Getting off the road

After Barbie suffered from a stroke earlier this month, we have decided to retire from being full-time RVers and signed the lease today on our "new" home in Oak Orchard, Wisconsin. 4BR, 2BA, 2 1/2 acres with 300' of the bay of Green Bay shoreline in the back yard. The house has not been lived in for some 25 years but the owners are going in doing some renovation and wants someone in it to take care of it. If we could come up with some $400k we could buy it. Google Earth - 44°47'27.62"N, 87°55'11.09"W

I have started a new blog to track our new adventures. You can get to it by clicking on the title below.

From The Cottage in Oak Orchard

Sault Sainte Marie

We were on the road again this morning leaving Marquette around 9AM heading to Sault Sainte Marie, MI/Ont. The city of Sault Ste. Marie is a multinational city whereas part of it is in Michigan, USA and the other in Ontario, Canada separated by the Saint Mary River between them. The city dates back as far as 1668 when the area was first settled by French Jesuits. The name translates to "Saint Mary's Rapids" or "jump Saint Mary's".

Upon enter the city, we first found a parking lot and had a picnic lunch. Suzi and I first then went to the Soo Locks and watched a ship move from the lower Saint Mary River to the upper river then on into Lake Superior. Barb wasn't feeling well so she stayed behind with the truck. Afterwards, we crossed the International Bridge to the Canada side where we checked into the Bel-Air Motel.

Marquette, MI

We got on the road at 8:00 this morning heading first the Da Yoopers Tourist Trap & Museum in Ishpeming, MI. This is a must stop for anyone coming to Yooperland. Then on to Marquette where we found a picnic table along the shore of Lake Superior for a picnic lunch. We opted to stay at the Americas Best Value Inn in Marquette. Tomorrow we'll continue our road trip to Sault Sainte Marie in Ontario, Canada.

Door County

We took a road trip to Door County today stopping in the Village of Egg Harbor for lunch then on to Fish Creek. The Egg Harbor/Fish Creek area is a 100 mile road trip but only 30 miles by boat.

While there, we visited 2 wineries and had lunch at Shipwrecked Restaurant, Brew Pub & Inn. We also checked out the marinas for a future boat trip.

Sheboygan

We drove down to Sheboygan for lunch today leaving Oconto around 9:00 this morning. On the way back, we took the Lake Shore Highway back up through Cleveland, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Kewaunee and Algoma, getting back to Oconto around 6:00 PM. While in Sheboygan, we visited with our friends Frank & Jill Welti.

Swimming hole

We went back out to the swimming hole again today. Barb piloted the boat there & back. She even docked us in our slip without hitting anything. A few more times & she'll be a pro at it. Then we'll have to start calling her Cap'n Barbie.

Could this be our next boat?

1984 70' Custom Trawler
Twin engine 671 Detroit
LOA: 70 ft 0 in
Beam: 17 ft 0 in
Maximum Draft: 4 ft 6 in
Fresh Water Tanks: (670 Gallons)
Fuel Tanks: (2000 Gallons)
Number of cabins: 4

Designed and refashioned for a liveaboard family, Echo Sound offers a relaxing life style on the water.

There are two levels of living space. A large 8' glass sliding door serves as the entrance to the boat, opening to the upper level. The spacious main cabin features a sectional sofa that seats 5 to 6 comfortably; one section has 2 recliners facing the sliding door one of which converts to a full-size bed.

Beyond the main cabin the roomy dining area has a table that can expand to seat 6.

There are two staircases from the upper to the lower level. In the main cabin a spiral staircase leads down to the master bed and bath. The master bedroom has a queen size bed with dressers and tables for storage as well as a large closet. The master bathroom features a two-person corner heated spa tub.

The second staircase leads down from the pilothouse to the laundry room. The laundry room is equipped with a full-size washer and dryer and there is also access to the engine room. The hall forward leads to three staterooms, two with twin bunks beds and the third stateroom with a single twin berth and a bathroom with a standing shower and toilet.

Barb says "make it happen, she'll follow me anywhere." This boat is much more then I can handle by myself but with 4 staterooms, I have room for a crew.

