Labor Day Weekend

The heat has broken here in Ohio. We spent the long weekend out at Middle Bass Island and we were able to enjoy activities and spend time outside without sweating through everything.

Friday was a busy day. I had a couple work meetings and then my parents hosted their friends and neighbors from their time in Corning NY. Mr. and Mrs. Plerhoples. I used to mow their lawn, look after their dogs and other things to earn money as a kid. It was very nice to see them again. It has been a long time. They had the opportunity to get a mini tour of the community and have lunch. I was able to join them for about an hour over lunch and catch up.

I topped off the fuel tank in the truck on my way home and then got the dry goods packed and the list of food to put in the cooler in my head. I loaded the coolers and got them in the truck so that as Chris got home from work, we could freshen up and head to the marina. I was planning on timing an arrival around 8pm at the Yacht Club but as it turned out we were able to get there just a few minutes after 7pm. Plenty of day light left and the breeze had all but given up. That made docking very easy. Also we had some help from a couple boaters on the pier near by. It is always nice to have extra hands helping with lines.

We got ship shape and headed down to the Club House as cake was being served to celebrate 35 years of Middle Bass Island Yacht Club. We said hello to those people that we know and sat down to a piece of cake. Ron and Kaye Soka joined us. They are a sweet couple and have invited us to join them for a cruise around the island with a stop at their favorite "Swimming hole".

It was getting late and we needed to let Rudy out for his last rest stop and then turn in for the night. Saturday is a big day as it is the Labor Day membership meeting and that is where I get voted in with the new roster of Directors and Officers on the Board. I am volunteering for a 3 year position as a voting Director. We will see if that turns into a desire to move into one of the Officer positions. We will see.....

We woke up Saturday morning and let Rudy out then got our breakfast. The meeting started at 11am because the Ohio State vs. Texas football game started at noon and the Commodore wanted to watch the game. The meeting was efficient and the officers made their reports and the membership committee presented the Roster and we each stood so that members could see who we are. The Roster was voted and approved. That was it! I am now on the board at the Yacht Club. After the meeting, lunch was served. Prime Rib/Chicken/Corn on the cob/other sides. Charlene Galovich is the incoming Commodore and she came over and indicated that there was a quick board meeting at 6:30 in the dockmaster's office then we would have the "Change of Watch" ceremony at 7pm.

Ron and Kaye invited us to go for a cruise around the island so we grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir, 2 Yeti wine tumblers and an opener and headed over to their Back Cove 30. We shoved off and headed out the inlet and a counter clockwise route around Middle Bass. It was fun to see the entire island as we have only seen the East side from the water. We stopped at the "Swimming Hole" and opened the bottle of wine and drifted with the breeze as wee enjoyed some time sharing stories and drinking the wine. We cleaned up and then completed the circumnavigation of the island and then got docked. We said our thank you's and then headed back to let Rudy out and Ron and Kaye started to setup for the Change of Watch ceremony.

The Change of Watch was nice. Kaye Soka said a few words then presented the Officer Flags to the new Officers and the Directors were announced and I got my picture taken with Kaye. We then had a Champagne Toast for the members present. We then had our choice of evening festivities. We chose to hang out at the fire ring and enjoyed meeting and getting to know some of the past officers. We turned in early since I needed to get up at sunrise(earlier actually) so that I could get Rudy walked and fed, my coffee made and down to the Club House to help cook the breakfast for the membership.

The Board of Directors' Breakfast is a fun tradition and I got to participate. I spent 2 hours cooking bacon, sausage, potato hash and corned beef hash. I smelled like bacon from head to toe so I showered before the Duck Race. It was a raffle fund raiser. We sponsored 4 ducks. There is a race course that is made with pool noodles held in a straight line with a piece of line that is drawn through the center of the noodles. Then The bag of ducks is dumped into the starting area. The noodle course was positioned to take advantage of the prevailing wind to "Motivate" the plastic ducks. There was quite the gathering of onlookers for this event. Once it was done we headed back to the boat and walked Rudy. I was tired and wanted a little nap so Chris went to the Island Craft Show on her own and when she returned we walked over to the old Lonz Winery area where there was a band from Toledo playing. We sat down and were joined by a couple from the Yacht Club. One of Chris's teacher friends walked by and Chris got to finally chat with her on the Island. They have a condo next to the marina. It is a landmark easily seen form the water so it is helpful for navigation.

We headed back to the boat and as we did, we invited Ron and Kaye over for an after dinner tour and beverages. We had a nice time and good conversation. Once we all said Good Night it was off to bed and then back to home port in the morning.

We got up and get going. The normal routine and we shoved off pretty much on time. As we made our way back to home port we collected quite the swarm of midges and other assorted bugs. So once we got docked and plugged in Chris cleaned inside and I hosed down the exterior and then sprayed Spider Killz II in every nook and cranny I could reach. We got things loaded and closed up and then headed to Bassett's to buy some provisions for the Birthday Picnic we were having out in Mentor for Chris's mom.

We had a nice time cooking out and hanging out with Carol. The long weekend came to a close and we got packed up and headed home to get back to the normal grind. Next weekend we have my friend Patrick coming for a visit as he makes his way out to the Cape.

The season is winding down and we can feel Fall arriving. The boat will come out in a few weeks and the bottom job will get done in the offseason.

Out and back to 16..........