On our way out for a walk, we decided to go and introduce ourselves to the Aussies on the next dock. We had heard there were a couple of Aussies as well as the kiwi. We had met Gerald (kiwi) before, at Hammond. He was the man who took our ropes and helped us tie up:) )
We knocked on the hull and were greeted by Richard. His wife, Diane, was out walking the dog. She returned 10 mins later and we settled down for the kind of chat only antipodeans can have in a country far from home. It was so good to speak the same language, as it were, and exchange histories and boating anecdotes.
Our next stop was Gerald and Sheree's boat (the kiwis) but they had gone into town.
We walked down the road and joined all the other boaters milling around in the town park Art in the Park, Fair. We ran into Jan and Larry from Panacea, the boat that we stood by in the Mackinaw Straits when they were floundering around in 6-8ft. This was the first time we had seen each other since that event, and it was a bit emotional for them. We finally heard the WHOLE story from them.
There are 21 Looper boats in Grafton Marina right now, and most of them are boats we have met somewhere before, or know from radio conversations overheard.
We ate Ice-cream for lunch..yes, really! lol. It was 1pm and we didn't want to spend money on a meal in town, but had been told to get ourselves an ice-cream...supposed to be good! well, they all say that, don't they? It wasn't up to much and we were a bit disappointed. We walked to the end of Main Street (literally) and found the Post Office and a lovely old home that was a restaurant. The owners have closed it and it is now for sale, apparently. Too bad. It would be a lovely home to renovate, we decided, but not in THIS town. Too cold!!
As you can see, we are way out there on our own. The rock pile is there to protect the marina from the waters of the Illinois River.
This is a mannequin, of course.
We walked up one side of the street, and down the other. Always lots to see on a weekend, and today was no exception. No less than 100 motorcycles passed us, and they kept coming ALL day. We heard them from wherever we were.
It seems that a fine weekend is all the excuse one needs to ride a bike in these pretty part. Another person we spoke to said they had counted no less than 300 motorcycles.
Back at the boat we made preparations for drinkies and nibbles with the Aussies at 5.30pm. We needed to continue our conversations:)
We all sat upstairs on the fly deck and enjoyed the 360 degree views up there and the waning sunlight. We called it quits when the sun went down and the cold set it.
SUNDAY
Sunrise over the Marina. Gorgeous, but freezing cold. Fog on the waters of the Illinois River .
The tow moving past us and going up the Illinois River...fog all around it.
I had a pottle of Blueberries that needed to be eaten and so I made some Blueberry muffins with lemon zest. The two go together very nicely, thank you. We enjoyed our coffee and muffins in the morning sun on the fly deck, watching life go on around us.
Another walk was called for, and we went into town again, and walked to the P.O to post our mail. On the way we stopped at a consignment store which had nice furniture and other things for sale and I bought a Willimas Sonoma Christmas Recipe book for $2. I shouldn't be adding to the weight in the boat, but it gives me good ideas and I love collecting recipes. That's my excuse and Im sticking to it:)
WE were looking for a good Barista cup of coffee, but didn't find one. Instead, we walked north past the marina, along the sidewalk till we came to a Fish Sandwich take out place. This had been recommended to us. The lady in line ahead of us recommended the catfish pieces, and as it was lunch time we did as she recommended and got a slaw, some fries and catfish between us. It was good! All for under $10.
We walked back to the boat around 2pm and started cleaning the boat. Well, the outside, anyway.
I love cleaning our baby, and it was well overdue to do so. Waz did some maintenance and cleaning also, and helped me dry her down afterwards. I also put conditioner on the Eisenglas upstairs, which was more than overdue, and now it looks and feels fantastic.
We had a dinner of warmed over chicken thighs and a lovely bit Romain lettuce and spinach salad with all kinds of 'stuff' in it. No dessert! Nothing much left in the pantry to eat, Im afraid. Slim pickin's.
It is amazing the things one finds on a walk on a lovely day. I think they are probably there on a dull day too, but somehow the sun makes things look better, doesn't it?
This cracked us up:)
I took these photos on our after dinner walk, and ice-cream run. We thought there had to be a better ice-cream at a different shop. Alas, the serving was very small and we left feeling a bit cheated, but ultimately, we didn't need more than we got. It just cost a lot for very little.
I had fallen backwards down the stairs to the fly deck, earlier in the day...well, not ALL of them, just missed two steps. They are tall steps and fortunately I fell onto the dinette seat. I landed on my bad left hip and didn't think more about it until much later after washing the boat and then walking after dinner...and once I sat down for the evening, I was in some pain and discomfort. So bad, in fact, that I was asking Waz to do things for me:) It wasn't until I went to bed that I figgered it wasn't the boat cleaning that made me so sore, it was the falling down the stairs. Aiiieeeeee! Just bruised.
MONDAY
Today was not a fine day, but it also wasn't as cold as we have experienced of late. Nice in one way, but another grey drizzly day was a bit of a downer, also.
We got word that the marina folks wanted us to move the boat to another dock. They were about to dredge the area we were in. By 10.30am we had moved the boat to another dock and set up there. We are the only live aboard boat on this dock, so there is reasonable privacy, but it makes the boat dark...it is mostly under roof, which we aren't, being at the end.
We had the Marina Van booked for 1.30pm, to take us into Jerseyville for my dental appointment. We walked over to the Aussies to say hello...then to the Big Kahuna Bar above the Marina office, for a light lunch, Waz ordered the boneless Buffalo wings and I ordered Chicken Quesadillas...only they forgot to include the chicken! hohum!
We were a bit late picking up the vehicle, but still managed to get to the Dentist with 15 mins to spare, as requested.
The Dental office was VERY dated, and I was a little unsure about the quality of the work about to be done on me. I had rather thought I might be in for a Root Canal, and seeing how little high tech gear the dentist had rather made me uneasy.
I needn't have worried. The dentist was thorough and certainly not about to do a procedure that wasn't required. I like honesty in business, and after taking two x-rays, which showed nothing of interest, he spent the next half hour trying to ascertain what and why and where the source of my discomfort was.
It may be that a nerve is slowly dying, but there was no necessity to do anything about it today. He gave me good advice and I will take it. The appointment cost me just over $80, including the x-rays, which I thought was pretty good.
We spent some time afterwards at the grocery store and bought some much needed fruit and vege, among other things, and then the Home and Farm store where Waz found what he needed for some engine part. We needed to have the vehicle back at the Marina for the next lot of people to use, so we high tailed it back to Grafton. Waz emptied the van while I returned the key.
With the groceries put away, we made a coffee and took that and a bottle of wine et al over to the Aussies (as invited), but on the way ran into a couple who had just crossed their wake, coming into the marina, and were invited to join them for a celebration on the restaurant deck. They were shouting the pizza~!
We drank our coffee with Richard and Diane on their boat, then the four of us went over to join the crowd. Lovely to get together with so many other loopers. We were quite a crowd! We exchanged Boat Cards with those whose cards we didn't have on file and ate the pizza and drank a virgin Pina Colada...well, I did...Waz had one with booze in it!:)
We came home just on dark and ate some strawberries and cream with one of the left over blueberry muffins...a bit like strawberry shortcake!:)
We are watching Silverado...a western shoot-em-up, on TV...TV is better over here next to the Office!
Well, it is bed time once more, and we are done for the day. Tomorrow is Tuesday and we have some farewells to make.
Many of the others are leaving both tues and wed. and then more will arrive. We plan to stay the next weekend too, and rent a vehicle to do some tiki-touring. Stand by!
Night, Night.
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