Kayaking in the Rain

Today I had a group of co-workers out for a day of kayaking, sun and good eats on the deck. However the weather did not cooperate and it was cool with a drizzle rain. So there was not any sun on the deck but we ate well and set out to kayak no matter what the weather. We had a great time kayaking down river enjoying nature and each others company.

There was one tipping over incident but no harm was done and lots of laughter. This is further proof that I work with some tough people who are able to handle any situation. I thank all of you for coming to our cabin because no matter how wonderful a place is it is not perfect unless you can share it with friends. I hope after we return we can do it again...and for sure plan a day next summer..an annual event.

Lesson for the day: There is no such thing as bad weather!

Geocaching, Jeep and Gas

Today was a beautiful sunny warm day on the Manistee River. Patrick and I did some geocaching in the area driving over hill and dale to find them in his yellow Jeep..most were not too far away on king road and on the river...one was in the National Guard grounds. We had fun and enjoyed talking and laughing...The only bad part was that we ran out of gas...The first picture is of us filling the jeep after walking 2 miles back to the cabin. Lucky for us Michael had gas in the can so that we could fill the Jeep up. The pm brought kayaking and some afternoon fishing. Fishing last night was a but...we hope for better luck tonight with the warm weather.

Lesson for the day: Have a gas gage that works when you off road with a Jeep!

KandM

Suns at the cabin

I have a sun collection at the cabin on the wall of the deck. So many people have been generous to bring me suns. These two are the newest ones that were given to me by Patrick and Heather (rt hand) and Timothy and Casey(left hand). They are both beautiful. Thanks so much to them!

We have been here at the cabin for the last week and it has been cloudy and rained every day!! Still did some fishing with mixed results. However today sunny and beautiful with a light wind. We plan to fish tonight and hope the God of Hex Flies will send his little hex flies to us to lure thebig fish out.

I kayaked with Kim from down the way and saw lots of people enjoying the river. Tomorrow is to be beautiful again. Patrick is here for the weekend but we are missing Heather who is at a family event downstate. Look for the next entry with fish pictures!!!

Lesson for the day: The sun WILL shine for those who wait. Kathy and Mike

Home at last

Today was another long driving day from Niagara Falls to Traverse City. We had an unexpected delay at the US border...we were randomly chosen for a customs inspection...an hour delay and then we were on our way. It was beautiful , sunny and cool in Michigan. Good to be home. We arrived about 6pm and did some unpacking...most to be done tomorrow. The house and lawn looked great thanks to Patricks good care. My poppies have bloomed and gone but the Iris (in the background) are in full bloom. We will spend Fathers Day with Patrick and Heather on our deck and then head out to the cabin on monday pm. We will not be daily bloggers for a few weeks until we leave for the west on July 3rd...however i will let everyone know how many big fish we catch during the Hex Hatch the next few weeks.

Lesson for the Day: As Dorothy said "There is no place like home"

Travel

Today we drove from Brattleboro Vermont to Niagara Ontario thru a on and off rainstorm. Good day to be on the road. Beautiful country in upsatate New York along the Erie Canal and the Adarondak Mountians. We got at glimpse of the American and Canadian Falls on the way over the bridge.

Got to the KOA at about 5:30 pm in time for a walk around the VERY big campground. Friendly people and dinner and drinks before bedtime.

Kathy drove all day, fixed dinner and if you noticed in the picture mike is relaxing outside the Big Bad Boy while Kathy is cooking dinner.

Lesson of the day: A woman's work is never done

A Brattleboro Day

Today dawned sunny but with fog up in the hills. We picked up Casey, Timothy and Lunch and hiked up a big big mountian/hill near Brattleboro to get a fantastic view of the town and surrounding area. The rain of the last few days made the trail like hiking up a stream with rocks...and there were lots of rocks a challange up and down. The weather cleared and it turned very warm by the end of the hike. We then returned to the abode of Tand C for a nice lunch with polenta, beans and salsa. It was fantastic. I will be making it when i get home.

