It's not often that we get photos of the boat under sail ... taken while we were sailing to the Keys Spring 2011, these are our only photos with the new dark green canvas.  Obviously, I didn't take this photo, so THANKS to Lee and Sue on s/v Jubilee!   

Racing has been fast, furious and hotly contested over the first two days with 36 bo Here the current nationals leader Chet Turner leads Dave Parshall by a fraction.   Racing concludes today (Fri) and we'll crown the 2011 Y Flyer National Champion! 

The Cecropia is a giant silk moth and North America's largest native moth, easily as big as my hand!   Once at this stage, it only lives 7-10 days depending on how much it moves around.  My friend Neydie called this morning to tell me about the gorgeous giant moth on her garage window, but she didn't know if it would stay long enough for me to get there.   Obviously it's conserving energy, hoping to live another day or two!  

An annual tradition at the Riviera Regatta, and this year at the 60th Anniversary Y Flyer Nationals, is burning an old wooden Y Flyer atop the humongous burn pile.   This year we're honored to have Y-501, originally built in California in 1957.   We're also burning the original doors to the sailing club clubhouse.   Should be SOME bonfire

The yucca are in bloom in East Central Illinois!

Our sailing club is hosting Nationals for Y Flyers, a one design 18' scow raced by 2 people.  It's June 20 - 24 and is occupying most of our time right now.  Traditionally at our regatta we have a HUGE bonfire.  In years past we always burned a wooden Y Flyer, but recently there have been no candidates.  One of our fleet members located an old wooden Y and once again there's a Y Flyer atop our burn pile!   Look closely in the fire, you can see the silhouette of the boat!   

Ever wonder what we cruisers do when we're not cruising?  We get our sailing fix sailing Y Flyers, an 18' one design inland lake scow.  For more info on Y Flyers, click here!

Old barn doors are always interesting photographic material ... this one is on the lot next door so I didn't have to go far for the shot today. 

So cicadas invade every 13 years.  Let me tell you at the historical Lincoln Log Cabin in East Central Illinois, they've been there for 2 week, they're mating and NOISY and supposely they'll only be there 3 more weeks, but no one's convinced.  We're lucky, 15 miles away, we haven't seen one