When we pulled up I was happy to see everything back to normal. It was a huge difference from just a couple weeks ago.
<==== Before
After ======>
We launched the boat just about the time the sun was getting low in the sky. It was a cool evening, and we decided it would be best to find our slip and head over to the restaurant for some cold beverages and a good dinner and then call it a night. We got to the restaurant after dinner rush, but before the live band started and all of the party people arrived. It was almost like we owned the place. It didn't take long for Brooklyn to be up and dancing.
After dinner we headed back to the boat to settle in for the night. As the girls were getting everything sorted in the cabin I sat outside and dug into the cooler for a Bud Light Lime to enjoy the evening. Before long I noticed the sky lighting up with what I hoped was just heat lighting. After a couple minutes the wind began blowing and I knew we were in for a good storm. I ran around the boat and snugged up the lines the best I could and added an extra fender to the side of the boat. The storm went away about as fast as it came in, truly a summertime "pop up" storm. The girls were a little worried at first, but soon realized they would be ok. After the storm moved out, I went out to inspect the damage, after finding none I celebrated by opening another beer. The storm had knocked the humidity out of the air and cooled everything off by about 10 degrees, making for wonderful sleeping weather. Katlyn and Brooklyn soon fell asleep after a LONG day and Amanda wasn't far behind them, having worked all day. I sat back and listened to the quiet that was only occastionally broken by the sound of a fish jumping. With a smile on my face I called it a night somewhere shortly after midnight, content in the fact that my family was going to spend three straight days together for the first time in ages.
Sunday = Funday!
Amanda was up and at them around 9am and woke me up to tell me she was ready to go. Brooklyn woke up soon and we were on our way, leaving Katlyn down below to get her sleep. We pulled out of Manhattan Harbour and turned left towards the south for a full day of boating. Our destination was Rising Sun Indiana, about 35 miles down river. We started moving and hit Lawrenceburg, Indiana right around lunch time. We spotted a floating barge that had several people in it and figured if the locals liked it, we would give it a try.
It was good food, but the waitress didn't write down anyone's order, and when mine came it was a BLT instead of a Turkey Club. She apologized and brought some turkey for me to add to the sandwich. I just hate it when waiters or waitresses don't write down your order then mess it up!
We set sail again towards the south and west heading towards Rising Sun Indiana. Along the way we passed some very nice homes.
Soon we were in Rising Sun, but I guess due to the high waters of the past several weeks they had yet to put their boat dock out, so we simply turned around and headed back towards Manhattan Harbour.
On the way back the girls hung out down in the cabin, and Katlyn read a story to Brooklyn, while Amanda drove.
Coming into Cincinnati Katlyn noticed that the scoreboard for the Reds was on and I remembered they had an afternoon game. I turned on the radio and they were in the bottom of the ninth inning down by four runs, but the bases were loaded and no one was out. I was hoping the girls would get a chance to see fireworks, but the next 3 batters got out and the game was over, so we headed back to our home on the water.
Monday = Amanda's 4th 29th Birthday
I woke up Monday before anyone else and decided I would have a bowl of cereal on the back of the boat. Amanda was next to wake up and I wished her a happy birthday and offered her some cereal. Fog had set in very heavily and I knew we weren't going anywhere for a little while.
After the sun burned off the fog and everyone had brushed their teeth and combed their hair, except me of course, we were on our way. Our plans today were very different from the 70 + mile trip that we had made the day before. First on the list was get gas. They didn't have any fuel at our dock yet, due again to the previous river levels, so I asked the manager and he said the dock right up the river had a land based fuel system and was the only one at this time selling gas. We stopped in there for ice and gas and soon were on our way. We went just across the river and a little up stream to where the Little Miami River joins the Ohio River. It was going to be a fantastic day! The current had slowed down a little bit and we were the only boat for miles on the river. The girls and I left Amanda on the boat and swam over to the shore to look for sea shells. It was a little bit of a swim and the current was still fairly decent, so I tied Brooklyn to my life jacket so she wouldn't be swept away if we lost hold of each other's hands.
We had a great time on shore, but weren't able to find any sea shells. Around 3pm I couldn't help but notice that the water was perfectly still and there were no other boats in sight. It was like we owned the River! I decided right then, if I ever get a chance to retire, I will spend my days boating on Mondays and Tuesdays, and never again on the weekends.
Soon it was time to head back and pickup my Mom, Dad, and sister Anna for a short ride on the boat before going out to eat to celebrate Amanda's Birthday. After our too short trip to Cincinnati and back we dropped off Mom and all the other girls back at the dock. Dad and I headed to our slip to dock the boat. The girls and I got showers while Mom and Dad headed to Joe's Crab Shack to secure a table for 14. The night was beautiful, but we decided to sit inside and eat. They came out and sang to Amanda and made her dress like some kind of crazy model and walk around to the restaurant while everyone sang "Happy Birthday".
When supper was over, everyone headed back to their houses except us. We were going to sleep on the boat one last night.
Tuesday = Rest and relaxation
We asked Anna on Monday night if she would like to join us on the boat Tuesday. Her reply was quick, "Can I bring a friend?". We asked which one and when she said Natalie, we said sure. I told Anna that this was going to be my last day on the boat before having to go back to work (since I had checked my Powerball ticket I bought on Saturday and managed once again to not even match one number), and that I was leaving at 9am sharp, I didn't care if I saw her walking down the dock, if she wasn't on board at 9am we were leaving! I was kinda kidding... I guess. At 8:50am, we headed over to the main dock to meet Anna. At 9am, I was starting to get frustrated when my phone rang and it was my Mom and Dad's house, I thought Anna had overslept and I wasn't very happy. When I answered it was Mom, and she said calmly, Anna had been in a wreck, that everyone was ok, and her car wasn't too badly damaged, but she was waiting for the police to show up and fill out a report. She said that Anna had stopped at a red light and the girl behind her driving a new Mercedes did not. Mom said to go ahead and leave, but I knew Anna and her friend were looking forward to getting out on the boat, and we were looking forward to having them, so I said we would stay. I told the girls to go ahead and go swimming at the pool in Manhattan Harbour 'cause we were going to be waiting a little while. By 10 o'clock Anna had arrived with Natalie and we were ready to set out.
We went just a little upstream from where we were the day before and found a rope swing tied to a big tree on a beach. Amanda and I agreed that it looked like fun and pulled over to drop anchor.
After swinging off the rope what felt like 2,000 times Brooklyn and I were exhausted and headed downstairs for a lazy afternoon nap while the rest of the ladies laid out in the sun up top in search of that perfect tan.
Here's a good video of something that was repeated too many times to count:
Way too soon, it was 3:30pm and we needed to get back to the dock to load up the boat. We knew we still had a lot of work ahead of us. We needed to take the boat home and unload it, then drive it back where we are keeping it at Amanda's parents shop in Erlanger. Knowing that all good things must come to an end we headed back already looking forward to our next trip.
Work was no fun on Wednesday thinking about how the great times we had the previous several days.
We made memories to last a lifetime and at least we were able to spend the time, even if it feels like it was way too short, together as a family aboard our little slice of heaven, Nine Songs.
