Bob's Cajon & Jawbone

Not getting to bed until 3am certainly had an impact on my typical Saturday morning rise time. So there was little wonder why my head was still foggy when I rolled out of bed near 840am. Once I got the coffee started I began to come alive. I briefly stepped out on the deck to feel the weather. It was already warm and sticky. According to the forecast, it was supposed to top the 90 degree mark and be pretty humid too. OK by me.

I enjoyed coffee and internet for an hour or more before finally heading out on a run near 10am. I hadn’t heard a peep from Mindy who was still in bed when I left. I ran three miles and was back home near 1030am. Still no Mindy. It wasn’t long, however, before she was up and downstairs.

We hung out on the deck for a while, the heat and humidity already a big factor. We had no formal plans for the day, but discussed our options. We talked about heading to Yellow Springs, hanging out at home, or possibly even going after the boat. But since we haven’t yet pulled the boat out of storage, whether or not we could be on the water that afternoon was still an unknown. If everything went well, all I’d have to do is connect the battery and make sure it started. Worst case, Mindy suggested, we spend Saturday getting it water worthy and then head out to the river with the kids on Sunday.

Still undecided an hour or so later, I suggested that I go after the boat. What the heck. I figured if we didn’t get it out this weekend we might not get it out all summer. Before heading out, I thought through the process in my head. I remembered that I would need the Accord key ring since it holds the storage building key. The hitch was already mounted on the Pilot. All systems were a go.

Like most years, I had to try a couple different security codes to access the building but got it right on about my third try.  They had my boat in the first bay to my immediate right. Nice to be up front but impossible to attach and turn left out the building. I had to manipulate the boat and trailer around several times before I could hook up and pull it out. By then I worked up one heck of a sweat.

Home near noon, I wasted no time getting the cover off and hooking up the battery. A quick check of the horn, I knew I had connectivity. Next step was to attach the hose to the water muff and place it on the lower unit. Usually takes a few cranks to get it fire up. This year was no different. If you’re a regular reader you know that last year the battery was all but dead and needed to be charged before we could get it started. But that was after leaving it sit idle summer of ’11.

The boat started on the 3rd or 4th crank. Cool! I let it run for about 5 minutes revving the engine a time or tow to make sure the belts were all tight. Sounded good! I checked a few other safety items as well as the trailer tire pressure. All systems a go. I headed in to tell Mindy that we were good to go should we want to go boating. She was quick to say yes. We think it wise to make our maiden voyage each year up to Griggs. That way, should anything unforeseen happen, we’re just a few miles from home.

I called my dad to ask if he was up for an afternoon of boating. Appreciated the invite but declined. We were ready for an afternoon on the river by 1pm. We stopped at Thornton’s and filled the boat with gas. It took 11.8 gallons. Thankfully, gas prices dropped like a rock last week. It was down to $3.29.

Took the back way to Griggs – Roberts to Old Dublin to Fishinger and finally Riverside. Easy drive and a wide open dock. I put the plug in even before we left the house. One less thing to remember at the dock. Relatively easy launch. Mindy held us steady while I got it started and backed away. She jumped in and we were off.

Like last year, we cruised slowly south down by the damn and by the Scioto Boat club first, just to make sure all systems were operating as expected. Yep! We then headed north under both bridges - Fishinger and later Hayden Run. We headed as far north as I am comfortable going without a depth finder where the water is still and the wildlife abundant. It’s where we’ve anchored for years, even dating back to my youth with dad and family. As usual, several blue heron, turtles, ducks, and even those pesky Canada geese. We left the radio blaring for about 20 minutes until Mindy suggested we turn it off. I was way OK with that. I much more enjoy the sounds of nature. We dangled our feet from the swim platform soaking in all the sunshine and summer warmth.

At some point I enjoyed a piece of a Wal-Mart sub and a Gatorade we brought along. Hit the spot. Enjoyed some Pita chips too. We stayed anchored for nearly 2 hours, with me taking a brief nap around 3pm. Felt great. It had to be near 4pm when we pulled anchor and headed south. I gave it a full throttle for a spit. The boat ran really well. The engine purred smoother than it has in a few years. Last fall’s oil change made a difference. It was hot and steamy, but with an unusually stiff breeze blowing up from the SE. We needed to account for that as we pulled up to the dock. I quickly jumped out to moor us to the dock. Mindy took over while I went for the Pilot.

