We were up before the sun today – there were several things we wanted to accomplish before leaving this marina and heading over to the Lighthouse Landing Marina to have our mast stepped (put back up). Maureen borrowed a marina courtesy van and left for the grocery store about 8 am. We were able to fill a propane tank at the service station next to the grocery as well. Gale worked on preparing the boat for the mast stepping process while Maureen shopped. By 11:30 am, we were showered and on our way.
Ally’s Cat was also having her mast stepped today. She was scheduled to go first and had left for Lighthouse Landing about an hour before we did. As it turned out, Footprints, the third Gemini sailboat we had met in Alton, was still in the spot near the gin pole (crane) after having her mast set yesterday and the crew was busy putting her sails up. Footprints got out of the way as quickly as she could and Ally’s Cat took the spot at the gin pole to wait for the marina guys to return from lunch. We were being charged by the hour for the men and the crane, so we were all interested in having the job done as efficiently as possible. And, efficient they were! Both Ally’s Cat and Blue Heron were charged for 30 minutes of service, for a total bill to each of $90 – the least expensive mast stepping we’ve ever had!
We spent a couple of hours tightening things down and then got together with Don and Ally on their boat for happy hour. We had 6:45 dinner reservations at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement, a famous local restaurant with other attractions including shops, gardens, wedding chapel, miniature golf and a small zoo. Gale and Maureen shared the House Specialty: a 2” thick charbroiled pork chop! We each had a salad, shared the baked potato, and enjoyed the warm fresh bread baked in a pot to go along with the half pork chop. We were both as full as if we’d just had Thanksgiving dinner – even without dessert! As we were leaving the restaurant, we picked up a plaque for our home on the water that read: “There’s No Place Like Home.”
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