We are finally off

First day out. We had planed on leaving at 6am but weather delayed us a few hours as a front came through and we had rain early on. We finally got to leave around 9:30 am.
As we pulled out of our slip on “c” dock and passed “A” dock. There were many friends and what we call family out on the end wishing us off. Trust me it was very hard seeing everyone out there waving and blowing there horns as we slowly motored by everyone. Even Buster was having a hard time leaving his home on “A” dock. (Sorry Lenny) Being dog people we figured this was the next best ting to a real dog. He even came with his own can of S--t Buster never got out much so we figured he needed to see some of the country. (More to come)
After motoring all day starting out in following seas the once past the wind switched to the north and we pounded the last 3 hours into the waves as we could sure tell we were loaded down. But we arrived safely in Ludington which we plan on staying 2 days as looking at the weather it is not good for a few days.

Ludington to Frankfort.
It started out as a motor boat ride as usually when ever your trying to sail some place in Lake Michigan. As the day grew on so did the weather as we started sailing and doing 8 kts fully loaded I was pleasantly surprised. But that only lasted for about 4 hours as after that the wind switched to the north as the front that we expected came in and we had it on the nose for the rest of the day and major water over the bow. We ended up sleeping in the cockpit and in the settee that night airing things out. All is well as we are trying to adjust to living aboard as we look at each other and say Ok now what do we do.lol

"A" Dock Party

What a group of friends here on A Dock. From our first summer in 1998 on "A" dock to our departing this week. We have met some of the most wonderful people that will
always have a special place in our hearts. For us it has been like a family through out the years. Even seeing a few grow up on the dock and turning into young women and some not even born yet. Saturday turned out to be a fantastic day which allowed all to have a typical "A" dock feast which is always enjoyed by everyone and at times it has went way into the night. But over the years as we grew older it seemed that each year it was not as late. I can remember the first year , ah how about the first month or 2 on "A" Dock that I tried to keep up with the big dogs in drinking beer and then it turned into juice boxes with rum. Oh what a night that was and the next day was even ruined by being sicker then a dog. Being one of the light weights (drinking and in weight)I was asked to go up a mast of a boat to do some repair work, and when asked I remember coming to the cockpit with a wet wash rag over my head and replied ah not today guys. That was the start of what has turned into a wonderful boat experience for us.
I think what has really made it so enjoyable is that everyone is a boater no matter weather it is power or sail. We are all there to have a good time and forget the weeks stress and just kick back on the weekends. We have gathered so many stories that it would take a long time to put them all down on paper. Like some certain women setting in the middle of the dock smoking cigars and drinking one night to dancing on the dock boxes. Oh can not forget the saying, Oh look that must be Venus as someone pointed out. Only to see the mast heat light of a sailboat go by. As the summers grew we started doing different drinks and shots and one of the one ones that we will not forget are the gorilla's. Oh do they go down smooooooth, and yes they make ya stupid.

Jeannie and I know it took many different people to put the party on for us as like we have said before. We hate to have others do things for us but would rather do for them. But we now know what true friends are like and and trust everyone you will not be forgotten in our hearts, mind and souls. "A" dock is a unique experience as when you go back to work the following Monday it is so hard to tell them what you did on the weekend as no one would understand. Sure we may have been a lil mixed up at times, but eventually it all works out. See you on the water and THANK YOU "A" Dock. Randy & Jeannie

Supprise! What a party

Well our kids did one over on us for sure. Saturday afternoon we were planing on being over to our youngest daughters house for her sons kinder-garden graduation party. Wrong!! We had to be there at 3:30 and our oldest is staying with us as she got a text from the youngest that something was wrong and we had to get over there asap. I thought oh hell what is wrong now. As you know with kids. So after we hurled things into the Saturn we were off only to go back to get the camera as we drove down our drive. We were told to park in here front yard and as we drove up I looked and what, no cars in the front yard but I noticed all were behind the barn. Still no clue! I said what are we slighted and can not park in back with everyone else. Na Dad it is filled up.

As Jeannie , Leslie and I walked up to the garage then all of a sudden it started to open up and wholly shit, about 50 of our friends and family were all in there, SUPPRISE!! Here I had a inclination that something was going on for a retirement party for Jeannie.


But I was wrong again. As we looked around there stood everyone with a huge smile on their faces and laughing. Here we both thought it was for our grandson's kindergarten graduation party as they even had a blow up castle that was suppose to be for kids, but after some wine and liqour, heck the adults were in it


Some that we there we have not see for years and some that were wondering why we were not up at the boat, but they were in the garage. It was a very tearful and a happy time to see everyone as they know we have a dream that we want to fill.
It is kind of a bucket list as some will say. Things to do and place to see now that we are both retired. As the time draws closer to leave we have realized that we should have done things different in planing but we will make it.
There has been many letters written and questions still asked that we are learning about and will continue to learn. That's what life is. A learning lesson. Just as we were told about the U.S Customs Office and how messed up it was as you seem to get 2 different answers for one question you ask. I had to order a decal to get back into the US from a foreign country and I had called the number on the DTOPS web site and had asked if we could get them over the internet. I was told no, well as we were told, by other friends how messed up the customs were. They are right. But we have one on the way :)

Buying and Sorting of supplies

This last week we had our oldest daughter from St Augustine come up and stay with us and with her younger sister. She leaves this Sunday for back home. It has been a great time with both kids and lots of laughs to be had. Les had helped mom sort out our cupboards here at home in all the stuff we had stored away. Oh to show how we are a pack rat we had soup from 1994. Les said ah dad I think it is bad. lol

Our local Meijer has had sales on can goods for 10 for $10 so we have been stocking up on fruit and a few other supplies. Our breakfast room is where a lot of the stuff is stored as it is out of the way but yet visible. We have already packed quite a few things away on the boat but were doing it in phases. One of the things that we have learned from other friends is to make a detailed log of where everything is, and they mean everything. I thought oh I can remember were certain things are. Naa I have already spent time wondering where certain things are as I knew we have it on board. Some where!

There is still teak in our garage that is not put back on the boat as I had all winter to stain it and re varnished, but you think I would have had it done. Nope, been doing it the last few weeks as it is now ready to be put back onto the boat. The last week also has been filled with many appointment's that were trying to get in at the last minute also.