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October 15, 16, 2011

October 15

The day begins with a little bit of spiffing up of the boat, because we are expecting company from home!  Then we borrow the marina car and drive into Grand Rivers for a few supplies.  As it turns out, less supplies than we planned.  This IGA is a poor excuse for a grocery store.  I'm not looking for exotic foods -- just some basics.  When we checked out we only had 3 bananas and a box of confectioners sugar.  We also stopped in a very cute store that we remembered from before, So Cool.  They have a little bit of everything and it is all fun.  Brian leaves with a sunscreen protective shirt with a sailfish embroidered on the back, a Pirate Book (that he said he was buying for the Grand kids, but I caught him reading it this morning) and a dress and t-shirt for me.  Ok, if I have to choose between a good grocery store or a fun whatever store---we can always find groceries!   

 

Barb and Sandy Cobb arrived around 2:00 after a little tour of the area (they got lost).  We spent several hours catching up on life in general, went for a walk and then jumped in their car to go for dinner at Patti's 1880 Restaurant.  This place is a destination for people that really like to eat.  I'm trying to be politically correct.  The food is very good and the portions are huge.  The second thing that you notice is how absolutely overdecorated the restaurant is.  Artificial flowers hang from every conceivable location in quantities that would easily fill the shelves of all the Michael's craft stores in the Twin Cities.  This is no exaggeration...  Back to the boat and it is time for a serious game of Chicken Foot.  We have to play a game or we will fall into a food comma.  When we quit the game for the evening, I am clearly in the lead.  Everyone agrees that the game will be continued tomorrow after breakfast.  The worm turned and by morning my luck had turned with it.  Barb wound up the grand champion with me in second place.  Guess that lets you know where the boys finished. 

October 16
After a leisurely breakfast and the completion of our game, Barb and Sandy head off for Nashville and a visit with Sandy's brother.  Then they are on to Florida.  Brian and I enjoy a walk around the marina, do a couple more projects and this beautiful 80+ degree day is almost gone.    

Walking into our retirement

Muddy Waters from Miami, FL

 Another 48 foot North Sea Krogen is docked next to us.  We first saw their boat in Alton, MO while we were waiting for a lock to open.  Jennifer and Mike are doing the Great Loop with their two children, Keenan & Daria.  They are now headed back to Florida for some time on land.  We got together to look at each other's boats and compare notes on storage and living on board.  Their boat is a widebody -- no walk around on one side which makes their salon another two+ feet wider than ours and they have 3 staterooms.  It is beautiful inside with granite counters, new upholstery and a 4 drawer Subzero refrigerator/freezer.  As we upgrade some of our interior, these are things that we will definitely consider.  Keenan is my new hero.  He showed me how to recover some pictures from email and put them in my picture file.  What a nice family -- Just the kind of people that we hoped to meet on this trip.

Keenan -- computer wizard

Monday morning we begin our trip up the Tennessee river to Chattanooga.  This is an area that we have not explored before.  We are very excited about it because we have heard wonderful reports from so many others.
Gotta Smile -- We're lovin the ride!