Mike and I took a ride in the country thru quaint towns and along rivers till we got to Springfield...where Timothy will be employed. We checked out the high school and the town.

Then we had a nice celebration dinner at a Brattleboro resturant..Fire Fly.

We will be leaving tomorrow for TC with a stop tomorrow night at Niagra Falls.

Lesson for the Day: What goes up ...has to come down

The Rewards of Hard Work

Today Kathy, Mike and Timothy went fly fishing in the great state of Mass. We drove south to Turner Falls...a cute town...(there is lots of that going on in VT and Mass). We visited the Pipione Sport Shop...yes that is the name and it is mostly a bait and tackle shop. The owner does not take charge cards...only cash for licences. He had been fishing in the area we wanted to go to 25 years ago...did not have much current info...but a nice guy. We headed out and found our way to the Deerfield River which is in northwestern Mass. It is a tailwater trout stream that is stocked with large numbers of browns and rainbows. We saw several of the dams and found water that was fast and challenging. Lots of rocks and white water. There were some tugs but Kathy was the only one who hooked one on...a rainbow of about 15 inches. The river and surrounding area was breathtakingly beautiful...steep valley hills with a narrow valley floor. Houses tucked into little glens and everything was green, green, green. We came back to Brattleboro and had pizza and beer with Casey. A great day.

The best part of the day happened when we were driving up the Deerfield River. Timothy got a phone call and got offered the job he wanted at the Springfield Vermont School District in the special eduction department. Lots of smiles and high fives were going on. We were so proud to be with him when he found out this wonderful news.

Lesson of the day: Hard work and study lead to great rewards in life and in fly fishing

Its a sewing day...with rain

Today did not turn out as we planned...to fish on the Deerfield river in Mass. It rained all night and then rained all morning till about 1 pm...then drizzled on and off in the afternoon. We decided that it would not be a good fishing day. Sooo I got to sew for the morning..I am making a scrap quilt in red, black and white. Today was the first day that I had a chance to sew and it was fun. My Featherweight worked fantastic and I got quite a lot done. My machine was my present to myself when I turned 60. It was made in Nov of 1950 which is the same month I was born. We then had lunch with Timothy and Casey here at the camper after walking over to the farm and market where Casey works. She spent the morining in the stawberry fields and the afternoon on a tractor sowing vegetable sets. We spent the afternoon walking around Brattleboro and then had dinner at a funky little outside restaurant..Hill Top.

Tomorrow is to be beautiful so it is a fishing day!!

Lesson for the Day: Sewing quilts and sowing seed are both a great way to spend the day.

Vermont

Today we drove to Brattleboro Vermont to be able to spend time with Timothy and Casey. We arrived at noon at the campground and had lunch with Timothy...Casey works next door to the campground so she joined us. We kicked back and relaxed, researched where to fish tomorrow and then went to town to get the grand dog...Lunch..he is adorable and sweet. We had a grilled several course dinner of veggies and corn on the cob.

Plans for tomorrow are in the works. The weather is fantastic!! Cool and very pleasant...what a relief...we are not meant to live in hot weather.

Lesson for the day: As Danny Kaye said in White Christmas..."Vermont is wonderful this time of year"!!!

A day of travel thru micro climates

Today we traveled from Williamsbury to upstate New York. We traveled thru the Washington DC area, Baltimore, Phillidelphia and New York City. Luckily it a Sunday and traffic was only terrible not it's usual unbearable. It was a long strange trip of about 10 hours with only short breaks.

We left Williamsburg in rising heat and humidity and traveled to New York in the Catskill Mountians where is a wonderful cool about 60 degrees and rain...but no humidiy. The day was long and Kathy managed to drive thru it all. We paid about $50 in toll road fees. Talked to Timothy and Casey tonight and we be in Brattleboro tomorrow.

Lesson of the day: Freeways are not free!!

Jamestown Virginia

Jamestown

Virginia...

We visited the site of the 1607 settlement of Jamestown.

