END OF SUMMER

9-16-09

I'm not complaining....."just stating the facts ma'am" as Sgt. Friday used to say. The weather has been crummy ever since Bill and Karen Murray arrived in Newport. CRUMMY!

The only good thing is the ports don't leak anymore and our bed has stayed dry.

Bill & Karen are boaters, so they know how unpredictable sailing conditions can be, and they are flexible. On the 12th we drove to Boston and entertained ourselves in torrential downpours. Actually, it was a fun day and my first visit to Boston. I loved it!

We took a tour on a D (designed in 1942) U (utility amphibious cargo carrying vehicle) K (front wheel drive) W (double rear axle drive) ..... DUKW.......nicknamed by the soldiers as DUCKS. It was built in Pontiac, Michigan, to carry men and cargo from the ships to the beaches in WWII. The tour on our DUCKS was through the historic streets of Boston and into and up the Charles River all the while quacking when our driver, Sgt. Meatball, gave the command.

Then we had dinner in Little Italy and had a waiter who spoke English with a very heavy Italian accent. It was a treat.

Finally the weather has changed to warm and sunny and just in time for us to put the boat into winter storage in Bristol, RI. What a cute harbor with 500 moorings. Thank heavens for Bill and Karen's help in the unloading process. They have been a huge help!!!!

We're sad the summer adventures are ending, but we are looking forward to going home and seeing the boys. I'm sure Brady has turned into a chubby little ball by now. This month Lisa and Don celebrated their 7th anniversary, my sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Jim, hit the 50 year mark, Kyle started school, Matt turns 36, and Lou will have his 73rd birthday. It's a busy month.

Thanks for sharing our adventures with us. We look forward to seeing the Sytsema family in Mt. Pleasant for Brady's baptism in October. Until next summer, good-bye.