'I Love Boating'

Captain Bill spent part of the day yesterday on the water. We took him to the Dells to tour the Wisconsin River and out to eat at Mexicali Rose, waterside. He loved being on the river and reminisced about past boating excursions, especially his trip with Linda to the North Channel a few years back. They both said the geology looked similar in those two spots. Dad and Linda spent a good four weeks boating west on Lake Erie, up the Detroit River, Lake St. Claire and the St. Claire River to Lake Huron. They traveled the length of Huron and ended up in the North Channel, where they dropped anchor and did some "primitive" boating -- no docks, no marinas, no potties. What an adventure.

Our trip on the Wisconsin River was not as adventurous, but we did do some hiking through 600-million-year-old rock formations and on wooden trails through pine trees. Dad felt good and ate like a horse -- a big Mexican lunch along with two ice cream cones, popcorn, nachos ... And chemo is supposed to make you lose your appetite? Of course, he's still on a high dose of steroids, which makes you pretty ravenous.

It was a pleasure to see Bill in his boat shoes, wearing shorts, on a dock, watching water go by and thinking about good times on the Beech Buoy. Boating is such a part of him -- without it he's not himself. He's been on Lake Erie almost since he was a baby. His dad spent a good amount of free time on the lake. Grandpa Carl Beecheler (whom I never met; he died when Dad was 19) was a die-hard fisherman. Dad likes to tell the story of how Grandpa took their pastor out fishing. The pastor got sea-sick but Grandpa would not take him to shore and stayed out until he caught his limit -- about four hours. Dad ticks off the boats he's had as others would remember cars: his Dad's Lyman, Thompson, Wellcraft, Tiara, all increasing in length as Dad's hard work paid off and he was able to afford a bigger vessel to accommodate kids and grandkids on trips to the Lake Erie Islands.

Another example of Dad's passion for boating: On my wedding night I had a case of insomnia. I was at Mom and Dad's house and went in their room at midnight saying I couldn't sleep. Dad's response: "Lisa, when I am stressed out or can't sleep, I just repeat this phrase: 'I love boating, I love boating, I love boating.'" Unfortunately it didn't work for me, but Dad's mantra is right on target for him. He reads books and magazines about boating and the Great Lakes, his house is full of Lake art and lore. His biggest hero is probably Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who served in the War of 1812 and earned the title of "Hero of Lake Erie" for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Captain Bill got back from the fourth day of radiation today seemingly unscathed, my hero.