5AM, early start to the day as there is quite an extensive list of things to do. Need to find the hole in the dinghy, pack the boat, run to stores (yet again), get the boat onto the trailer, wait and wait and wait for UPS and then finally drive to Sturgeon Bay. At 6:00 we were able to locate the hole in the dinghy and it couldn't have been in the worst place, fortunately we had all the items that we needed to do the repair, patch, glue and instructions, or so we thought! As our luck would have it, as we prepared to glue the patch to the dinghy the glue ended up being as solid as a rock. It always seems as if we are going to one store or another so we add a trip to West Marine to the list of destinations for the day. Unfortunately they don't open until 9, so it is more waiting, but it really doesn't matter as we need to wait for the AMP to come from UPS. God forbid we take a vacation without a thumping stereo, for those of you that don't know me very well, that was typed with much sarcasm!!!!! Our friends at UPS tell us our package is out for delivery and will be there sometime between 9AM and 7PM, feel like I am waiting for the cable guy, and we don't know if a signature is required to obtain the package, so we are always leary to leave the house, yet the boat is not ready and only about a quarter of the things we need to pack are actually packed. So the preperation continues, packing, packing and more packing. I often wonder where in the world I am going to put this stuff once I get it to the boat, but I will deal with that later, fortunately I have this great gift to pack 100 pounds of crap into a 5 pound bag :)
We get everything into the truck to take to the boat by around 9:30 including bikes, bags, food and of course all of the electronics that we cannot live without and head down to the boat. After getting the bikes set and the 100 pounds of crap on board, Paul heads off to West Marine while I ponder how to get everything stored aboard while managing the kids. We get everything done and head back home a couple of hours later and don't find a package yet, but fortunately we were able to get the patch on the dinghy, we just can't blow it up or use it for 24 hours, so looks like we won't be crossing to Manistee today... that is of course if we want to risk crossing with a flat dinghy... that sounds funny doesn't it... flat dinghy!!
After lunch we head back to the boat to now get it on the trailer. For anyone that has watched a boat launch for any extended period of time, this process can either make or break a marriage. I have often enjoyed time spent at High Cliff Marina watching couples try to launch or trailer boats and it is always free entertainment, especially when it is 80+ outside. Fortunately for us it went fairly easy and the kids cooperated wonderfully. With the boat attached to the truck, we are almost ready and the anticipation is getting the kids excited. So excited, Pierce fell asleep! It was so cute, earlier in the day Peyton packed snacks for him and his brother, and as Pierce saw this at the house he immediately wanted to eat them but Peyton held his ground and said these were for the drive to Sturgeon Bay... but they ended up completely forgetting about them later in the day, but it is the thought that counts. So we take the boat home and see a UPS druck driving curiously stalking the neightborhood. I think, could it possibly be that the package would be arriving at our house at the same point as we are ready to leave, nah we are never that lucky!!!
So I typed this really long extension to wrap this post up and then the computer went out and I lost it... so I am not typing it again. Guess these memories will have to just be kept in my own head. AAGGHHH. next time will write this in MS word and use copy and paste.
In short, drove to Sturgeon Bay, launched the boat, staying at Quarterdeck Marina and went to eat. You want to know more, give me a call and I will tell you about it. Stupid Computer! Till tomorrow.
