Just a short update. Early last week, Julie's mom was stable and she encouraged us to get started. We finally got a weather window, so we gathered up dock lines, fenders, fueled up, pumped out, said good bye to Terrace Point for two years and started our grand adventure!! We left Muskegon last Thursday, Aug 27 and travelled 58 miles to South Haven, MI.
Unfortunately, on Saturday we got the news that Julie's mom's health situation had taken a turn for the worse and she was transferred to hospital Hospice care. So we scrambled to find a safe harbor for Sum Escape (the surge in S Haven is nothing to underestimate if the winds pick up again), travelled 70 miles to a safe harbor on Sunday, rented a car on Monday and came back to Grand Haven.
So as we write this we are back in Spring Lake at Julie's brother's house until further notice.
We promise to post pictures and give more details once we resume our adventure.....
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Still Holding
Mom is stable and Hospice is doing a great job overseeing her care. We are comfortable that we can leave soon with mom in good care.
We do need to start getting our "home" moving in a southerly direction. The high temerature in the low 60's today certainly reminded us of this! But then there are boat repairs and waves still to contend with. It appears Thursday may be our day assuming our repairs are complete and the waves go away..... Stay tuned.
We do need to start getting our "home" moving in a southerly direction. The high temerature in the low 60's today certainly reminded us of this! But then there are boat repairs and waves still to contend with. It appears Thursday may be our day assuming our repairs are complete and the waves go away..... Stay tuned.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Packing, Moving to Storage and Boat, Travel and Family Matters-General Update
Been really busy since our last post. Moved out of condo Thursday through Monday July 30 to Aug 3. Sold some furniture, gave some to family, and donated the rest to St Vincent DePaul Society.
Condo view:
Empty condo:
Everything we are not taking on the boat fit into a 5x10' self storage unit and we'll see that stuff in two years. Spent Tues and Wed the 4th and 5th, packing the boat. Thursday and Friday we flew to Jacksonville FL and back to register the boat and get drivers licenses and voters cards. We are now officially Florida residents. New mailing address:
Sat morning (Aug 8) Julie's mom called and was not doing well health wise. Long story short, Julie got her to the emergency room in Grand Haven and she was transferred to Spectrum Heart Center in Grand Rapids. She did stabilize under care there and came home on Wed this week. She is suffering from progression and complications of her 20+ year fight with autoimmune liver disease. Julie and her brothers spent a lot of time the last few days with Mom and health care arrangements....Hospice is now helping Mom and Courtney out. We are very supportive of this.
We will delay our departure on the Loop until we are confident Mom is stable and in good care (they do not want help....very independent thinkers). It is a really tough time for Julie. We appreciate very much the thoughts and prayers for Julie's mom and family.
Also got air conditioning fixed on the boat on Friday....thank you Reaume Heating and Cooling!!
Still getting a few more last minute purchases and other maintenance and repair items completed as well. We will post next when we decide to leave.
Condo view:
Empty condo:
Everything we are not taking on the boat fit into a 5x10' self storage unit and we'll see that stuff in two years. Spent Tues and Wed the 4th and 5th, packing the boat. Thursday and Friday we flew to Jacksonville FL and back to register the boat and get drivers licenses and voters cards. We are now officially Florida residents. New mailing address:
Sat morning (Aug 8) Julie's mom called and was not doing well health wise. Long story short, Julie got her to the emergency room in Grand Haven and she was transferred to Spectrum Heart Center in Grand Rapids. She did stabilize under care there and came home on Wed this week. She is suffering from progression and complications of her 20+ year fight with autoimmune liver disease. Julie and her brothers spent a lot of time the last few days with Mom and health care arrangements....Hospice is now helping Mom and Courtney out. We are very supportive of this.
We will delay our departure on the Loop until we are confident Mom is stable and in good care (they do not want help....very independent thinkers). It is a really tough time for Julie. We appreciate very much the thoughts and prayers for Julie's mom and family.
Also got air conditioning fixed on the boat on Friday....thank you Reaume Heating and Cooling!!
Still getting a few more last minute purchases and other maintenance and repair items completed as well. We will post next when we decide to leave.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Ah, Retirement!
