INDIANA

Here we are in Indiana. What a difference a few hundred miles make. It is cool and sunny. We arrived here on Monday late and are staying with "H"s cousin on Big Turkey Lake.

The house on Turkey Lake

On Tuesday we spent the day touring the area where Harrriet grew up, especially the campus of Howe Military School. Really wonderful and nice to see places we only have talked about.

Here is a picture of the interior of St. James Chapel on the campus.

We had lunch at an old soda fountain in Howe (H does not like me using the word "old",) which is no longer a soda fountain but a nice spot for lunch.



We toured many places and also the cemetary. Very quiet, peaceful and full of history and memories. So glad that we came.

Spent the remainder of our time with friends and exploring the "old homestead". One night we went to dinner at an amazing place. Essenhaus. Run by the Amish for 40 years, the food was incredible and deserts even better. Too much, too much, but we want more. It was all so good.

"H" also spent a day with her BFF from school and had a good homecooked meal by our gracious hosts. All in all it was an incredible week.

On the way back to Maryland we stopped in Vermilion, Ohio to visit "H"s previous address. It was the first time I have ever seen any of the great lakes and this "cute" little town is right on the shore of Lake Erie.

Here is a picture of Vermilion and Lake Erie. Pretty nice!

Also visited some friends in the town and came on back to MD. By way of a 3 car crash on the interstate and about a 2 hour delay (or shall we just call it a 2 hour STOP!) Any way we are back in MD.

p.s. Splash did just fine and met some new friends at the kennel and, according to the attendant, Splash does play well with others.

Well...Thats about it for now. Will update more later...looking forward to visits from friends and family during the next two weeks.

Love ya,
KK

Here We ARE!!!

Greetings one and all...well we are finally in Deale, MD. and just let me say that it is incredible. We have had a couple of "HOT" days (in the 80's) and some really very nice summer weather. Today, it has been raining and cool, very cool. It is expected to be in the 90's on Wednesday before the next cool front moves through.

We had a very uneventful trip here and made it in the 2 days we had planned. Arrived at the boat and everything "seemed" normal. HOWEVER...

We were running the water and it appears that there was a certain "orange" tinge to the hot water. So we emptied and filled the tank several times and still orange. So after investigating we decided a new hot water heater was in order. (How much fun can one person stand?) Purchased said water heater and began to remove the old and install the new...

Just to give you an idea of what's involved. The heater cost about $300.00 for the unit and about an additional $100.00 for the hardware to connect the thing. But we got it connected on one day (and it was a perfect day for such work, cool and windy - perfect). However...we also had to reconnect the heater to the engine (so that when we are not on shore power, the engine will make hot water for us). Well something about bubbles in the line and bleeding said line...it was just too much for this amateur so got help from the marina manager and it was done in about 15 minutes. We now have HOT HOT water and plenty of it. However,

During the bleeding purging process discovered that the engine would not start with just battery power. OPPS...Little did we know that battery life is aboiut 2 years (3 at best) and this is our fourth year. So we need 2 new batteries. One deep cycle and the other a starter battery. There is a difference but we do not need to go there... So we are waiting for the batteries and they should be installed on the morrow! (Tuesday).

So for now I think we have had all the problems we need for a season and we are ready to go sailing.

There was a party at the marina on Saturday night for office help leaving and 25 year anniversary of the marina. Very nice...Had lots of food...some had lots to drink and there was liver music which was exceptional. Nice to see everyone again and get caught up on all the news!

Today we are taking advantage of the cool and rain to get some chores done away from the boat. Next week we are going to Indiana to H's childhood area and will be boarding Splash so we checked out the kennel (very very nice, he will just love it) and also got his Kennel Cough shot (didn't really mind!) Also our weekly Starbuck's and bill paying and getting caught up here.

Trust all are doing well and staying cool?

Will check in later...(p.s. it appears the wi fi at the boat is non-existant so we will be only updating away from the marina!)

