Well intrepid family, friends and fellow travelers, welcome to the (as of recent) not-so-annual Christmas Website. Here and down farther are the links to the lost blog entries from the Mackinac sailing race this year. As well you can find here the relatively recent trip to Puerto Rico (’23) with Mr. and Mrs Jhonny.
The rest is a selection of what’s recent in my world. I hope you enjoy. I wish you the best of the Christmas season and of the New Year to come!
The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

6 lots, 1000 miles and just a tag of grumpiness I found the perfect tree… with a crooked as sin trunk it turned out!

But after a $150 stand to fix the trunk issue, she stood and lit up nicely!

.. And THANKS to Melissa to decorations went on beautifully!
All Things Jhonny Beer, Ann Arbor Home and Lake Shannon

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone shot of the house

After 20 some years of faithful service, out with the old and in with the new

Dr. Grinch Christmas Belgian Trippel coming in at 9.5% ABV

Serenity of Lake Shannon in the evening

Proof I’ve been living right…. no pot o’ gold though 🙁

More Dr. Grinch with Wild Williams wandering hat

Sunset over Lake Shannon

The Jhonny Brothers brewery with Scott Tenkel (aka Jhonny Microbe)

Everybody gets a Jhonny Beer for Christmas
Travels with the Mooch Boys, the Tenkel Fisherman and a Quick Benton Harbor Jaunt with Mom & Dad

Summer Mooch: Wild William, Joe, Skinny Gino, Eric, Steve, Paul, Danny and Stu

Winter Mooch in AL: Wild William, Joe, Gino, Eric, Dave, Steve and Stu

The Three Michigan Amigo’s dressed to entertain on the links!

Kiva Dunes Resort, Gulf Shores, AL

I think I lost a ball in there somewhere… Crystal Mtn Golf with Stu and Gino

Gorgeous sunset in Benton Harbor, last one before Dad’s hospital adventure

Fishing with the Tenkel Crew and the ringer Pro
It Wouldn’t be a Year Without Longboat Key, FL (and a visit to Art Vandelay in his studio at Kent State)

My road warrior bed all packed up for the annual trip to Longboat Key

Sunset in Longboat

Still smiling after 60+ years at Mar Vista in Longboat

Dad LOVES the wind!

Mar Vista Restaurant

Pelicans playing in the sunset in Longboat

John got his trip to the Swordfish Girl and we all had a blast!

view over the salt flats at sunset in Cortez Village

Drone photo on the beach at Longboat

Art Vandelay (aka Joey Niester) in his studio rocking out his creative designs!
Splash in me converting a 20 year old pontoon into something new and sparkly! ….well mostly, still some work to do!

1980’s version pontoon

1980’s version pontoon with a complete retrofit!
And of course there is never a year without Michigan sports! NATIONAL CHAMPS BABY!

Two generations enjoying a victory!

Beating up on Sparty

Stu and I enjoying the game!

Jhonny made an appearance at a game too

The crew celebrating the National Championship WIN!!!

Chili cookoff champions 2024

Toasting a Natty 2024!

Enjoying a very mediocre basketball season thanks to the Sutherlands!

Gino and I rocking close to the floor thanks to Commodore Lynn
Finally, what is summer with a ton of sailing including the 150th Anniversary Race of the Bayview Mackinac Race and the Chicago Mackinac race (with an attempt at a Super Mac)
See Blogs for races here: The Chicago and Bayview Mackinac Yacht Races

The backlog of boats on the Black River

The bride to get out to the main river

The parade of boats when the bridge goes up.

Justin and I prepping the boat

Sparkles being her sparkly self!

yeah..there were a few boats around at the start

Solution, my home for the Mackinac races.

Sparkles trimming the kite

After dropping out of SuperMac pulling into harbor for pizza and beer

Chicago Mac parade of boats by Navy Pier

We’re all still happy before we leave the docs… SWEATY but happy!

Its one hell of a vista at the start!

Crashing out on the cockpit floor after dropping from SuperMac

That skyline is amazing!

on my way to the boat… always a photo op in Chicago

My Chi Mac and Bayview Mac home, Solution, a Farr 40

One of the (MANY!!!) projected best routes based on weather predictions.