Julie threw me a surprise party on Thurs night for a few friends and family members. Wish we could have had more but room codes did not allow for more guests. I was completely surprised and it was a wonderful time. Thank you to all who came and I wish it could have been more.
Just had to get going on Sat morning and it turns out that was not the best decision. All is well but a lesson learned....we have lots of time and no need to rush!
So there were thunderstorms way over in western Wisconsin at 6 AM when we departed Muskegon. Over the past few weeks they had fallen apart as they came across the lake. So given the warnings were over there (and none here) we thought let's go and they will fall apart. Got caught between White Lake and Pentwater. First fog rolled in, then rain (lots of it!), lightning, and wind. 4 or 5 sailboats were around us too. Probably good it was foggy so we couldn't see the dark clouds coming!! We were blessed with a safe weathering of the storm. We will wait next time....
So as I (Tom) write this we are in Manistee slipped along the river walk. A real nice spot. Went for a dinghy ride around Manistee Lake yesterday. Very industrial and only saw 2-3 other boats out.
Went to BlueFish restaurant last night. Wow, excellent ribeye, augrautin potatoes, veggies and a nice cocktail selection to start the dinner with. They surprised me with a special dessert for my retirement!
Just had to get going on Sat morning and it turns out that was not the best decision. All is well but a lesson learned....we have lots of time and no need to rush!
So there were thunderstorms way over in western Wisconsin at 6 AM when we departed Muskegon. Over the past few weeks they had fallen apart as they came across the lake. So given the warnings were over there (and none here) we thought let's go and they will fall apart. Got caught between White Lake and Pentwater. First fog rolled in, then rain (lots of it!), lightning, and wind. 4 or 5 sailboats were around us too. Probably good it was foggy so we couldn't see the dark clouds coming!! We were blessed with a safe weathering of the storm. We will wait next time....
So as I (Tom) write this we are in Manistee slipped along the river walk. A real nice spot. Went for a dinghy ride around Manistee Lake yesterday. Very industrial and only saw 2-3 other boats out.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Last Days at the Office...I Retire on Friday!
So I (Tom) am spending my last few working days finishing up loose ends and packing the few things to be stored ashore while we are gone. Julie is busily making trips to goodwill, packing the few things she will store ashore and coordinating our move out of the downtown condo (which we will miss...it has been a wonderful place to live the last 4-1/2 years.)
Our good friend Fr. John Geaney joined us for lunch and a short ride on Monday afternoon. We sort of made history together in that in his over fifty years of priesthood, he had never blessed a boat, its crew and journey. But he kindly did that for us as we drifted with the wind for the short ceremony. We will miss Fr. G personally, but plan to catch his Sunday words on sat TV or the internet as the Cathedral Mass is broadcast each Sunday. This will be a little bit of "home" we can take along!
We attended a wonderful dinner on Monday night honoring Tom's retirement. It was a very nice event and helps one reflect on the great comradery and successes we were able to achieve as a team. I will truly miss working with all the great people here at SpartanNash. It has been a quick 14-1/2 years with all the activities we completed over that time!
We will spend next week at the Great Lakes Grand Banks Rendezvous in Sturgeon Bay, WI. We then move out of the condo at the end of July, fly to Florida to register to vote/drivers licenses/register boat, make any last minute necessary repairs to Sum Escape, sell both remaining cars and cast off on the Great Loop sometime mid August to first of Sept. We will go when the spirit moves us.....and the river flooding forecasts are favorable!
Stay tuned....
Our good friend Fr. John Geaney joined us for lunch and a short ride on Monday afternoon. We sort of made history together in that in his over fifty years of priesthood, he had never blessed a boat, its crew and journey. But he kindly did that for us as we drifted with the wind for the short ceremony. We will miss Fr. G personally, but plan to catch his Sunday words on sat TV or the internet as the Cathedral Mass is broadcast each Sunday. This will be a little bit of "home" we can take along!
We attended a wonderful dinner on Monday night honoring Tom's retirement. It was a very nice event and helps one reflect on the great comradery and successes we were able to achieve as a team. I will truly miss working with all the great people here at SpartanNash. It has been a quick 14-1/2 years with all the activities we completed over that time!
