Sailing Last Mango

Well today I woke up and had a feeling that we could go for a sail. There was very little fog for the most part and the wind was blowing out of the north at about 10 knots. We quickly prepared Last Mango for a sail. We needed to make it short because Hannah would be getting back from work and wouldn't be happy to come home to an empty slip. Great sail but cold and thick fog about a mile from shore. Later in the day I decided to try sailing with my dinghy. Didn't go well to start but I learned to remove the seats and sit on the floor. I will make a few more sail modifications as time goes. I made the dinghy, much of it at the firehouse. It's a Danny Green Chameleon design and the front of the boat nests in the aft section. Karen staying warm. June 25th. Hard to believe it's 57 degrees. Fog off in the distance Having fun sailing small

Weather is a funny thing on Lake Michigan. It can change drastically from one moment to the next. Pictures below show how things can change. Now living on Last Mango full time I'm really more aware and getting the full experience. Bobby Too coming in the harbor for the first time. 81 degrees and sunny  Less than a hour later the fog rolls in and the temperature drops to 57 degrees. Hard to believe it's June 20th. Storms coming through earlier in the week. Rain on and off all week.

The last 3 days have been nothing but rain, rain and cold north winds. Day #1 Karen and I worked inside Last Mango organizing and storing items. Day #2 we went to visit Karen's parents who are visiting from Florida. Day #3 I went fishing with a boat neighbor. Foggy, cold, rainy morning but the fishing was good. Had Salmon for dinner and more in the freezer. Morning fog fishing, Visibility maybe 100yards. Noonish getting better. 3pm a beautiful day and 80 degrees. Fishing starts tomorrow again at 6am. Hopefully it will be as good as today or better. Then a few boat projects.

Ugly picture but the birds love them. The  Alewives are all over the lake this year apparently due to the cold winter and Lake Michigan being frozen a large part of the winter. The birds are picking up the dying fish and landing anywhere they can to eat their catch and leave the remains everywhere.  Early each morning about sunrise we hear the birds landing on the deck of the boat walking back and forth eating and diving for the fish or bugs.  I watched Karen on the front of Last Mango pickup two  Alewives barehanded and throw them into the water without even thinking about it. Wow, what a women. 

Well Friday was my first day fully retired. I was a bit sad to say goodbye to everyone at the school district but I’m excited about living full time on Last Mango. I will need to stop by and visit before Karen and I leave.  I also cleared all my stuff out of the my locker at the firehouse, gave equipment to the Explorer Post and turned in my keys to the acting BC. It's a bit odd to think that I don't belong anywhere any longer. At the same time it feels great not to be carrying around anyones keys or a cell phone. No email or  help desk tickets to worry about. The only thing to worry about is where the fish are and keeping the Swallow's from building a nest in our boom.   Friday night our daughter received the great news that she was accepted to University of Iowa's Nursing school. We had a great celebration with many family and friends while at Streamwood FD's promotinal party.  Here's Hannah taking care of our bird issues earlier in the day. She thin...

This blog is the home of Karen and John Tykol. We will attempt to tell everyone our current location and happenings. Please be patient with us as we try to put our feelings down on ink. We are currently trying to find places for our belongings. We've been living in our house for twenty seven and a half years and now we're attempting to fit everything we want on a sailboat. Karen is being very patient with me as I part with various items. I hate to waste and throw useful things in the garbage. Below are pictures of Southport Marina launching Last Mango.