A Special Touch for OWT!

 We wanted to keep the 'sunburst' that was on the Wind Generator Covers,

but we also wanted to include our 'anchor charm' from our previous boat name.

The faded covers and the really dirty blades!!

 So when Dean removed the generators to rebuild each one and paint the blades,

we shipped the covers to our daughter Tammy to see what she could come up with!

 This is the finished product!!! 

Hand painted and sketched by Tammy!!

Both done & ready for installation!!

 They look great!!!

Thank you Tammy & Tony for all your time & effort put into this project!

We love you both & appreciate it very much!!!

Congratulations on your engagement!!

Our Way Too! & Crew look forward to having you onboard soon!!!

A Bit of OWT! History...

The start of our adventure was Whitehall, Michigan at Crosswinds Marina...

A Dock Slip 1...The BEST view on White Lake!! 

Beginning 2003 - we spent summers on the boat...the winters in our 5th wheel in Kalamazoo, MI. 

Because we are 'water' folks...we were 1st in the water in April & last out of the water in October! 

(Sometimes November if the Michigan weather would hold & Dean's footprints down the dock weren't too deep in the snow!! We'd hang in there as long as we could!!!) 

This was our home...

I introduce you to our beloved "Third Time's A Charm"...

After a few years a couple joined us on A Dock that became fast friends and part of our family!!!

He needed a 'scrubby' & because I had just enough beer, I told him I'd give it to him for a quarter! 

Little did I know that just being sassy for a second would bring Dean & I to the most wonderful friendship & learning experience that we could ever imagine!! 

I didn't get the quarter...but because we agreed to go out to dinner & hit it off immediately...we received so VERY much more!!! (Including Irish jokes & learning to drink wine!!) 

Jim & Jane Knack 
Cheers!! We love you & miss you!!!
You are why we are where we are today!!!
Thank you!!! XOXO

A beautiful lasting friendship and an awesome 'SAILING' education!!!

Let me back up a sec...our 3rd year, we met Jeff & Janie Coppes. They took Dean out sailing on their "fall' sail before pulling 'Clover' out of the water for the season. I stayed behind with my loving furry Rico Jon. When they arrived back to the dock, they claimed Dean was a 'natural' sailor!!

Little did we know.....

We sailed every weekend we could...

day sails...over-nite sails...whenever & where-ever Jim & Jane would have us...

we became sort of their 'permanent crew'. Dean & I sailed every moment that was available!! 

(I actually logged more hours than Dean did!!) Jim & Dean spent hours out on White Lake & Lake Michigan tweaking sails...following the wind...dumping the rub rail in...experimenting, sharing, etc. Jim shared all his knowledge, Dean absorbed everything he could and we just enjoyed all our moments onboard their beautiful boat with our awesome friends!

Please allow me to introduce you to...

"SENIOR PROM"

This is the beautiful girl we learned to sail on!!!

It was our dream to own her one day...but because of situations, layoffs, economy, our move to TX, we succumbed to the fact that finances and timing...it just wasn't to be.

Dean & I knew we had the SAILING BUG!!! So after a bit...B-Boppin' around on the Texas reservoirs in the lil "Katie-Did" dingy just wasn't cuttin' it! So...we started looking again...

THIS is what our journey brought us to...

We share with you...our beautiful, blessed, christened 42' home on the water...

'Our Way Too!'

It's really from here now that our story begins...

So if you'd like to read from the beginning and enjoy our 'Gulf Crossing' from FL to TX...

please go to the beginning of our archives.

http://svourwaytoo.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

As my Daddy says... 

Stay tuned for the next chapter in the 'Calkins Saga'...

The Countdown begins...

YES!!! 

It is official and we are finally seeing our dream become a reality!!!!

Our Way Too! 

will soon have her crew onboard 'Full Time' & the wind will fill her sails!!!

For the past 2 years, every weekend Dean has driven over 300 miles one way, from Arlington TX to Kemah TX then back again, to spend weekends at home with me onboard Our Way Too! 

That will all change soon and I will be so happy to have him here full time! 

No more worries of him on the highway with all that crazy traffic. 

No more late nights leaving GM at 10pm or later with a 4 1/2 hr drive ahead of him!

I am ecstatic!!! And I am so proud of him. It has been long awaited and a very tough decision in this economy. This wonderful husband of mine sure does deserve it tho!!

He has dedicated his service to General Motors for 37.6 years!!

It's his turn to enjoy retirement!

It's time to start the next chapter in the "Calkins Saga" :-)

Stay tuned...

Where do we want to be??

 Where do we want to be?? 

Out on the water with Our Way Too!

 With her sails happily filled, carrying us forward onto many wonderful adventures,

 tropical islands, and warm breezes!

Snorkeling, catching fish, lobster, exploring, hiking, doing whatever makes us smile!

We dream about that day and talk about that day EVERY day.

 We do our best daily to accomplish something toward that goal.

For right now...we both need to keep working.

We need to finish a few 'projects' that are important to our living on the hook at anchor.

