Night & Day
From sun-up to sundown and beyond, Harris FloteBote brings great times to Illinois’ Lake Vermillion
Anytime is the Right Time To get out on the water.
That’s the theory that Val Gilbert has put into action on Lake Vermillion in Illinois. With several boat-owning and fun-loving friends from the local Danville Boat Club, Val and her husband, Doug, put together weekend outings all summer long that combine the best of both worlds for boating. Friday nights are declared adults-only, with a moonlit cruise and potluck dinner party that embodies all the peacefulness of a summer evening. The next morning, though, another wave of guests arrives to infuse the party with a whole new kind of fun.
“Most of my friends are in education, or were before they retired,” Val explains as she prepares a plate of cheeses and deli meats for tonight’s get-together. “So we always had summers off, and I guess you could say we got in the habit of enjoying them to the fullest.” Doug and Val purchased their Harris FloteBote earlier this year, and when neighbors Chuck and Cheryl Schraeder added their Royal Heritage to the mix, the weekend outings benefitted from some deluxe additions.
The Royal features plush reclining seats and an entertainment center with a cooler and counter space that aids greatly in serving. “That’s what I noticed when we saw it at the boat show,” Cheryl says. “There were places to put things and it’s easy to clean up. It’s been so nice; everything I thought it would be.”
With both boats launched and the food unpacked, the crew slips easily into this pleasant routine. “We don’t usually plan too far ahead about what we’re going to bring,” Cheryl notes. “When it gets colder we’ll do chili or something in the crockpot,” Val adds. “Something simple that everyone can share.”
John and Lynn Childs and Mike and Martha Yusko are gathered in the bow of the Royal, enjoying drinks and chatting about work, kids and life on the lake. Cheryl’s bacon-wrapped ramaki vanish as quickly as usual. With a smile, Val serves up the dinner’s traditional closer: chocolates and red wine.
It’s a decidedly low-key affair, where the main activities include watching the sun set and feeling the summer breeze cool down for the night. Surprisingly, it’s the kind of night that makes a perfect prelude to Saturday afternoon’s rambunctious on-water antics.
It’s clear what makes the next day so different: kids. Little ones just have that special way of injecting every experience with wonder and enthusiasm. Sarah (3) and Hannah (6), the Schraeders’ grandkids, are no exception. Along with their parents, Mark and Sonya, the girls provide the energy for Saturday’s festivities. Leaping off the pontoons into the water, playing with toys and generally having a ball—these two obviously know how to make the most of a day on the water. The adults can’t help but follow suit, laughing and splashing along with the girls.
Mark and Sonya live right next door to Chuck and Cheryl, so the lucky grandparents enjoy plenty of quality time with the rest of the family. “The girls just love to go out on the pontoon,” Cheryl says. “Yep, there’s never a problem until it’s time to get out of the water and come home,” Chuck adds with fond smile.
But today, Hannah and Sarah don’t put up a fight. Having sufficiently tuckered herself out with an afternoon of daredevil jumps, Hannah is sound asleep in Sonya’s arms. The sun dips back down to the horizon; and we’re treated to another beautiful sunset on Lake Vermillion. The two Harris FloteBotes turn homeward, completing their outing in step with the gentle rhythm of night and day.
Story by Caitlin Garibaldi. Photos by Mike Calabro.
