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!!)
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| 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"
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| 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'...
Went back and checked out your posts from Tampa to Kemah ... you got me so antsy to get going! Looks like it was a great trip, and Klyde is just too cute! Always wondered about those oil rigs heading to Texas, but didn't look too bad. Love those sunset pictures!
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