This Summer Disaster Should be a Movie

Kevin was at the AMA so Heidi and I hit the road for Big Birch (yes we are all smiles)

Perfect Sunday morning..June 16!

 While Kevin visited Mitch and Nick in Chicago at the AMA, I ran up to the lake to get the cabin ready for vacation and restock for the year.   I had a great 48 hours of walking, reading, cleaning, visiting and relaxing. Even the car ride was good for me to sit back and listen to This American Life. On Sunday morning I watched the sun rise and let the loons entertain  the morning.

On Friday morning June 21st, our neighbors at the lake called us in Omaha. Kevin couldn't get a word in edge-wise for 20 minutes as they described docks floating away, trees down and our boat submerged in last night's "storm of the century" at Big Birch. What a difference a few days can make!

It soon became clear that Kevin needed to get there asap to problem-solve that sunken boat,  so off he went. John Nohner got there first and used a pontoon to lift the rear of the boat up while Tom Walker pumped water out with his portable pump. Our loyal boat technician Joe Hellerman met John at the boat ramp and took over from there.  
Tom had just built a new  year round home at the lake and his tree (40 feet?) fell sideways barely missing his neighbor's house only because one 10 foot branch dug into the earth, stopping the complete fall onto Marie and John's house. They were inside watching it come down.

Our dock completely blew away except for the framework. Kevin ordered new dock pieces as he drove and called State Farm.  Because we are still handling hail damage at our house, we now have three State Farm adjusters--the house, boat and cabin--and three appraisers.  I have carried a claim notebook with me all summer!

Our boat at Tom's dock

Probably a fish or two in there

All is well again...we celebrated the 4th of July at the lake with Mary, Chuck, Anton Craig and Abi--the weather was perfect and the lake was calm. We kayaked, fished (thanks John Nohner for your boat) and bought a new boat. Because we loved our 19.5 foot Crestliner Sportfish, thats exactly what we got. Also upgraded  to a better gps fish finder and trolling motor.  

We have to name this boat and take care of her for the next thirty years!

Joe Hellerman wants to buy our old boat and fix it over the winter (the boat went for salvage price but the motor is fine).  That made the transactions even easier!

All is well again and the kids join us July 17th for vacation. What a month!