I have told every one that if they ever hear of me wanting to rebuild another old boat, to take me out and shoot me. But after building the Shangri-la, I've learned enough about systems, carpentry, welding and everything else, this might be a nice challenge for me.

One nice thing is that it's not a toy boat made out of "frozen snot" (fiberglass). It's another steel hull boat like the Shangri-La.

A Cruise to Hawai'i

Our trip to Hawai'i just got a dozen steps closer. We have just booked a 14 Night Hawai'i Cruise aboard the Golden Princess leaving from Los Angeles on Oct 24, 2012. Yes that's next year but it gives us time to pay off the credit card and save up some more money for the trip.

Our cruise will take us from Los Angeles to Hilo on the Big Island (where I used to live), to Honolulu, to Nawiliwili on the Island of Kaua'i, to Lahaina on the Island of Maui, to Ensenada, Mexico, then return to Los Angeles.

Shakedown Cruise

We launched the Shangri-La last Sunday but I still had to complete some systems before going out with her. So after finishing hooking up the fresh water system, and making sure I had a working head (toilet) on the boat, Barb and I left the docks for a short shakedown cruise down the Oconto River, out a quarter mile or so into the Bay of Green Bay, then returned back to the yacht club. The boat run good and handled well.

We're In!

After working on our boat almost everyday for the last 2 months, we finely got it in the water today. We still have a lot to do on our renovation, but at least the problems that I was dreading with hull issues are fixed.

As we were getting ready to lift it off it's jack stands, I had Barb get our camera to take pictures of today's events. But unfortunately, the camera batteries were dead. But fortunately, another member had his camera and took these pictures for us.

Paid Off

This weekend finds our boat, the Shangri-La, with a lien-free title. Yesterday Barb and I drove down to Sheboygan, partied, and spent the night. Today at breakfast we made our last payment to our friends Frank & Jill Welti and now fully own our boat. Now to get our pickup and motorhome paid off.

City Council Meeting

We've been here in Oconto going on 2 months now. We really haven't gone anywhere except for a few shopping trips to Green Bay to pickup supplies and to the VA medical clinic in Appleton. I've been working on the boat trying to get it in the water for the summer but that's been slow awaiting for work to be completed on it by others that I've had to hire to do things that I can't do.

When we first got here, we parked in a temporary spot until the yacht club was through building the new RV sites. All that work was completed almost a month ago but we've been waiting for the local power company to connect a new electrical service to the marina. Maybe this week they'll be out here to complete their portion. The club has spent thousands of dollars upgrading the electrical service and putting in the new RV sites.

Today Barb and I attended the Oconto City Council Meeting with their main agenda allowing the yacht club to park RVs on the club property. The city is all for it but one property owner next to the club is against it. The club has had an on going problem with this guy for years, and he doesn't even live here in Oconto. After the third vote by the city council, they finely had their two-thirds votes needed to decide to allow it or not. Their decision was in our favor, for another year anyway.

Snow

Well we didn't get the 8" of snow here in Oconto as they were predicting like they got in the Green Bay area, but at least we're up here and hopefully it will start warming up before long.

Back in Oconto, Wisconsin

We made it back to Oconto today getting here around 5:30 this afternoon. We left Kellogg, IA around 8:00 this morning and drove the last 434 miles in 9 hours driving time. As soon as we get here we find that there's a winter storm warning out for Tuesday and Wednesday expecting around 8" of snow here. At least I don't have to drive in it. We'll be here until the end of October.


From the time we left Oconto last year, we drove the motorhome 3479 miles, used 453.465 gallons of fuel, costing $1629.45, which averages out to 7.67 MPG, $3.593 per gallon, $0.468 per mile driven. We spent $3244.12 staying in RV Parks this past winter.

Kellogg, IA

Once again we were able to get on the road by 7:30 this morning leaving from Homewood, KS to continue our trek to Wisconsin. Today we drove 297 miles with a fuel stop in Des Moines, IA where I topped off with 68.6 gallons of diesel costing $280.00. We have averaged 7.9 MPG since leaving Oklahoma City. We have stopped for the night staying at the Kellogg RV Park in Kellogg, IA. Tomorrow we should make Wisconsin before stopping for the day and make it to Oconto by Tuesday afternoon.