The vehicle parked next to ours had a Thule on top with countless ski resort stickers. I recognized a few. The pull out went without a problem. As we were getting out to cover our boat we recognized a guy who recently pulled up at the dock to pick-up two woman. I called him the squirrel man from MRM. He recognized us too. We talked for a few minutes then proceeded to wipe down and cover the boat.

We headed for home, opting to take the boat home rather back to storage. Thought we might boat Sunday, too. Had to take an unusual path home with all the road closures – Riverside to Trabue to McKinnley to Fisher to Wilson. 430pm by the time we arrived home.

We still didn’t have definitive plans for dinner, though we both sorely needed showers. I suggested we pay a visit to the Ohio Tap Room and then pick a yet to be named dining venue in Grandview. Mindy agreed. We showered, changed then walked the pug. We left for the Tap Room near 6pm.

Took the freeway since it was the easiest path to Grandview proper. The Tap Room is located within a couple blocks of our dear friends, Bob & Mary Ann. We didn’t realize it before then that one can’t order and drink a pint on site. Instead, they only fill and sale growlers – exclusively Ohio brewed beers. Must have about 25-30 on tap. We paid $.50 for 5 samples before settling on Jackie O’s IPA.

After a pic or two we opted to go find dinner, but not before making a quick pass by Bob & Mary Ann’s. We spotted Bob in his driveway so we went ahead and stopped. Felt a bit bad for just popping in, but what the heck! We chatted for a spell from the driveway with our windows down and then got out to meet their new dogs, Bullet and Brina. We ended up having a beer and then Bob went inside to find Mary Ann who was in the shower. We ended up spending our entire evening with them.

Once Mary Ann joined us, we moved to the front porch, but not before taking a gander at Bob’s 1965(?) Mustang convertible. Nice! We cracked open and shared our fresh Ohio Tap Room growler. Yum! Bob eventually broke out a few of his toys – a cajon he picked up in Yellow Springs, and then his mini jawbone jambox bluetooth speaker. What a must have!

Bob & Mary Ann’s neighbor Jeff stopped over for a visit too. Those guys are real close. We know Jeff, too. It wasn’t long before one of Jeff’s friends stopped over – Chris. We hung out on the porch until 9pm or so when Mindy & Mary Ann decided we should walk to Hollywood & 3rd for dinner. The restaurant is owned by their former neighbors, Kevin & Katy, and the same folks that own the Northstar Café.

We walked through the neighborhood and lots of families were either out in their front yards or sitting partying from their porches. For me, it seemed like a walk back in time when all neighborhoods were active like that. Felt very safe.
Haven’t been to Hollywood & 3rd before, at least not since it changed hands. It used to be the Grandview Gibby’s, which was a favorite hangout of mine back in the late 90’s after Kelly & I split. Still has the same charm and basic design, only a tad more upscale. We briefly hemmed and hawed over seating eventually settling on sitting at the bar.

The others ordered beers. I ordered ice water and stuck with that for the remainder of the night. We ordered appetizers – guacamole & chips and then pimento & chips, both made fresh right there in the restaurant and both fabulous!

Mindy & I went simple, ordering their much ballyhooed ½ pound burgers. I added bacon to mine. It was outstanding!! Bob ordered a steak salad. Mary Ann ordered blue trout special. Bob suggested Victory’s Golden Monkey. He & Mindy ordered one. At Bob’s insistence, I sampled his. Good – sweet.

As dinner was winding down, Bob inexplicably developed an inner lip bleed that wouldn’t stop. He left momentarily but soon returned with a bloody dinner napkin. Mary Ann shared that the same thing happened to him a week or so prior. The bartender gave him a new ice filled napkin. Had him throw away the other. No matter what he did it just wouldn’t stop bleeding. Mary Ann and I wrestled over the check. She won.  We happily walked back to their place.

After staying up until 3am Friday night, I was out of gas. In fact, I was really tired even before dinner. But Mindy absolutely loves spending time with Mary Ann, so I didn’t push the heading home thing. Once back at their place, we spent about 10 minutes looking for Bullet & Brina, after Bob let ‘em out as soon as we got back. We hung out on the porch again for at least another hour. Despite being sleepy, I was having fun too. We had an absolute blast hanging with our friends. We left for home at 1217am. Mindy seemed surprised that it was so late.

We got home 10 minutes later. It wasn’t 5-10 minutes later that I was in bed and under the covers. Sleep!!!