We learned about the three groups of people who ended up in this area. The British of the Virginia Company, the blacks from the west African area of Angola and the native Potowan Indians. They all had to figure out how to live together...sometimes not very well and the Indians were sure on the loosing end. The Jametown area is a fantastic place to visit with a beautiful visitor center, movies to watch, a museum with wonderful displays and an interactive village for the Indians and the British in the forts. We had fun with Theo on the boats and in the village. The weather is not quite as hot so that was nice.

We have spent some nice time with the Mannas and will head out tomorrow toward Vermont after a combo dinner by the Nolans and the Mannas. Thanks to the Mannas for their hospitality.

Lesson for the day: Gin and tonic mixes better than cultures

Yankee Doodle Dandy

We started out our day by having breakfast with Paul and Theo at the Five Forks(great name)...on to a tour of Theo's school and then went to where Paul is Prof. Manna at William and Mary. We walked over to Colonial Willamsburg and visited many facinating buildings, heard many historical stories of life in Williamsburg . At the end of the day we watched a drama in the streets about the end of the war in 1781. We ate dinner with the Mannas at Shields Tavern on DOG street(Duke of Gloucester street). Great meal. Theo marched with the fife and drum band and we all sang yankee doodle dandy with Theo

We learned lots of history . The British failed to provide themselves with an escape route from the peninsula where Williamsburg is located . A French naval blockade prevented the British from escaping this allowed George Washingtons army of 20,000 to overwhelm the British army of 7,000 troops. End of war!

Lesson for the day: Always have an escape route

K&M

Thursday travel day

Sorry to not update yesterday as we traveled down to colonial Williamsburg. We arrived in the afternoon at the Manna residence and had a fun afternoon with Paul looking around Williamsburg. We then had a great time meeting Paul and Lisa's son Theo(3 years old) who we had only seen in pictures. We had a late dinner in their lovely home and fun talking about old times, laughing and planning for the next few days....tomorrow we will become early americans in the revolutionary period.

We had a wonderful time with Mike and TJ and are having just as much fun with Paul and Lisa

Lesson for the day: There are no friends like old friends!!

The price of freedom

Today we went to Arlington Cemetery on the metro...it was a very very hot day in the 99 to 105 range. We took the tour trolley and went to JFK's burial site with the eternal flame. Also in the same area was Jackie Kennedy, RFK and Ted Kennedy. Then we were taken to the unknown soldier monument with the changing of the guard ceremony...21 steps every 21 seconds to simulate the 21 gun salute...very impressive. The last stop was the home of Robert E. Lee...it overlooked washington DC and had beautiful gardens. We saw rows and rows of white grave sites...very humbling and hard to believe that so many lives were lost for the freedom of all of us.

We then took the metro (we are becoming very savey in this process of travel) and met Mike Grant, TJ and the adorable Franklin at a Lebanese restaurant for an excellent dinner. So fun to see them again. We made it back to the campground and will be leaving tomorrow for Williamsburg to visit Paul and Lisa Manna. On the road again.... Kahty and Mike

Lesson for the day: the price of freedom can't be measured...it makes ones heart break to think of it...

Hot Hot Hot

Today we went into Washington DC again and did the bus trip around the city on the open air bus. It was very hot and the windy top of the bus was great. We went to the Newseum which was fantastic...saw part of the Berlin wall, lots of headlines from momentious days in history and a great 4D movie. We had lunch and went to the Lincoln Memorial,the korean Memorial and the WWII memorial. They we all impresive and moving in their own way. The WWII memorial has so much to look at...we were very impressed with the reflecting pool (the first picture) where each star represents 100 soldiers killed and there are over 4,000 stars...mind boggling. The fountians and quotes on the walls sort of put it all together. We had dinner in Bethesda with Craig and Shannon (Heathers sister) and had a great time.

Lesson for today: Some like it hot...but not us!!

