Shore leave : Winthrop Harbor - Minneapolis

7.02 - 7.06

Shore leave

Wednesday was spend in harbor, on boat.  Rain, cloudy, blowing winds and more rain.  we forced ourselves out and off for an hour with cloudy skies and mist. we had to stretch the long muscles and do something.  we walked the perimeter of the marina, 1 mile then back.  dinner of left-overs and early to bed.  Thursday off to Minneapolis!

Brother Richard, mom Nee, Marianne, niece Bridget and friend Taylor as well as Jim and I wedged ourselves in a mini van and set off for Minneapolis in the morning, bound for Alex, Nicki and Miss Nora Jean's for the weekend.  Surprisingly it was quite comfortable even with the 7 of us, our gear, food and snacks.  ETA 6 hours… what a great holiday we had.  Nicki and Alex could not have been better hosts.  This was their first family gathering in their new home with their new family. We had great food, lots of laughs and stories, Cricket Man threatened an appearance but was fended off with the arrival of ice-cream and root-beer floats. 



 A trip to Minihaha Falls, some to the Mall of America and a BBQ rounded out the festivities.   Garret and Minsook flew in from Oklahoma for the reunion, on leave from the Army.  Jim, Peg, Tom and Katrina joined us as well as Sue, Beth, Andy and neighbors Ryan and family. Paul freshly back from the east coast hurricane evacuation paid a quick visit as well.  Miss Nora got to visit with her great grandma Jean, 4 generations together.  The only down side was the return trip.  sad to leave the family followed by stop and go traffic throughout Wisconsin.  8 hours later… Laundry and a light dinner.  sunset over the marina lovely but not as impressive as home where we have no land to obstruct  the view.  

Tomorrow off to Milwaukee and Cannoli’s!  

7.07

Milwaukee WI

We motored out of North Point Marina and continued to do so till Milwaukee.  No wind to be found until we made the final waypoint turn 3 miles off Milwaukee.  the decision was made to keep the sails tucked away.  At lot of work for barely an hour of sailing.  The flies of the grinder variety choose to accompanied us all the way however.   By grinders, I mean the kind that Great Lakes boaters are quite familiar with.  They descend on slow moving boats by the hundreds.  they crawl all over you.  They do not seem to care if you kill them.  they do not fly off.  they are easily killed with just your hand because.  We employ a grinding motion to ensure death.  Landfall deters most of the remaining ones at least and back to sea they go.   

Docking was difficult because the wind that eluded us all day descended off the bank above the harbor blowing easterly and pushing the boat off the dock.  Slip mates came to the rescue and helped secure lines.   Jim hosed the boat off to remove the fly carcasses and the crew enjoyed refreshing showers.  Today was the first day of the trip it was hot enough to wear swim suits though.  Dinner on Brady Street at a Thai restaurant.  Tasty but too filling.  Great service.  A quick stop at for milk and back to the boat.  

7.08

Aniversaries

Today we have owned S.V. Inishnee 5 years.  Today Jim and I have been Married 20.  Happy on both accounts.  

We woke to a lovely morning.  Ate, showered and off for a shore excursion.  First up, the Public Library, 2+ miles away.  We walked along the waterfront to Wisconsin Ave. and the Art Musuem.   the Art Museum structure has wing like appendages that actually fold open during hours of operation weather / wind permitting.  they close and reopen at noon as well.  The waterfront here is wonderful.  Walking, jogging and biking paths go for miles.  Public parks and recreation too. 
Mission 1: Public Library.  We were able to download the Garmin software update for our AIS unit.  It indeed fixed the problem.  The AIS and Garmin Chart Plotter weren't “talking” to each other so we were not able to see other AIS ships on  the plotter, only the Ipad unit and the Nav Station unit.  All fixed.  Now the cockpit units are functioning and talking. A quick lunch on the river walk then Mission 2: Cannoli’s… one each for now, one each for later… yum! One of my favorite shows was ‘everybody loves Raymond’.  Marie was always making cannolis for Raymond… I decided I had to see what the fuss was.  My first cannoli was here in Milwaukee years ago.  They are worth the fuss.  A crunchy conical shaped cookie like vessel, that you can get dipped in chocolate! and then filled with a mascarpone chocolate chip filling that is lightly sweetened…. kind of rich but so tasty.  
Mission 3, Anniversary dinner. We returned to the boat after the 4ish hour walking excursion, cleaned up and off to the ‘Garage’ for dinner.  Nothing fancy, just good food.  Smoky veggie hoggie for Jim,  Burger with caramelized onions and swiss for me.  A few adult beverages then back to the boat for a night cap.  the temps today were very pleasing.  A good breeze with mostly sunny skies.  evening brought on cumulus clouds in varying shades of auburn and blues.  We tidied things up for departure in the morning.  Destination: Sheboygan, WI.