THANKS TO THE CREW

Our first on board guest was our high school friend, Emil. We picked him up in Chicago and he probably traveled one of the worse sections of the loop...Illinois River. We dodged barges and had a number of locks to negotiate during our trip to St. Louis. We spent some quality time with Emil's cousin Dave and his wife Mary Jane in St. Louis. Fast Eddies is a must for all loopers. We had a great meal at Dave and Mary Jane's home before Emil jumped ship.
9/25-10/3

Finally friends from Findlay arrive on board; Ward and Ingrid Abbey. They joined us inPensacola and cruised the Fl. panhandle. We enjoyed some fine resort marinas, fireworks, sunsets and one of the finest restuarants we ate at on the whole trip. Not many loopers in these ports since the dockage fees are more then they like to pay. But you definitely get what you pay for. It was a great few days, with shopping moving up the to do list. 10/27-11/2 Let the party begin. Son Rob and wife Karen along with their friends Terry and Dean joined us in Clearwater, Fl. for a long weekend. No touring here; eating and drinking and a sports car show and Rib-off filled the agenda. Terry and Dean left us in St. Pete, and Rob and Karen went to Long Boat Key before departing early Tuesday morning in Sarasota. It was great to have the staterooms full and family and friends on board. 11/10-11/14

Long time boating friends Bob and Barb Bergstrom joined us in Fort Myers to start our trip north. First we had to go south through the Keys before we started up the east coast.

We did a lot of touring and eucher playing during the three weeks they were with us. Girls ended up this year's champs. We enjoyed a couple of days with our high school friend Irv and his wife Dora. We spent a few days in Hilton Head before Bob and Barb left us and we headed for the Cheaspeake Bay. 4/26-5/17

Dave and Marilyn Hackenberg joined us in Norfolk for the trip up the Chesapeake Bay west coast to Baltimore. Dave and Mariyln were great boat guests, being boaters. Our main objective was to get to Pusser's bar in Annapolis and order a couple of "pain killers". You can make them as strong as you want to...1,2,3. They were also one of the few couples who did not have to locks. You don't know what you're missing. We had hoped they would rejoin us in lake Champlain, but the schedules didn't work out.
5/30-6/8


Jerry, brother, and his wife Paula joined us in Baltimore for a week with the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club members. Paula is a great cook and we learned how to prepare crab cakes. Our try at making them later didn't taste quite as good as Paula's. This was some of the longest time Jerry and I spent together. He will be retiring next year and we plan to spend more time together. Imay have to work on my golf game.


7/9-7/17


Our son Eric and his wife Julie along with our three grandchildren (Lily, Ben and Charlie) joined us in Montreal and cruised with us to Ottawa. They were a big help doing the first 8 locks in Ottawa. The children enjoyed Montabello, but didn't seem that impressed with the locks. The generator running and Disney channel got their vote. Not near enough time with them.

7/24-7/29

Daughter Stephanie and her husband Louie joined us for the Rideau canal cruise...and prop replacement. We could not have done the 41+8 locks without them. We also could not have got the props repaired without Steph's internet search and Louie's logistics getting a rent-a-car. They flew into Ottawa from Rochester and we dropped them off at Sodus Point, where they returned to the airport and got their car.

7/31-8/15

Andy Fiffick and Roger St. Amend were our shortest term guests, but were the most help. Andy is a friend from our Lake Erie condo and drove in to help us through the Welland Locks. Roger was hired to direct and help us through. Probably the best money we spent this past year. Andy was on the boat less than 20 hours.

8/14-8/15