We will spend next week at the Great Lakes Grand Banks Rendezvous in Sturgeon Bay, WI. We then move out of the condo at the end of July, fly to Florida to register to vote/drivers licenses/register boat, make any last minute necessary repairs to Sum Escape, sell both remaining cars and cast off on the Great Loop sometime mid August to first of Sept. We will go when the spirit moves us.....and the river flooding forecasts are favorable!
Stay tuned....
Monday, May 25, 2015
In the Water! Julie's Practice Docking was a Great Success!!
So we did get Sum Escape launched on May 2, and given Tom' need for rotator cuff surgery and the anticipated long recovery Julie polished up her docking skills. She did around 20 -25 docking maneuvers at 5 different marinas with about 10 of the dockings here at Terrace Point. As many know, she regularly docked the Sea Ray but this was a first with the Grand Banks. She did awesome. So once we are at the boat on a nice day we should be able to go out!
Surgery went well and Tom is now 2-1/2 weeks after surgery. Physical therapy (torture?) starts on Thursday this week. He has been told that 3-5 months after surgery is the greatest risk of overdoing and re-injury. So will need to be very careful but still plan to leave on the Loop in late August/ early September.
Have spent a few nights on the boat the last couple weeks relaxing and having others help out with the last of the maintenance and modifications on the list.
Here is Julie's brother Kevin helping out with the installation of a new teak refrigerator vent.
Needed a softer bed for the shoulder, so here is Todd helping out by cutting a memory foam to size.
So recovery isn't so bad.... a nice spot on the "porch" after all the help from friends and family! All nestled down at Terrace Point for now.....
Surgery went well and Tom is now 2-1/2 weeks after surgery. Physical therapy (torture?) starts on Thursday this week. He has been told that 3-5 months after surgery is the greatest risk of overdoing and re-injury. So will need to be very careful but still plan to leave on the Loop in late August/ early September.
Have spent a few nights on the boat the last couple weeks relaxing and having others help out with the last of the maintenance and modifications on the list.
Here is Julie's brother Kevin helping out with the installation of a new teak refrigerator vent.
First night at marina....what a sunset!! May 2. As you can see, not too many boats then!
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Preparation for the Great Loop
Wow, have not posted any new significant adventures since the North Channel in 2009. And here it is April 2015!!! Well perhaps that is because our travels were only short week long ones, weekend get aways, etc. But that North Channel trip planted the seeds for our initial planning to "someday" do the Great Loop. And now planning is high gear for a Sept 2015 departure on the Great Loop.
So for now, we will just post that we sold the Sea Ray last April (2014) and purchased a 2006 47' Grand Banks Europa in June 2014. We spent last summer getting familiar with and planning the modifications, maintenance and upgrades we wanted to make to the boat for the big trip! And here are some of them underway....
New name board (not quite complete) and complete buff and wax:
New varnish after stripping and sanding off the old: (also not quite complete). This is thanks to my recently retired brother in law Kevin who spent months refinishing it. What a fantastic job, thanks Kevin!!!
Bottom stripped and sanded, ready for barrier coat and final paint:
Bottom painted and new blue LED lights installed:
Almost ready for launch....
Also had Michigan CAT do all the 1000 hour maintenance over the winter storage season. Included valve lash adjustment, coolant change, new zincs, after coolers, heat exchangers, turbos, etc. all taken apart, cleaned, tested and reinstalled. Clean bill of health from the tech and a healthy bill to boot! :>)
Made many other minor modifications and improvements and hope to launch the new Sum Escape on May 1.
So stay tuned, more pics to come after launch!
Wow, have not posted any new significant adventures since the North Channel in 2009. And here it is April 2015!!! Well perhaps that is because our travels were only short week long ones, weekend get aways, etc. But that North Channel trip planted the seeds for our initial planning to "someday" do the Great Loop. And now planning is high gear for a Sept 2015 departure on the Great Loop.
So for now, we will just post that we sold the Sea Ray last April (2014) and purchased a 2006 47' Grand Banks Europa in June 2014. We spent last summer getting familiar with and planning the modifications, maintenance and upgrades we wanted to make to the boat for the big trip! And here are some of them underway....
New name board (not quite complete) and complete buff and wax:
Almost ready for launch....
Made many other minor modifications and improvements and hope to launch the new Sum Escape on May 1.
So stay tuned, more pics to come after launch!
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