Rainy night..cloudy morning...sunny afternoon! Just like being in Kansas...well, except right now they are in 40 days of rain...but usually that's the way it works. Turned out to be a lovely day ...Floyd out did himself with special breakfast....it stopped raining just in time for the car show (about 150 classic cars) ...and bright and sunny for a delightful little 5 o'clock wedding in the gazebo....
But what you really want to hear about is that dinghy floor replacement!

Detective Walpole to the rescue...he watched the UPS truck go down the street...right on by the marina ...pulled out his trusty computer and discovered "his dinghy floor" had been left at the back door...so off he went...three doors down, on the back porch...sure enough, box with his name and marina address...lugged it back here! Quick as a flash, the old floor came out and the new one slipped right in. Aired up...motor replaced....we are thrilled! We plan to purchase some sort of rug to use as protective covering for it while we are in Traverse City tomorrow and then come back and take a little dinghy ride...woo hoo!

Though I'm beginning to worry that Floyd won't have anything to worry about now that the damn dinghy is finally fixed!! Oh, yeah, toilets!! Heheheh!

It's a moment, for sure!...Floyd has spent countless hours for a couple of boating seasons fighting with that leaky dinghy floor....patches, special glue and loads of advice from other boaters and even a few passing strangers....he admitted defeat and ordered a replacement floor today. It was a struggle...and according to me, a long time coming...now with impending holiday weekend, we worry that delivery may be delayed. So even though he paid almost the cost again to have it "next day" delivered....we are a little skeptical. Stay tuned!

We spent today finishing the cleaning chores and preparing the crew quarters...we are ever so hopeful that this summer we will have guests. I told Floyd that since we are ready.....they probably won't come...so please, go ahead, make me wrong.

I've been a cooking girl all week...roast...chili...BBQ beef...so tonight we eat out!! Oh, and those Rummikub lessons are going really well!! Wedding rehearsal at the gazebo is in full swing...and guys are measuring off the grassy area to the north for a classic car show...dockmaster Mark tells us they expect 200 autos....tomorrow should be full of activity! Our work here is almost done, so Dakota and I plan on front row seats...oh, and picture taking!!

Two steps forward....three steps back....my cleaning efforts are about to end...but alas, front head is still not working right...and while we do have two toilets, we prefer them to both work. Floyd is on the hunt for repair kit and parts...and we are still waiting to get the new fender covers...and make a trip to Traverse City. We would sure like to leave here this weekend...but that may not happen. It's a nice place...but ready to get a move on.

Dinghy repairs have improved...Floyd has managed to slow the leak to manageable proportions...so if we need to we can use it...but there will be no pleasure rides around marinas anytime soon.

Boats continue to arrive from the storage yard...four or five yesterday...could get busy around here this weekend.

This week the marina has spent a lot of effort getting "spiffy"... Planting pansies, weeding, new mulch, mowing...I thought just because it was the season...this morning I learned there's to be a wedding Saturday in the marina park gazebo....oooh, la la!! We can watch!!

And just as they predicted...wind came, temps cooled and rain started. They had said at 7pm...so it was right on schedule.

Yesterday's excitement included the arrival of the impeller that fixed the day head dry flush problem (yeah!!)...and the sad discovery that the latest patching of the dinghy didn't work!! Dakota is heartbroken...he almost dragged me into the lake trying to reach his departing Daddy...he just knew he was going to get a dinghy ride out of all that.  Floyd managed to get it to the boat...but it is leaking rapidly. We won't really need it on Lake Michigan...so the decision is that we'll need more patching materials and that Floyd can work on that in July when I travel home for a visit. It'll give him meaning and purpose.

The other bit of excitement occurred as the wind arrived but before the rain, when emergency vehicles suddenly gathered at the marina. Officers fired up the rescue boat, donned gear and took off with lights flashing....seems they had gotten a call about a man in the water off the far point. Floyd went over to chat with those on shore...all volunteers...and they returned shortly...nothing! No harm, no foul, no nothing. But, man, were we in the perfect spot for observing!!

We are hoping the rain and cooler temps will eliminate these midges...what a nuisance!! Huge swarms just hanging around...we really have to be aware of breathing and talking as we come and go from the boat....they seem to like our aft deck and side panels...they are easily inhaled.... Icky!! The Off lantern seems to discourage them...but we'd like to save those for the mosquitos that we know are in our future....so far, none of Floyd's cigar smoke has done the trick!! Though he is still experimenting!!

We plan to head to Traverse City tomorrow...(that shopping list continues to grow). We remain hopeful that the weather will clear and we can head out of here this weekend.

Tuesday and the sun is still shining....though weather is predicted to turn rainy Wednesday and through the weekend. We are in no hurry to leave..still waiting on head parts and fender covers...oh, and dinghy repairs! We did fire up and move about this morning...gas (180 gallons), pump out and test run in the Bay Area. We all remembered what to do...and how to act...though one of us still occasionally needs treats...actually that treat thing works for all of us.

Captain is taking a break...Dakota is down for his morning nap...I'm blogging! So far, I'd say I'm much improved! Not much on my agenda for the rest of the day...another good book is calling my name!

Monday Monday....we have been deserted! There was a small crowd and now there is NOT...Alone in the marina! Kinda scary! Kinda nice! Every day last week boats would arrive from the storage yard...and yesterday afternoon they all took off. We assume headed for home ports elsewhere. We are guessing more boats will start arriving today...and that process will repeat. The dockmaster says the waiting list for permanent dock space here is quite lengthy...like over 150.... Geesh, build another marina!