One more wind generator to rebuild, and to put our solar panels back atop are the two most important.

Dean only has weekends to accomplish these tasks, while after work, I try to scan photo's, sort thru boxes of stuff, clothes, etc. We still have so much to accomplish.

 Will we get there?

Oh yeah!!! You bet and as soon as we can!!

Are we ready?

Way past ready to be gone yesterday...

Until then...

We steal away any time we can hoist sails

 and spend time out on the hook for an overnight or two!!

At anchor- Redfish Island in Galveston Bay Texas

It's been way too long!!

We're Baaaacck!!!

Sorry all...

We have let life, our jobs, etc. get in the way.

Wow...the time has flown by!!

It's time to get back into the swing of things and keep this blog up!!

We have so much to share & catch up on!

Lots of photo's  to share, visitors, vacation's...

Stay tuned...

My Captain~

My First Mate posted this on Facebook about our Captain...her awesome Husband...

I have thee most Awesome-ist Husband!!! He is a handsome, christian, gentle man, loving, kind, faithful, committed, dedicated, hard-working, silly, fun-loving, smart as a whip, a wonderful Dad & Opa, loves his family like there is no tomorrow, brings joy to those who take the time to spend with him, is a terrific best friend & has the patience of a Saint when it comes to his wife...and children...(or should I say patiently puts up with all of us)! 

I have spent almost 11 years with this man...He is a 'Gem' and I am grateful his previous wives gave him up and that he became a part of my life!! I am so blessed!! My children are so blessed...my family is so blessed!!

Honey, I will spend the rest of my life working with you to make your dreams come true! (We are so "ONE" that it's "OUR" dreams). We will accomplish the things we have set in motion...Our Way Too! and I WILL see to it!! You deserve it...more than anyone one I know! You have worked many years to get to the point where you want to be at & altho you hoped to be there long ago you unselfishly put other prior commitments before you! Bless you for that! You are a really good man.

What you give to others who make the effort to be close to you is beyond measure. If you have tried & it has not been reciprocated then it is their loss... And that's OK...we have each other...our dreams...& Our Way Too!!

You are my Captain & I your First Mate!!
We have God as our Co-Pilot & as Kimberly Sue prayed upon her, during the naming ceremony, Our Way Too! is blessed with the Gods & Angels of the Sea to be with us whenever & where ever we decide to go!!
We will sail aboard our beautiful home & sailing vessel Our Way Too!
We will meet new friends & learn new cultures.
We will be enjoying adventures beyond our imagination.
We will share with those who want to learn about and enjoy our lifestyle.
God sure blessed me when He brought you into my life!!
We sure do have alot to look forward too!!

I love you Dean Paul Calkins always & forever!!!

A Tribute...Barry Hammerberg

February 10, 2012

Today we Celebrate a life...

Barry Hammerberg

fellow Sailor...a man of many talents...wonderful Husband to Ruth...gracious friend to many.

May God welcome you Barry, into his loving arms & into the beautiful calm & safe seas of Heaven!

As you share "Another Adventure" (Barry & Ruth's beautiful sailboat) with those we all know 

& love up in heaven...we look forward to the honor

of sailing into the heavens & your life again!!

Love & Eskimo Kiss!!

A friend whom we haven't known long...but he made an impact on our life in his knowledge, advice, & just plain "Sailor Commaderie"! You know how you just know......well Barry and Ruth are those people!!

Barry loves to Sail!
 He's a man of many talents...Surveyor...Canvas Man...Rigging Tuner...the list goes on!
He spent many a day working with John doing projects on Our Way.
Up til Barry was too weak to speak he worried and whispered to Ruth about his beloved
 "Another Adventure"

www.rbhammer.com/2011

(Barry & Ruth's Website & Log)

He is truly a Sailor, totally in love with his Ruthie, Buddy, and a special friend to many.
Barry, we will cherish the brief moments we were able to spend with you. 

We are thinking of & praying for his family today while they celebrate Barry's life and say "Goodbye". 

Especially Ruthie...

Barry & Ruthie

Thank you God for the Grace, Patience, Love, and Strength

 you have instilled in this beautiful woman to endure the past 2 years...

Thank you for keeping her strong even as her heart was breaking.

She stood solid in faith & in love. 

I am so proud of her & pray that her strength remains, her faith remains strong, & that you guide her as she learns to continue her life without her Husband by her side. Amen.

She stood by Barry's side through everything~a dedicated Wife & Best Friend...

she drove herself unselfishly to care for & see to it that Barry

made his dreams come true...

She became the "Woman who could do Anything!!

She jumped in an RV...(Motorhome) and drove cross country to fulfill a dream...

The Grand Canyon!! Wow!! 

Barry was elated!!

She crossed off things on the "Bucket List" & made that man smile!! 

They were the "Love of each other's Lives!"

She was so unselfish...she did whatever made Barry happy & comfortable.

Barry...We will keep you in our hearts until we meet again...

Ruth...You will always have a spot for hanging out with us on Our Way Too!!

Love & Hugs~~

~~~ /) ~~~