Who says you can't go home.....

Remember the song that Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles sang?  “Who says you can’t go home………”   While we were planning the Loop, I really thought we probably wouldn’t go home other than for Christmas.  I guess I didn’t think we would really want/need to but, boy was I wrong.  After being on the Loop you realize that it’s good to get off the boat.  I know now that a lot of Loopers take breaks especially when they are trying to do the Loop in a year.  Some head back to their dirt house every six weeks.  Some take years to do the Loop.  One couple we met did it in eight years.  Everyone is on their own schedule and for us it worked perfectly to head home for a couple of weeks.  It was great being home.  We had the opportunity to re-group and get a few things done and experience a tiny slice of the epic winter Minnesota was having.
So the big snow turned into the big thaw!  We had five days of winter and then warm temps turned everything to slush.  My snowshoeing was cut way short and the frozen river that we were snowmobiling on turn into a torrent!  Parking lots turned into lakes and the culvert at Jimmy’s backed up and we had loading docks full of water!  It was perfect timing for us to be back so we could help Sam with all the water issues!

​Above:  The trail turned into ice jams along the river.

Right:  the melting snow turned into a river flowing by  Jimmy's and filling loading docks.

​In the midst of all this, back in Marathon, BELLA got moved to a new marina a mile up the island.  We need to send out a special thanks to Keith Mackey for moving BELLA to Marlin Bay.  After we decided to head back to MN, we found out from the dock master at Faro Blanco that we wouldn’t be able to keep the boat there until we got back.  Keith graciously agreed to move her to Marlin Bay for us and for that we are so appreciative. 
Thanks also to family and friends that reached out to get together with us while we were home.  It was wonderful getting together with all of you.  We had dinner with the Moes, Tom attended the annual Lutteke/Amos Fish Fry, I got to go to Disney on Ice with my sister, Jane and her granddaughters and daughter in law, coffee with one of my bestie’s, Joan, a puppy visit with Kenai, lunch with the Brandrups, lunch with the Schneiders and lunch with baby Jack Vesel and his parents and Nicky J, girls night-in with Marny, Fun Day Monday with Ryder and Amber, Spaghetti dinner with the Weinholds and Barbers, beers at the Bowling Alley with Westers and Unverzagts, a visit to Air Insanity (I didn’t hurt myself, thankfully), almost got to watch the boys play hockey at the Return of the Robin tournament (Sam didn’t think he needed his parents there ☹, time with Wanda and Megan, birthday dinner with the boys, TAXES and time with both Sam and Griff. Below are a few photos (when I remembered to bring my phone) of our time at home.  

Funday Monday with Ryder and Amber making homemade noodles!

Homemade chicken noodle soup dinner with Ryder, Amber, Arbor, Sam and Tom.

Tom and Ryder yucking it up!

Above:  Disney on Ice with Dani, Charlotte, Vivi and Jane at Target Center.  I love the purple cowboy boots!  Right: Gramma Maude (Jane) & Charlotte mesmorized by the princesses.

Sam and Griff in Chicago for St. Paddy's Day weekend.

Lunch with the Brandrups

Griff at home serenading us. He's getting pretty good....looks like I have a new accompanist on guitar :)

Baby Jack Vesel, Rory and Val's little guy Can't believe how he is growing up!

​It was a busy couple of weeks, but now we are ready to get back to the boat and start our way up the East coast.  We arrived back in Marathon, Marlin Bay on Monday, March 25.  Our hope is to get on the water sometime this week after we have the air conditioner repaired and the bottom of the boat scraped.  We’ll provision up and wait for the weather, waves and wind to cooperate.
More later~

---