August 27 - September 3 2013 Door County, WI

Slip at Yachtworks

Tuesday morning we were ready to leave by 11am.  Got the anchor up but only after several pauses to clean off the weeds entwined on the chain. The anchor was really dug in so we enjoyed days of being securely planted to the bottom even through some blustery south winds.  We went out around Horseshoe Island so I could make some water before getting into the marina.  We arrived around 12:30 and were directed to a slip requiring a sharp 180 degree turn.

 I made a quick decision to back in, something we usually try and avoid because of the lack of any visibility behind the boat.  I basically guess where the boat is in relation to the dock and take it from there.  But we had no issues and were securely tied in a few minutes.







The tech guy, Robert showed up around 4pm and immediately  found the inverters GFCI was open.  It was a little sticky or so he thought since I did reset it back when the inverter first failed.  Perhaps my tactile skills are eroding at the same rate as everything else?  Soon  I wont be able to see, touch or hear anything but at least my ears will be warm from all the hair sprouting there.   Anyway, the inverter is functional again and I have, as part of the inverter troubleshooting procedure, placed my highest power glasses next to the AC output side so when this happens again I'll have a better chance of noticing the GFCI breaker's position.  Robert the tech had to leave after this and promised to return early the next morning to tackle the solar panels.

Wednesday morning Robert returned and after talking with Steve from Morningstar (solar charge controller company) discovered the panels were wired backwards and the charge controller, sensing a reversed polarity, set itself in night mode.  Another sign of my failing close-up eye sight.  I didn't see the little negative sign on the meter when I measured the output from the panel leads. He did.  grumble ...

 He covered the leads with the appropriate color shrink wrap and we're good to go on the panels.  This must have occurred when we had repairs to the canvas completed earlier in the month since the solar panel wiring is inaccessible unless the panels are removed.

While Robert and I were fiddling with wires Mary went off to breakfast with Dan, Judy, Bob and Jan at Al Johnsons up the road.  I wont mention who had the mountain of whipped cream on their pancakes.  By the time they were done eating I had the bill paid and a slip reserved at the sister Bay marina about a 1/2 mile down along the coast.  Gene joined us shortly after Bob and Jan left so the remaining gang were treated with a thrilling 45 minute boat ride at the astonishing speed of  7 mph.

 We pulled into the sister bay marina slip and made plans to meet at Bob and Jan's condo in Egg Harbor later that evening.  We hung around until 9 or so and then Dan drove us back to Sister Bay and the boat.  Gene elected to stay aboard for the night instead of driving his bike back to Milwaukee.

Jen and Dave arrived with their kids around 11 in the morning the following day.  We took the dinghy around while the weather was good.

Nope.  Your on your own going up those stairs

 LeAnn arrived Friday afternoon and the following day we drove to Washington Island since the travel time and weather presented a timing problem for us taking the boat up there.  Stopped at the tower, and School Hoiuse Beach.

And  we made the obligatory stop at Nelsen's tavern where one must drink a shot of bitters (and receive a Bitters Club certificate).   Dont let the expression fool you.  It was far worse! ;-)

And in the end we all received a certificate worthy of framing?

Dave and Jen took the dinghy for a spin after LeAnn and I returned from Wilsons in Ephraim.  We took the kids there for a dinghy ride and of course stuffed them with ice cream.  Are we not a good grandparent and aunt?

Somebody actually knocked down a few pins!

We initially decided to eat at Sister Bay bowl and to pass the wait time decided to ah, well, bowl.










Sunday started out really crappy so I abandoned any plans of taking the boat over to Shanty Bay.  We drove instead.  And of course once we got there it turned sunny and warm and the projected winds only slowly crept around to the north leaving the anchorage clam until about 5pm.  So we went to the beach but no one had swimming suites... like it mattered.



We made a last visit to a stone cutter store after which the Hagens left and went back to the boat.  Nice sleeping since it was cool but very windy.  Rocked the boat like a cradle.  The only disturbance was a damn sailboat and a flopping halyard.  Aren't flopper-stoppers required sailboat gear? ;-)

Took LeAnn to Al Johnsons for breakfast this morning.  Oddly enough we've been there 4 times in the last 6 days and for the previous 18 years we never stopped.  And of course the goats were out on the roof but I neglected to take a picture.  However there is a live Goat Cam showing the roof and any goats if they are out (usually after 9am until 5pm).

After eating  she and I took a walk up the road a ways.  I stopped to buy some caulk at the marine store on the way back and noted, after it was rung up of course I had no wallet or money.  Nor did LeAnn.  Oh well.

She left for Minnesota at 11 and we settled in doing laundry and book work not to mention cleaning in preparation for tomorrow's journey to Sturgeon Bay.  I hope we will arrive in time for me to walk to Avis to rent a car for Dr. Appointments in Green Bay over the next few days.

We'll probably be heading down towards Milwaukee the following week and then to Chicago sometime after that.  Plans though are continuously subject to alteration due to conditions either unforeseen or or more likely glossed over and forgotten.  In any event we will make it to Chicago by mid September.

In Chicago here is a 19 foot bridge we have to wiggle under so if anyone wants to take a short boat ride after over eating please let us know.  We need all the weight we can get! ;-)