September, 2020
Not much changed this month – we are still isolating on the boat most of the time. We did have a couple of dinners with DeFever friends and we traveled down state to see family. The weather turned cold quickly – for us that meant nights in the low 40’s and highs in the 50’s and 60’s. Not the best weather to clean the hull and decks. We also had a lot of wind and rain this month. Maybe there was some sort of hint that it was time to head south.
We spent most of the month cleaning, organizing and preparing for move off the boat. We were able to eat all the food that was in the freezer which was great. We ate most of the refrigerator food also, but did find we were still making trips to Petoskey for wine.
Barb continued to walk as much as possible, but the rain and cold weather didn’t support her efforts. She also finished editing a colleague’s latest book. She has been supporting this colleague for a few years. The books are great reads but she wanted to complete this book before we pulled the boat. So time was spent sitting in the cabin and reading on the computer. We made decision to cancel our trip to St. Croix due to Covid outbreak that was surging upwards in Florida. Sept. 15 was a sad day as our friends, Tim & June Sneider, pulled their boat and left town. The Rea’s pulled out on the Eleventh and Rhonda Jean left on the first, so we are the last DeFever in the water. No more friends to visit with. On Sept. 20 Dave started watching the weather seriously as we are to pull out on Friday, Sept. 25. Not looking good for pullout. A call to Walstroms indicated we could bring the boat over on the 24th which was a better weather day. We moved a little faster so that we could be off the boat earlier. A call to Walstroms on Sept. 23 to verify coming over on the 24th gave us a surpise! They would pull the boat if we could be there by 1:30 p.m. We asked a boat neighbor if they could pick us up and return us to marina in car as it was to start raining in afternoon. We were pulled at 1:31 on Sept. 24. We started driving south at 2:00. We got 5 hours of driving and stayed overnight in Ohio. We drove to Marietta GA on Friday and finished the drive home on Saturday. We drove fast and put many miles on each day.
We were glad to home, but work again began as we have to clean and organize the house, get food stocked, and work on hurricane shutters. The weather is hot, humid and uncomfortable, but the pool is great! We walk and ride early in the am. No visiting with friends and only doing essential shopping trips.
We spent most of the month cleaning, organizing and preparing for move off the boat. We were able to eat all the food that was in the freezer which was great. We ate most of the refrigerator food also, but did find we were still making trips to Petoskey for wine.
Barb continued to walk as much as possible, but the rain and cold weather didn’t support her efforts. She also finished editing a colleague’s latest book. She has been supporting this colleague for a few years. The books are great reads but she wanted to complete this book before we pulled the boat. So time was spent sitting in the cabin and reading on the computer. We made decision to cancel our trip to St. Croix due to Covid outbreak that was surging upwards in Florida. Sept. 15 was a sad day as our friends, Tim & June Sneider, pulled their boat and left town. The Rea’s pulled out on the Eleventh and Rhonda Jean left on the first, so we are the last DeFever in the water. No more friends to visit with. On Sept. 20 Dave started watching the weather seriously as we are to pull out on Friday, Sept. 25. Not looking good for pullout. A call to Walstroms indicated we could bring the boat over on the 24th which was a better weather day. We moved a little faster so that we could be off the boat earlier. A call to Walstroms on Sept. 23 to verify coming over on the 24th gave us a surpise! They would pull the boat if we could be there by 1:30 p.m. We asked a boat neighbor if they could pick us up and return us to marina in car as it was to start raining in afternoon. We were pulled at 1:31 on Sept. 24. We started driving south at 2:00. We got 5 hours of driving and stayed overnight in Ohio. We drove to Marietta GA on Friday and finished the drive home on Saturday. We drove fast and put many miles on each day.
We were glad to home, but work again began as we have to clean and organize the house, get food stocked, and work on hurricane shutters. The weather is hot, humid and uncomfortable, but the pool is great! We walk and ride early in the am. No visiting with friends and only doing essential shopping trips.
August, 2020
Slow month with no travel on the boat. We did visit with DeFever friends both on boats and at restaurants – always wearing masks and social distancing. We spent a lot of time on the boat just hanging out: reading, knitting, playing on iPad and doing small boat projects. Barb did start walking in the morning, but Dave didn’t go bike riding. Good friends and former DeFever owners arrived mid mouth to stop and see us as they were doing a delivery trip on the new to them Mainship 43. It was interesting to see their new boat – it definitely goes faster which was their purpose in getting it.
We found that we traveled to Petoskey a number of times, both for the West Marine store and the Meijer's store (this store carried the wine we like). It was also good to get out and give the car some exercise. The weather wasn’t all that good in August either – it rained a number of days and winds were strong on other days.
