Becky and I left Wichita at 1:50 AM on Thursday, arrived in Newton and waited and waited for the Amtrak...it was almost an hour late...we made good time to KC and then lost it all and then some before arriving in Chicago almost 2 hours late. That put these two Kansas girls among rush hour pedestrians lugging suitcases on the METRA...for a long ride to Winthrop Harbor. Followed by a brisk 2 mile hike to the boat...we were very tired puppies. Floyd was a great help, providing a wheelie cart for transport of our carry ons and then fixing a fabulous meal...and then outlining the day trip to Chicago that would start at 9 AM on Friday ....no rest for us....

My time in Wichita flew by...lunches and dinners with friends and family...hair cuts, manicures and pedicures...precious time with my Dad and fun, giggle time with my Mom. As luck would have it, while I was in Fredonia, her New Jeep Grand Cherokee arrived. WOW...one nice ride...on Wednesday before leaving for this leg, my brothers joined us for lunch and Becky took this great photo!!! I think we are a pretty good looking bunch...but then I'm prejudiced!

I head back to TUMBLEWEED on Thursday...My BFF Becky is joining us for the last leg to finish the LOOP...Chicago to St Charles...Floyd has been checking off those boat chores...we are excited and ready for this!!!!

Things are going well...though separately...Floyd is checking off boat chores and projects in Winthrop Harbor, Ill. He is enjoying the peace and quiet (though maybe it is too much on the quiet) and cooler temps. Absence makes the heart grow fonder!!! I am in Wichita where I have already fixed the hot water heater, gotten a pedicure/manicure and haircut from my people, spent 3 days shopping and giggling with my Mom., cleaned and mowed at 9219 (my home recently vacated by my Son).. and, of course, made good use of the condo pool and gone out to lunch and/or dinner with friends every day. I head to Fredonia on Thursday for the weekend. Then a round appointments before returning to the TUMBLEWEED on Aug 25th. I love when plans really work...so far, so good.

Captain and crew slept in on Saturday...cleaned up a bit and then took in the sights and sounds of Harbor Days at North Point Marina...boating vendors, craft booths, face painting, air slides and, of course, beer and food...lots of boats for sale... open and ready for viewing...Some were really BIG...no checks were written ... TUMBLEWEED is still ours!!!! we saw it all...now time for naps...

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Go, CUBS, Go....Go, CUBS, Go....Hey, Chicago, what do you say? CUBS gonna win today...

Friday was a busy day...we wanted to attend the CUBS game at 1:20...so that meant catching the METRA in Waukegan, finding Wrigley Field from the Ravenswood stop....(oh, just a little bit farther...for 3 miles...shoulda taken a taxi or bus)...then, of course, we had to find (scalpers are such a bunch of rip-off artists!!!) some tickets for a game that was sold out!!!! That didn't go as well as we expected but at least we got in the game....and eventually found some great seats...and it was a wonderful game. An in-the-park home run for the CUBS...shade, cool breeze, and most important...CUBS WIN!!!! CUBS WIN!!!!...shopping for CUBS gear afterwards and a visit to a local bar for food and beverages...then taxi and METRA back to Waukegan. We did find a Baskin-Robbins on the drive back to the boat... Left at 9 AM...and it was almost 9PM when we finally got home....hot, tired, and H A P P Y....BTW, those are some of Stan's friends in the blechers...we missed getting to see them...the only downer of the trip!!!