Finally...this photo download business  has taken forever... but here are some photos of our Frankfort accommodations! Lovely...just lovely 

Entering the canal into Sturgeon Bay....right on schedule! Can I just say I'm very proud of my crew! We have the best Captain ever....aaannnndddd TUMBELWEED is sporting a couple of NEW silky lines....oh, everyone wants to steal them...but nooooo, they are mine!! All mine!

As much as we love Frankfort...it was today...or wait another week....so good bye, Frankfort.



Winds out of the west...right on the nose...cooler temps meant that Dakota and I were huddled on the couch....waves were mostly 2-3 feet (occasional 4s) for the first couple of hours...but then by noon they had decreased to less than 1foot....our 6 hour journey into Sturgeon Bay wasn't so bad...really. I've certainly taken worse boat rides! The weather here is sunny and warmer that what we've been experiencing in Frankfort this week.

We are in a crowded marina...just off the Michigan Street bridge...in the heart of town of Sturgeon Bay...with nothing pressing to do, we'll be playing tourist I'm sure! Oh, laundry....there is always laundry!!

Sleeping Bear Dunes...and our smooth ride into Frankfort...we love days like this on Lake Michigan!

Yeah...finally photos have caught up!!! This is former student Shana that came wwwaaayyy up up north on vacation...we meet in the Frankfort park....pretty special spending adult time with her and extended family and friends.

Playing around with this iPad...trying to load photos to the blog from it instead of camera...not quite there yet... This Photo is from our Route 66 trip last April...still waiting on current photos to download...testing, testing, testing....1,2,3!

Had a great time at Crystal Lake cabin with Shana, her daughter Bailey and boyfriend Alex...extended family and neighbors...adults and children everywhere...fun, food, and beverages. Was so special hearing about her life since high school...and the impact NEM had on her...she's just down the road in Edmond, Oklahoma...and family still in Wichita...so maybe our paths will cross again. Though it is pretty darn amazing that we crossed paths here...if Alex hadn't needed the post office, if I hadn't been walking the dog, if she hadn't gotten out of the car to let the girls play in the park....so many if's came together...serendipitous! Makes my heart happy!

On the boating note, we woke to temperature of 58... and howling wind blowing across the lake...so on June 26 we are running the heater and searching out sweaters/sweatshirts...hats and jackets. Floyd says still looks good to cross the lake tomorrow but I'm more than skeptical....winds gonna have to die off so waves can settle down...local folks keep telling us how great this town is on the Fourth of July...maybe we'll find out??

It's a good thing that Frankfort is one of our favorite port towns...looks like we'll be here a long while! Winds and weather are conspiring to make a rough crossing...so we elect not to go anywhere. Dakota got groomed on Thursday..Floyd and I got haircuts yesterday. Farmer's market and Kids Fishing free kept us entertained. We've got restaurants, Kilwin's ice cream, grocery and laundry facilities close...Marina is surrounded by the town park facilities...Dakota has easy access to grass and play! Not many boats around...and certainly no one moving...including us. Looks to be at least a week of waiting.

Wonder of wonders...small word...you can't take me anywhere...as I was walking Dakota Thursday morning, a strange voice called my name...really, in Frankfort, Michigan...miles and miles from home...yep, former student Shana Reeves McCosh...vacationing with friends at Crystal Lake. We plan to get together with them Sunday night.

Yesterday was a good day to boat nowhere...winds were whipping and even locals were complaining about the cold...we played tourist in Leland! I scored lime green flip flops...not cheap! And a couple of visors...still searching for the perfect hat!

Winds died down last night so we left right on schedule for Frankfort. Dakota has a grooming appointment tomorrow...we've got a sushi restaurant on tap for tonight to celebrate Dennis Hoobler's birthday! It's a delightful, if somewhat chilly, day to be on the lake!

So long, Northport...love ya' but gotta go! Hello, Leland!

Was a cool and cloudy day...but the water was smooth smooth...just the way we like it!  Last year Leland was busy busy busy...this time...not so much... we'll hang out here ...suppose to rain...hope to leave for Frankfort on Wednesday...weather looks good for that!

Between rain showers, we made that big grocery run this afternoon. Then a lovely meal this evening at Tucker's to celebrate Father's Day. Last year we were arriving in St Charles in the heat to finish our second loop...this year we haven't even left the harbor yet and the temps a cool 72...we're still in jeans and sweatshirts.

Water tank is full...winds are calm...looks like all systems are go for departure tomorrow morning...Leland, here we come!

Totally forgot to mention that after the Farmer's Market yesterday, we finally made the short drive to Sutton's Bay. Spent a lovely afternoon walking the street, touring the quaint shops and enjoying a leisurely lunch.  Found a few interesting things...so I'd say we did our bit for their local economy. Looking forward to a return visit in September!