We have no pictures for this month – nothing to take pictures of.
We found that we traveled to Petoskey a number of times, both for the West Marine store and the Meijer's store (this store carried the wine we like). It was also good to get out and give the car some exercise. The weather wasn’t all that good in August either – it rained a number of days and winds were strong on other days.
We have no pictures for this month – nothing to take pictures of.
July, 2020
Subject to Change - beautiful boat! crossing Lake Huron from Cheboygan to Les Cheneaux Islands - great day to travel
We started the month with a short 5 day trip. We were traveling with Subject to Change (Tim & June Sneider & Maggie May [dog]). We went to Government Bay in the Les Cheneaux Islands which are on the northern shore of Lake Huron east of Mackinac Island. We spent 2 nights at anchor and loved it – very quiet this year with very little boat traffic. We took the dinghies and visited Cedarville and Hessel. Had a great lunch in Hessel at the tavern in town. The museums in Cederville weren’t open (bummer) so we walked around this small village. We left Government Bay on July 3 and traveled to St. Ignace, MI to meet up with Meanders (North Pacific 49). Tom and Nancy Rea are former DF 44 owners and lovely couple from Petoskey. We had meals aboard all three boats in the next two days (Hallelujah served pancakes with blueberry sauce; Subject to Change had white fish dinner; Meanders did 4th brats and side dishes). To say the least we ate way to much. We visited the Ojibwa museum and walked around town – not much from when we used to stop here in the 1980’s. We watched the parade and fireworks from Meander and had great social distancing. There was a bagpipe player in the marina that provided background music. Had a great time. Returned on Duncan Bay Boat Club on July 5.
We continued social distancing and isolation on the boat. We aren’t motivated to do much but the days seem to slip by. About twice a month we venture over to Petoskey for groceries and other supplies (it is a 35 minute drive each way). We ventured south the middle of the month to check out marinas along the Lake Huron coastline as we are planning to take the boat south to Tawas, MI. We saw boater friends who have moved to RV living while in Alpena, MI. Great to connect with Belinda and Jim Wolfe.
We headed south on Hallelujah on July 21 (we were to leave earlier but weather wasn’t cooperating). We went 39 miles to Rogers City with Tim and June Sneider on Subject to Change. We spent two nights there. We took a 12 mile bike ride (first time for Barb on a bike in two years) on a great bike trail and walked around town. We found two museums open and enjoyed both. There was a good meat market here so we picked up some meat. We left Rogers City on July 23 and went 57 miles to Alpena. This is a bigger town with more stores open. Unfortunately the NOAA Center wasn’t open – a museum we really wanted to see. We were here two nights and the weather windows were closing down so decided to turn back north before weather got really bad. We went back to Rogers City on July 25 and had to spend two nights again waiting for a morning weather window to get back to Cheboygan. We left Rogers City at 6:55 a.m. for home on July 27 and were in our slip by noon, which was just before heavy winds started to build. Spent to rest of the month cleaning the boat, laundry and grocery shopping. We are not motivated to do more. Barb finally got a haircut on July 30 and it felt really good!
We continued social distancing and isolation on the boat. We aren’t motivated to do much but the days seem to slip by. About twice a month we venture over to Petoskey for groceries and other supplies (it is a 35 minute drive each way). We ventured south the middle of the month to check out marinas along the Lake Huron coastline as we are planning to take the boat south to Tawas, MI. We saw boater friends who have moved to RV living while in Alpena, MI. Great to connect with Belinda and Jim Wolfe.
We headed south on Hallelujah on July 21 (we were to leave earlier but weather wasn’t cooperating). We went 39 miles to Rogers City with Tim and June Sneider on Subject to Change. We spent two nights there. We took a 12 mile bike ride (first time for Barb on a bike in two years) on a great bike trail and walked around town. We found two museums open and enjoyed both. There was a good meat market here so we picked up some meat. We left Rogers City on July 23 and went 57 miles to Alpena. This is a bigger town with more stores open. Unfortunately the NOAA Center wasn’t open – a museum we really wanted to see. We were here two nights and the weather windows were closing down so decided to turn back north before weather got really bad. We went back to Rogers City on July 25 and had to spend two nights again waiting for a morning weather window to get back to Cheboygan. We left Rogers City at 6:55 a.m. for home on July 27 and were in our slip by noon, which was just before heavy winds started to build. Spent to rest of the month cleaning the boat, laundry and grocery shopping. We are not motivated to do more. Barb finally got a haircut on July 30 and it felt really good!
Taking the dinghy into Cedarville, MI. Great day on the water!
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July 4 breakfast aboard Hallelujah - pancakes on the back deck.
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