Homewood, KS

We were able to get on the road this morning leaving around 7:30 AM. There were some winds today but not like yesterday. We drove 295 miles and stopped for the rest of the day staying at the Homewood RV Park in Homewood, KS. 747 miles to go to get to Oconto, WI.

High winds

We were planning on leaving out this morning continuing our trek to Wisconsin for the summer but opted to stay put here in Oklahoma City for another day due to the high winds here in Oklahoma and Kansas. That will give us another day to enjoy the indoor hot tub here at the RV park. It is 1025 miles from Oklahoma City to Oconto that will take us 3 to 4 days to drive.

Oklahoma City, OK

We left Gainesville around 8:45 this morning on our last leg to Oklahoma City. We pulled into the Rockwell RV Park around 11:15 AM. As soon as we got here, we went out to lunch with our daughter Evon. We will be here for about a week then continue our trip to Oconto, Wisconsin.

Gainesville, TX

We left the Welcome Center around 7:30 this morning getting as far as Gainesville, Texas where we stopped for the night at the Gainesville Outlet Shops RV Park. This outlet mall used to be worth driving down from Oklahoma City but not anymore. Most of the stores have closed over the years. We'll be in Oklahoma City tomorrow for about a week.

On the road to Oklahoma City

Well we were able to get on the road this morning leaving around 9:30 AM on our way us to Oklahoma City. We have stopped for the night in the Texas Welcome Center just outside Waskom, TX.

Blow Out

We were getting ready to leave Lake Arthur this morning when I found that my inside right rear dual tire was flat and wouldn't hold air. On the way here last Friday, I heard a noise and pulled over on the side of the highway but didn't see anything so I kept going.

Well I called our road service and they found someone about 40 miles from us who could bring us a new tire and put it on the motorhome. Total price for a new tire was $503.17.

Since it was already after noon by the time the repairs were completed, we opted to spend one more night and will leave out tomorrow morning on our trip to Oklahoma City.

Lake Arthur, LA

We left New Iberia around 10:15 AM this morning heading 55 miles away to the Mermentau River RV Park & Marina in Lake Arthur, LA.

Crawfish Pie (Des tartes d'écrevisse)

Crawfish pie for dinner tonight.

Recipe for Crawfish Pie
Des tartes d'écrevisse
from
The Top 100 Cajun Recipes of All Time

• 3/4 medium bellpepper, chopped

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 ribs of celery, chopped

• 3/4 cup of butter

• 6 tablespoons of crawfish fat (optional)

• 1-1/2 pounds of peeled crawfish tails

• 1/2 cup of chopped green onions

• 1/2 cup of minced parsley
  

• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic power

• cornstarch

• dough for a double-crust pie

1. Sauté bellpepper, onion and celery in butter until tender; add crawfish fat and simmer 10 minutes.

2. Add crawfish tails, green onions, parsley and seasonings. Thicken if necessary with a little cornstarch; let cook long enough to thicken gravy.

3. Place half of the pie crust dough in a nine-inch pie pan. Fill with the cooled filling. Place top crust on pie, moisten edges and seal edges. Cut two or three one-inch-long slits in the top crust.

4. Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees; lower oven to 375 degrees and cook for 35 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown.

Note: Individual pies can be made using muffin pan with large cups. Bake as above.


Click on play button to play Crawfish Pie
Download Crawfish Pie from Amazon.com

Two Weeks

Well our friend Suzi left this morning after spending 2 weeks with us. She really needed that time to get away from stress-induced Oklahoma and relax. We'll be here in New Iberia for another 2 weeks then we too will leave on our 3 day trek to Oklahoma before heading to Wisconsin for the summer. We go through Oklahoma each year at this time to renew our vehicle tags and visit with family and friends there before going to God's real country.

Louisiana Swamp Tour

One of the things on Suzi's "list of things she wanted to do while in Louisiana" was to take a swamp tour. So, Barb, Suzi and I got out of the house today and went on a swamp tour on Martin Lake with Champagne's Swamp Tours of St. Martinville. The last swamp Barb and I went on was back in June 2005 on Bayou Black.

Don't trust an alligator with a shit eating grin!
"just a little closer now ..."