bikes off the boat and blew off all the mayflies that were in every nook and crannie before we put them in the car - unreal!!!    We parked in the city park lot, got the bikes out and enjoyed another awesome ride thru the country with lots of farms and fields of corn, beans, wheat and oats.    Also passed under a canopy of pretty trees - the weather (73 and all sunshine) was spectacular.    A few more bikers out today but for the most part, had the trail to ourselves.    We drove under I80-90 (Ohio Turnpike).

Along the North Coast Inland Trail

We later drove to Elmore (1,756) and had lunch at the Portage Inn.    We shared a salad and a pizza sub - 👍.   Driving thru the country, we came upon the Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park out in the middle of nowhere.    It was only 6 miles from Port Clinton but we had never been on this road and so we stopped to check it out as a possibility for Luke and Blair.     Lorraine Zimmerman had a dream for her late parents (Raymond and Delores) farm to turn it into a playground for children (with huge dog park).   They also dedicated it to Jack's late parents (Pete and Joan Zimmerman).   Lorraine and husband Jack who have no children wanted a special place for kiddos and this 80-acre very spacious park is just that plus it's all FREE!

Beautiful playground equipment, swimming, fishing and paddle boats - a pavilion for parties, picnics, etc.   They've got new basketball courts and recently installed pickle ball courts.   This all started in 2016 and gradually adding more amenities.   LOTS of room for the kiddies to run off their energy.   It is beautiful.....and we will be back!

Clear clean pretty water

Lorraine and Jack standing on bridge

Part of the massive playground 

Came back to oodles more mayflies everywhere - it was a nice reprieve to be away from them for a few hours - ha!!!    We are having some good laughs after getting comments about our bugs, including the recipe for "mayfly cocktail" from Mark's brother Jim and also how to make a mayfly burger (using 500,000 mayflies) but 7 times the protein of a normal beef burger!!!!     No thanks, Jim!!!!  😆

Read and just hung out till it was time for ice cream - we walked to Scooters (1st time) but the walk was not pleasant as the mayflies attacked and our shirts/pants were covered - lots of shooing before we could go back on Catrina and quickly close the door.

8 siblings on zoom tonight - updates on health issues.   Janet - still hurting after her spine surgery especially at night, hard to get a good nights sleep and doesn't see her surgeon till July 8th; Tom still has his head down from retina detachment - sees the doctor Wednesday; Joan goes to vascular Dr. about her legs/feet this week

  Mark enjoyed all the phone calls from our kids and texts from grandkiddos.   It's been a great day and wishing y'all the same for the week ahead.