Dave, we need more info!  Rog

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4NAZPi2js

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And, by the way, we were married at the Methodist Church at Hickory Corners!  What a grand day!

Ah, yes!  I’ve grown gray and old, while Shirley has retained her vigorous and vivacious youth—I’m not complaining!  Here’s a couple pics from my pre-gray era; some may remember!  Shirley, the love of my life.  Rog

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Left to right:  Tom, Pat Wiesner, Dave Wilhelm, me, Shirley Birr, Dee Wilhelm, Dean Rosinsky, Mom (wheelchair),  Anna Krowiorz, Rhonda, Shirley Hein, Jerry Hein, Bob Krowiorz and Jerry Wiesner!

Not necessarily a surprise visit, old friends going way back to the Manitowoc Yacht Club and sailing days (daze) from the Manitowoc/Two Rivers, WI area, who own or rent in the Bradenton/Palmetto/Indian Rocks Beach area during the winter gave us a call to hook-up at—coincidentally—one of our favorite eateries on the Manatee River—the Riverhouse Cafe (mentioned in previous posts).  We expected to see just a couple of couples.

Upon arriving at the Riverhouse, we were pleasantly surprised by some old friends we hadn’t seen for sometime who had joined the crew.  If you recall from my “Old Sailors…” post (see  http://www.kellylake.net/archives/9564/), sailors’ bonds are thicker than water.  After some 30-odd years nothing has changed… oh, sure, physical limitations are evident. And, yes, we do occasionally stop in at the yacht club when back in Manitowoc in hopes of running into some of the friends we’ve made there.

Fourteen of us quickly reunited and crammed-in catching up with present times; past times are never far behind.  Mom quickly joined in the conversation and festivity; she was made to feel a part of the crew.  In fact, she found out from Pat and Jerry Wiesner that their son is her postman back in Two Rivers.

We had already planned to have everyone follow us back to our place for fellowship and imbibe in some libations.  Oh, by the way… actually, ‘grog’ was rum mixed with water in those sailing days to basically purify the stagnating fresh water supplies—or so the sailors say!

Here’s some pics of The Riverhouse Cafe and back at our place.  Roger

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Riverhouse Cafe.

Back home.

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“Amazing turn out last night for the Tips and Toys Banquet. Always alot of fun with great people. The raffles were all over the place from pistols and rifles to Canadian fishing trips and beautiful ladies jewelry. I even saw a pink camo gun case with ammo!
Thank you again to everyone who came supported or sponsored. lets help support our local business owners, they stepped up as always this year.”  See  http://kellylakesportsmansclub.com/

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There’s a great bond/camaraderie joined between sailors around the world.  Go to any yacht club or marina and you’re one-in-the-same.  A visit to these venues,  and the mention of your passion opens waves of stories purporting passages across favorite waters and to ports-of-call.  Storms, squalls, “knock-downs”, dismasting, surfing down 6, 8, 10′ seas on a broad-reach doubling your hull speed excites and stimulates  you wanting and waiting to share your own experiences; all ears are lent each way!  Compare it to you golfers and duffers at the 19th Hole; the Birdie, Eagle or hole-in-one sunk!!  I’m not much of a golfer!

With that prelude comes our visit from friends and fellow sailors from Manitowoc, WI.  We met in the early 80s when I bought my first sloop, became a member of the Manitowoc Yacht Club and crewed on the offshore and Lightning racing fleets.  Dave and Pat Daoust were members who also owned a sloop and spent many days sailing on Lake Michigan, traversing to ports-of-call including across Lake Michigan. My boast is to having done most of my sailing single-handed including crossing Lake Michigan.  Be that as it may, that was overshadowed when I was offered the opportunity to crew with five on a racing sloop (cutter) across all the Great Lakes, day and night for 2 1/2 weeks.

With all said and done, we’ve both sold our sloops and reminisce about those days.  No longer able to vanguard the foredeck halyards and rigging, we share memories and a friendship that buoyed-up during our sailing days and remains afloat through these decades.     May I add, the four of us share a love for Corvettes; Dave has two including a beautiful ’66 white-on-white convertible!  But, that’s another story!  Roger

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Dave, Pat, Shirley and me.

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Dave writes that he and Vicki are looking to come to Sarasota in mid-April; a hop, skip and a jump from us here in Bradenton!  Shirley and I hope they include us on their itinerary; we have room…

I can’t believe the weather you guys are having up there! We’ve had one of the warmest season’s down here in Bradenton, but relatively speaking, yours has been phenomenal!  To sum it up, here’s some pics Dave sent of the lake recently.  Roger

(Click on pic to enlarge, then once again to make bigger) :

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You talk about a small world!  It turns out the Zeamers and Stangels have mutual friends and acquaintances with a number of people from Two Rivers, Manitowoc and the Brillion area—where Bud and Elaine are from.   It was amazing how the list of people they knew grew exponentially the more names were mentioned!  I just sat back and marveled at what a small world it was; bringing two couples who didn’t know each other together for a day, so far away.   The camaraderie commence!

Bud and Elaine had already planned a day with us and I asked if it would be OK to bring Don and Sharon to Longboat Key where Bud had researched a place on the beach to rent.  That’s where they all met; about a half-hour away.

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Bud, Don, me, Elaine and Sharon.  Their condo is to the right, lower level.

Bud, Elaine, Don, Sharon, Shirley and me on their beachfront at Longboat Key (photo by tripod) .

Sharon and Don.

“Don, don’t be cute.”

“Where’d she go?!”

We all returned here to Bradenton after a great day with now mutual old friends and neighbors.

At our home, Bud, Elaine, Sharon, Don, Shirley and me.

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seems real early (about 3 weeks!)

Dick Ryan

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This was on FB this morning.  My grandfather helped build this church.

 Karen

Started about 6 hrs ago (2 AM) in back of church.  Now steeple was burning at last report.  At least 6 fire depts responded.  Click link below:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120320/GPG0101/120320024/Fire-damages-Klondike-Community-Church-Oconto-County?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|GPG-News

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