Accomplished several tasks yesterday and even managed to make apple crisp (and a walk to the store for ice cream)!!!! Kitchen, I mean galley, is working well! Today's list is topped with a visit to the storage yard...that part for the day head and a list of questions we hope they can answer....I'll go along for the ride but may have to leave him there if he starts working on that dinghy!

Rummikub "lessons" have begun...the question is who is "teaching" who??? Hehehehe....

The weather here has been delightful....cold in the evenings, sunny and warmer days. We are officially done with schlepping back and forth from RV to boat...and vice versa! The list of things to do here is quite long...and as we cross things off, others seem to be added. So the list never seems to shrink. Right now, Floyd is re-sealing the front hatch. Yesterday afternoon, we discovered it was totally unsealed (as in dry and loose from frame). Rains are coming next week...so that jumped to the top of the list. Also, still struggling with the dry flush of the day head...but Floyd was able to determine the root of that problem...now to get the part he needs??? And, of course, he still has a dinghy leak!!

Dakota and I piddle on the inside, clean and organize, play ball in the park...try to stay outta the way...and remind him to take breaks! Tough work but we are managing!

In case you haven't looked at the map, we are north of nowhere....Northport, Michigan....lovely village (population 576)...nice marina and park area....great bakery, decent grocery store and restaurants/bars....just a few draw backs. Number one is the slower than slow internet. The locals blame the marina...but I'm saying location location location. The other draw back may be locating/getting parts we need to make repairs. 

Traverse City is the closest "big store" location...and it's a 30+minute hilly drive away. Rains are predicted for the end of next week, so we plan to take a trip there one rainy day. The list of things to find there continues to grow. 

We had thought we'd be headed south Memorial weekend...but that may be delayed a bit. We shall see!

We arrived at Northport, Michigan, marina just before noon on Wednesday...and there she was!!! We are still getting used to that black canvas...we think she looks great! Boatyard seems to have completed most of the work Floyd requested...and just when we were wondering about the new seat and fly bridge covers, they showed up with them. We have spent the better part of these first three days schlepping things from the RV to the boat. We thought it was such a treat to not have to throw away perishables at home only to re-purchase them upon arrival...but I'm not so sure about all that schlepping. Getting organized and re-settled is exhausting.

We keep making lists and going back for more things...but for the most part we are living on board. We ordered new chairs for the deck...those blue ones sure won't work anymore....and black covers for the fenders. We plan to make a run to Traverse City next week...West Marine, BB&B, Walmart...our hope is to start boating our way south Memorial weekend. The boatyard has agreed to store the RV inside while we are gone.

Days have been sunny...highs in the 60s...nights are cooler. Yes, we have the heater on. We are in jeans and long sleeves while the locals are sporting shorts and flip flops. A gathering of small gnat-like bugs is always on the aft deck and at the boat entrance...they call them "midges"...They don't bite and don't seem to come inside...but what a nuisance!!! Our trusty OFF lantern seems to deter them some...but Floyd's cigars are worthless at discouraging their presence. Though he continues to test them!!!

Dakota is adjusting...I'd say he prefers the RV life. He rides in my lap for hours and then gets serious play time. Boating not so much...but I will say he has slept well and long these last few days...making friends, especially with the women!

Left Wichita according to plan...and spent a lovely evening with my mother...a quick lunch at the Tri-Mee Drive In and we were on the road to Jefferson City, Missouri. A very scenic drive along some lesser used highways...cool and rainy weather. Sunday we slept in and made our scheduled tour at the Missouri State Penitentiary...located in heart of downtown Jefferson City. Closed since 2004, our tour was lead by a former prison officer...and full of interesting stories.

this is the grave of the prison cat MIKE...who was actually caught smuggling smokes and notes to the prisoners in solitary...seems someone had made him a set of saddle bags that matched his fur...no one suspected a thing for a long while...but alas, he was caught red handed with the goods.

 They considered this a great example of prisoner artwork...Floyd agreed!!!

Even though some of the buildings have been removed...it is a very imposing structure. We spent just 2 hours there...and that was plenty. Can't imagine doing real time there.

Another lovely evening at Binder State Park...and we were on the road to a KOA Campground just outside of Chabanse, Illinois. Nothing memorable...a stop on Tuesday at the THOR manufacturing plant to pick up a new table top (one we've been working on getting since January) and then into Muskegon... an easy ride to a delightful site by a small lake...plenty of room for Mr Dakota to run free...we were the only RV there!

okay...so I did a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad job of blogging on the RV trip...that missing cord was found right where I left it...

We prepare to leave on Friday May 13...working our way back to Northport, Michigan...and a new and improved TUMBLEWEED...much polishing and new signage has been completed. We'll spend time with Mom in Fredonia, a tour of the prison in Jefferson City, time with Clay and Sally (SASEA SALLY) as we RV north. Should arrive on Wednesday, May 18th. Our number one goal is to finish our second loop...have some fun...and return the boat to Northport.  My son is planning a September 4th wedding...so we do have a bit of a deadline.

We are excited that we'll get to tote all sorts of groceries...and not be so wasteful as we transition from home to boat...that RV is a money saver!!!

My mission is to do a better job of blogging. Though really that should be a piece of cake...cause anything I do at this point will be better than what you got of the Grand Canyon/ Route 66 adventure. Hahahaha!