We will enjoy and be careful...Love to all....
H and KK

Another Year - 2011

Well we are in the process of getting ready to leave and head up to the boat. It's been a good winter but it's time...I (KK) went a couple of weeks ago to get her ready and cleaned and everything appears to be just fine.

The weather was raining and stormy, but there's nothing quite as nice as a raining afternoon and very overcast to catch up on much needed naps. Loved it.

As Easter was so late this year, we are going to be leaving about 12 June (Pentecost) or shortly thereafter. We are still deciding on route and timing. There is a 25 Anniversary party at the marina on 18 June, so we are trying to decide to go or not to go!!! Decisions decisions!

We are also in the possession on a new IPhone, and it works just great at the marina. Last year we had problems connecting to WI-FI at the marina.
So we will see how all that works now. The "plan" is to go to a good
WI-Fi once a week for paying bills and updating the blog. I can't imagine trying for very long on the phone. (I just don't have the patience!)

Well that's it for now...talk to you all soon.

Love to all!

20 September 2010

It has been a long time. But connection at marina is not good...But here we are at Starbuck's and we have time for a quick update.

We have been busy...all of the teak has been sanded and Cetol'ed and glossed. It looks really good but it is a lot of work.

There has also been 2 Saturday Night of entertainment at the marina. One was a local singer and the other a singer that has a boat at the marina. Nice way to spend a Saturday night.

Weather has been incredible. 70's-80's during the day and low 60's at night. nice sleeping weather. Have included a couple of pictures of sunset and visitors to the boat. We are surrounded by birds, ducks geese.

Trust all is well and love to all..

H and KK

08 September 2010

Here we are, we made it though Labor Day and am now enjoyhing the peace and quiet of the Western Shore. AAHHHH! It's been windy and a little warm, but nights have been very very pleasant and GREAT sleeping weather.

Connection at the marina is minimal so it doesn't appear that we will be updating this until we travel "all the way" to Starbucks. (Of ghee).

We have started on our fall project on the boat (redoing all the teak work). I get to sand and scrape and "H" will be applying the Cetol (kind of like a varnish!) We did have a slight problem with one of the port windows leaking, but after a couple of tries and some prayers and silicone, it no longer leaks.

Believe that we will be getting our outboard motor for the dinghy so we will be able to adventure out of the marina and spend nights anchored. Always a pleasant time and so enjoyable. It'll be interesting to see how Splash gets along on the dinghy.

Since we have arrived we have not taken any pictures, but we now at least have the camera on board so there is a chance.

Will keep this updated as much as possible.

Keep safe and love to all.
H and KK

03 September 2010

Well we are all safe and ready to return to the bay. We secured the boat in preparation for Earl's arrival. It did turn east and so we had some rain but no wind and it appears the high tides and storm surge did not materilize. (Thank you!) Given the same circumstances we would do the same again. No sense in being foolish.

We will work to get the boat back to "normal" and it looks like the weekend is going to be wonderful. There is a cool front passing through so we should have temperatures closer to normal (80's).

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. And we'll keep you updated as to what is happening in the land of Deale.

H and KK

01 Sept. 2010

Well here we are back where we belong. We arrived late last night (late for us!) and the boat was nice and cool thanks to Rockhold Creek Marina turning on the A/C.
SWEET!!!

Woke up this morning to a beautiful morning, lots of sunshine, a little breeze and the words of NOAA, "Minimal impact from Earl, unless it tracks significantly west of it's present course." So, we are going to make sure that all is tightened down and secure, spend Thursday night at a local hotel and plan on returning to boat on Friday. We will continue to monitor the storm's progress and adjust plans accordingly.

One of the things we enjoy about this time of year is the absence of people. It's just so quiet. Have lots to do this trip (mainly sanding and teaking (always a pleasure!)

Well that's about it for now...Will check in later...enjoy this first day of September.

H and KK