It's a miracle!! We've done everything on the list of things to do...tomorrow is the big trip to the grocery store...and we are on track to head north to go south to be west...hahahah!

Monday in order to get to Leland we first go north around the point ...then south to Leland...which is really only about 10 minutes away by car from where we are now....but 31 water miles...at 8 mph...do the math!

Captain says weather looks really good for traveling next week. We plan to be move on to Frankfort in plenty of time to celebrate Dennis Hoobler's birthday Wednesday and for Dakota's grooming appointment on Thursday...then soon as weather allows we'll jump across the lake to Sturgeon Bay! It all looks so good on paper!!

Chores are being crossed off the list...and this time not much is being added at the bottom. It is amazing! While we still haven't managed to make a trip to Sutton's Bay, we did take the afternoon off and tour the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Musuem yesterday. We've seen more than one Lighthouse museum...this is one of the better ones. Though the Lighthouse is not very tall, the housing part was very well furnished...and contained several nice displays about ship wrecks on Lake Michigan. One really nice exhibit about pilot training during WWII that took place on Grand Traverse Bay was evidently someone's Eagle Scout project.

Locals here have been planning a weekend boat trip to Beaver Island...but weatherman is predicting rain...might as well sit here if it is gonna rain. Floyd plans to finish work and cleaning on the dinghy today...so Dakota and I are hopeful for a ride!

Weather here is delightful and we are crossing things off our "to do" list. Friday morning and it is time for the weekly local Farmer's Market...right in the marina parking lot!  I finally got to use my "new...old" market bag! (Linda Bemis)....scored fresh asparagus and mixed lettuce bag! Yummy food...but I don't think it'll be tonight! We plan to road trip to Sutton's bay this afternoon and find a spot for supper there. We still need to visit the lighthouse too. But things are starting to slow a little...so it could really happen.

We plan to leave here in a week or so...head to Leland and then Frankfort. Once we get a good weather window, we'll hop across to Sturgeon Bay....I say hop...but it's a long day of boating...and Dakota and I are insisting on smooth water for that crossing...stay tuned to see how that works for me!

Tuesday was a busy and expensive day. After clearing up some confusion about which Ford dealer in what city...we turned over the pick up to Fox Ford in Traverse City for repairs to the instrument panel. Not knowing whether it would be 3 hours or 3 days, we tried several rental car places before getting a "roller skate" model...$68... robbery!

Off we went to check items off the list...it was really a lot like shopping with mom...here's the list of where to go...and what we need at each place....we were in seek and destroy mode. Truck finished and fixed at 2:30... rental car gouged us another $14... and we were back at boat by 5. All items secured...truck fixed...Floyd tired and exhausted from all that shopping. It was a beautiful day in Traverse City.

Our trip north was delightful...we didn't miss the RV at all! Dakota had the back seat where Floyd had extended the seat with boxes...I didn't have him in my lap...or smell like dog! We certainly enjoyed the closer and quieter ride...that dashboard issue was a bit of a glitch. Floyd called the dealer in Traverse City and scheduled the repairs for Tuesday. We may have to rent a car for a while but that sure beats sitting in a hotel in South Bend.

We schlepped everything aboard and started the work of getting boat ready...quick trips to grocery store and bakery so that we wouldn't starve...making lists of lists and more lists so that Tuesday we can shop big in Traverse City.

We are on the party "B" dock...so they watched as we worked all weekend....we did have a moment or two of wishing for the RV when we arrived. We had stripped all bedding anticipating that we could stay in RV and do all that laundry so that it'd been fresh and clean for the start of our boating season... we'll, not so much! Made for a long day Saturday as only one washer was working...but, hey, its exercise...and works well into our weight loss e plans.
By Sunday afternoon everything was put away...and Captain gave us all permission to nap. Good timing!

Our brief stay in Louisiana,  Missouri was delightful...Sally fed us healthy (and Floyd ate zucchini! And green rice!) ... we made a short tourist visit to Hannibal and got to spend time with Sally's twin sister Susan. The view of the Mississippi River was awesome...so enjoyed spending time with the SaSea Sally crew...we headed out Thursday as planned.

We spent a delightful evening on Thursday in South Bend....ventured to a little Italian restaurant called Carmela's...observed a wedding rehearsal dinner in progress...sipped wine and made TUMBLEWEED plans. Much to our surprise, our truck played temperamental! At departure from restaurant...no dash board instruments worked. We thought it was probably a fuse issue...but our attempts to play with fuses proved futile. Floyd's plan to find a Ford dealership with early hours on Friday for a quick fix seemed like a great plan. Plus it meant that Dakota and I could sleep in.

If only it were so easy! At mechanic suggestion, we headed on to Northport using GPS as speedometer and gassed up along the way....arrived at TUMBLEWEED safe and sound Friday afternoon...just a little later than we had planned.