In a flash flood, its best to be on a boat.

Day 99  |  Port Washington 

The severe weather that began early last evening continued overnight and dumped an amazing nine inches of rain on Port Washington. The sound of rain on the cabintop roof is actually soothing, and we were fortunate to sleep through all of the chaos that was happening mere inches from our heads. I guess when the floodwaters come, its not too bad to be on a boat. Some rainwater raced down the streets and hillsides on its way to Lake Michigan, bringing with it anything that was not secured. Other water overwhelmed the storm sewers, and the pressure blew off manhole covers in town. We woke up to find the harbor filled with debris, ranging from apples to full-sized trees. The harbor patrol ventured out and surveyed the scene, which was not pretty. The water in the marina and Lake Michigan which was turquoise blue yesterday, looked more like chocolate milk today.

Needing a change of scenery, we left Crossroads and hoped the debris would not pack around her hull in our absence. Seeing a dinghy full of water provided a better reference for how much rain had fallen. The street outside the marina property was closed because of a mudslide and crews were busy plowing the lanes. Cars in the underground garage and parking lot of a nearby condominium complex were lost.

We climbed up 100 steps to high ground and the deactivated Port Washington Lighthouse. It was not open for tours so we kept walking. On Main Street we came across the home office of Sailing magazine, the oldest continuously published sailing magazine in the US. The Mexican restaurant we stopped at for lunch not only had some of the best salsa we've ever had (it did wonders for my still-clogged head), it also had a beautiful pot of impatiens out front. Circling back to the marina, we came across a 14-foot, 7-ton propeller on display from everyone's favorite steam-powered carferry, the Badger. Another historical marker paid homage to the Wisconsin Chair Company, which in its heyday once occupied two blocks of downtown Port Washington.

We made one final stop to admire these huge hanging petunia baskets. There were 10 of them outside of a retail strip and easily the largest and most impressive I had ever seen. We were then back where we started and anxious to see how Crossroads was doing. Thankfully, the wind was keeping the debris field away from our slip and our freshwater intakes.

And finally, a shout-out to these two rapscallions who began their senior year in high school today. Where has time gone? Rebekah and Cole, have a great year. Although four more months (and eight months total) seems impossibly too long, I can't wait to see you guys at Christmas!