Latin Lesson in DC

Today was the day that Michael went to Congress to talk to politicians about saving the cigar industry. Some success and some frustration...but none the less it was a long day. Kathy went to musuems, walked on the mall and did one her favorite things..people watching. It was a hot day in DC but not as hot as it could be which we grateful for. This is a picture of the capital...a very inspiring building. We had dinner at a Taco resturant and then took the metro back to the campground. We are now have G&T's and relaxing in the shade. More Washington DC tomorrow

Lesson for the day:After talking to politicians all day

Illegitimi non carbor umdum (don't let the basatards get you down)

A Day in Georgetown

We spent the day in Georgetown with Mike, TJ and Franklin. We walked around the upscale downtown, ate good pizza and sampled Ben and Jerry Ice Cream..Yum. We saw the Canal and the riverfront with kayaks, boats and lots of people. We then went to the fish market for a look at some crab, oysters, fish and all kinds of other fish....and interesting people. Got crab cakes and fish to bring home for dinner...they were wonderful. We then took a swim in the pool at the campground before going to bed...at least Mike is in bed. Early day tomorrow in DC with a congressional visit day for him...sightseeing for me. Lesson for the day...this is a great country made up of lots of different kinds of people...it is a good thing. K&M

dinner with friends

We arrived at Cherry Hill Campground outside of Washington DC this afternoon. We were joined for dinner by Mike Grant and TJ Andrews and their adorable son Franklin who is 9 months old. It is great to see friends, eat good food and toast to good times. We talked about many things..solved some world problems and made plans for tomorrow. A trip to Georgetown...the site of Mikes victory..winning the Georgetown Debate Tournament in 1971.. We will be looking for monument that commemorates that day...(that is left over enthusiasm on my part from touring Gettysburg with their plethora of monuments..there must be one for mike in Georgetown!!) It is warm and a bit humid but should cool off for sleeping. Lesson for tonight: There are no better friends than old friends.

Kathy and Mike

Gettsburg

We toured Gettysburg today in the Big Bad Boy with a CD to help us understand the historical events. It was awsome...beautiful weather and inspiring information. We learned two things about Michigan history... 1. several companies from michigan were in the Iron Brigage which turned the whole civil war by helping turn back Picketts charge. 2. Members of the Michigan brigade were important in the Round top battle. We saw lots and lots of monuments. The picture here is of Mike at the Michigan Brigage Iron Brigade monument.

Lesson for the day: Michigan Rocks...we are proud that we are not Ohio

Drive baby drive

On the Road...again

We had success today and found out that we need a new valve for our fresh water tank and and new assembly unit for the automatic step...but none of that kept us from leaving!! We took off at 3pm and arrived at the KOA in Monroe Mich with no diasters. A TC pasty dinner was perfect and we are planning our travels to Gettysburg tomorrow. We stopped in Monroe which is just north of the Ohio border and will be in Penns. tomorrow...our goal is to never sleep in Ohio because Bucheyes come from there and they are" dirty lying cheaters"...i.e. google Jim Tressle.

Please feel free to give us any advice which we will promply ignore.

K&M

Friends who help!!!

Well it has been an eventful first day of retirement. Lots of errands and then trying to get the big bad boy ready to leave has been frustrating. We went thru the dewinterizing check list and failed on the first of many tasks to accomplish that feat. We had to call our friend Ray the enginier (who knows how to fix everything)Klepper. He diagnosed a leak in our water holding tank. So we will be off to the dealership that winterized it for "satisfaction" !!!!!!!! After wine and gin and tonics with pizza and discussions with Ray and Cindy we have a plan and may not be able to leave till friday. We are remaining flexible and not getting bent out of shape. Then Dennis Carney stopped by and fixed the step into the Big Bad Boy. It is great to have friends!!!

Retirement

I am a retired person as of may 31st...My coworkers gave me a great potluck party on my last day complete with a poster, flowers and a gift certificate to a quilt store. I work with wonderful people and I thank all of them for their caring and kind words. We leave on June 2nd, tomorrow and head for Washington DC. More later. Kathy