Toasty warm and a tv with three (3) channels... I'd still rather be SAILING!!

Just another tough day in the fish shack... no fish on Kampeska (for me anyway), maybe I should stick to Pelican Lake.

This year's gang at the Pollards for Christmas.

Sandy, Crystal, and Vivian ..... never too busy for a snap shot!

We got together with Roy and Sharon ( she is "working" the dough) and made our Lefse for the season. No true Norsky Christmas is complete without it!!! Growing up, my family always filled them with meatballs and cranberry sauce. Liz's family would spread them with butter and a generous amount of sugar.

Roy was in charge of cooling and stacking... We ended up with 47 Lefse and will split the 'bounty' to take to our various Christmas celebrations coming shortly.

I think he was just told that he got Steph and Shawn as parents... he is one lucky young man !!!

Meet Mr Jacob Ryan Zerbe, our new grandson from North Carolina. He looks like his Dad for sure.

Snowed 8" so far today. The bridge will have to wait till Spring for its handrails... ( Darn, I was just going to do that today too! )

Just before it snowed this week, these Snow's and Blue's stopped by for a little rest before continuing South. Can you tell if they are LANDING or TAKING FLIGHT???

YES, YES I know. I already got the SPANKIN'. Stop back in a couple days and see if maybe something has been posted... Many things have been going on, so I will bring this space back to life!! In the meantime be thinking GRANDPARENTS...

We boarded Ryan's ship in San Diego for a 4 day "cruise" up to Bremerton, Wa. After the BATTLE with claustrophobia (which I WON through lots of prayer), it was absolutely fantastic. The Stennis was just coming back from an 8 month deployment which included the Persian Gulf region. What an experience to live with these great American Sailors for their last 4 days at sea, and to see the reception and appreciation of the WELCOME HOME crowd at the dock. It was very moving for us and the other family members on board.

This is what the Captain sees as he and the bridge crew steer the ship.

We stood "WATCH" with Ryan a couple times over these 4 days. This is the steering room where all the hydraulics move the rudders.

Over 3 football fields worth of flight deck.
We could roam up here most any time unless the wind was too strong.

hangar bay with door open and elevator up

Maybe these were used when they were in Persian Gulf, but not this day.

Ryan and Liz in a mess hall. (one of several) Yup.. thats a flat screen TV behind them. This ship is basically a small city, they make around 400,000 gallons of water a day and serve up to 18,000 meals per day.

Stored in the hanger bay is this Fleet Admirals 'Barge'. Its maybe 38' and used to shuttle the "brass" around in certain ports...

TV lounge connected to our berthing area. There were several of these on the ship

Liz keeps finding all these cool places to watch the sea.

As Crystal would say, "these binoculars ROCK!!!"

These canisters (approx 3'x5') are the life boats. When released and dropped to a depth of about 12 ft below the surface, a sensor pops the whole thing open to make a rubber raft that will hold 25 people. Oh ya... and enough food and water to last 5 days. Both sides of the ship have lots of these since the Stennis can accomodate over 5000 Sailors.

We are closing in on a resupply ship 40 miles offshore. Once both are side by side and maintaining 13 knots, the supply lines are "shot" across to take on more provisions.

Ships hanger bay full of (dress white) Sailors, ready for the END of their nearly 8 month deployment

Tug spraying water in honor of the carriers return

Hard to imagine the emotions here as these Sailors line the flight deck. The boat is making its way through Puget Sound just minutes before seeing the crowd gathered at the Bremerton dock.

With the Stennis just pulling up to the dock, a sailor and his very proud mom...

What a nice SURPRISE!!! From left Verda, Lis & Gary, Faith & Larry all from Ryans adopted church in Bremerton. They made a very special effort to come out and welcome him home from deployment. They have really taken to Ryan, and he likes volunteering and being a part of their congregation.

Sand Island lighthouse.

This is the start of our 2007 Apostle Island sail. We got in the water about 6pm and sailed with Eilert and Mary to our first stop Sand Island. The winds were SW so we had no trouble getting to Justice Bay (Sand Island) before sundown. The forcast up here means everything, so we knew where to go the first night to be out of the wind. (CLICK ON MOST OF THE FOLLOWING PICS FOR AN ENHANCED VIEW)

Finally in the water, I hoped we didn't forget anything.

Liz is sailing as fast as she can to get us to our first nights anchor destination-- Sand Island

Sunset on Sand Island. After 11 hours getting here by land, and sailing out to this island (4 miles) . We were ready and waiting for this...

This is Eilert and Mary. They got us started going to Lake Superior and this is the most fun vacations we have ever had. He knows all the safe havens and boy does he have CHARTS!!.

It really wouldn't be a true OUTING without Liz changing her "shoes" , now would it be....

Is that really a powerboat next to us??? What is this world coming too!!!!

This is Mary and Eilert and Liz on a march back from the lighthouse at Sand Island. It was only a mile from our anchorage.

We took the dingy and rowed to these caves on Sand Island. This is what waves do to solid ROCK!!!

Got a nice NE wind (18knts) so we are headed for that island maybe 5 miles away.

May be hard to see, but about 20 boats used this shelter one night when some high winds were predicted. You have to use your weather radio all the time to get the night forcast so a sheltered bay can be found. You pretty much know by noon of any given day what the wind direction will be for that night. By mid afternoon the sailboats start to gather, so if you see a group anchoring early you know it is probably a safe place to settle in for the night.

This is an official Raspberry Island historian giving us a very detailed account of the daily life of a lighthouse attendant. The lighthouse man was allowed to bring his family out for the summer.

We docked near a Lake Superior tour boat at Raspberry Island. Lots of stairs to get up to the lighthouse.

This seagull was looking for handouts. He got close and we just kept "pigging out" on our porkloin. He looks plenty well fed to me anyway...

This is the Rocky Island dock where we stayed the night before. This dock was lined with sailboats that night and 4 - 5 more anchored out in the bay. We cooked out on the beach and had a nice campfire with the other sailers. They thought the PINE AND POST was great that I brought.... probably because it was FREE.

Sand Island lighthouse built in 1890 (something). The life of a lighthouse man... now that would be lonely!

Not much wind but the scenery is fantastic.

Some of the caves on Sand Island

But, Butt , Liz is still putting the sails away. Hurry up so we can open our last bottle of VINO!

We are back to our final port before leaving the lake. It took us all afternoon to sail around the island in the background.

Our last night on Lake Superior---- we will be back next year for sure!!!