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.