After a day of hanging around the marina -- with a short break for shopping in Petoskey where Dan and Jaye found "necessities" at the best kitchen store and I found another spectacular soap stone carving from the Six Nations of Ontario -- we celebrated the summer with friends Oat and Rosemarie and Fish and Susan eating at the local bar on Ferry Beach.
Tuesday, it turned clear and warm, so we decided to run down Lake Charlevoix to Boyne City for lunch. Well, those of you who are boaters will understand that plans are only that. After a brief tour of the south arm of the Lake where there are very large and elegant homes side by side with smaller cabins, we turned around and motored down the north arm to Boyne City. But, I'm not that thrilled by the docks at Boyne which extend unprotected into the Lake, so we just looped by the City and blasted north at over twelve knots toward Charlevoix -- why not just have a late lunch there before returning to the marina? Only, a Captain can again change plans, and I called for overnight accommodations. We had travelled 34 miles to explore the Lake and deserved the treat. So, we had another nice evening in Charlevoix downtown again sharing a meal with the gang.
Wednesday, Dan and Jaye took off to visit friends in Michigan and Canada on their way back to Annapolis, and I went over to Cheboygan by car for Bud Zalon's annual hot dog roast. Visited with Mel and Sue on Class Act and with Ted and Venetia on Fairy Tail -- friends and boats I normally see throughout the summer in the North Channel.
Decided to stay until Friday morning at the Charlevoix City docks. So far, this has been a great week.
Friday morning I took the car over to Ferry Landing, hiked back with Sophie who was in seventh heaven 'cause it's a longer walk and full of interesting smells. And, motored over to the fuel docks for a pump out and diesel fill. Sixty plus gallons of fuel, and the young man who was helping us said those words you don't want to hear (and can't be repeated on public airways) followed by "I gave you gasoline NOT diesel!" My heart stopped, Oat (who was kindly riding with me to help at the docking) reacted much the same way.
The solution? Well, the tank had to be emptied of over one hundred and sixty gallons of fuel which was now a mixture of diesel and gas -- Sonador holds a little over 200 hundred gallons. I consulted with Oat's mechanic in Ohio and with the people at Irish -- they both confirmed that (1) we should let the boat sit for a while to let the lighter gas rise to the top of the tank, (2) that the engines should not be started (thank goodness we hadn't started to leave the dock), (3) that as much as possible of the fuel in the tanks should be siphoned out, and (4) the tanks should be refilled with diesel fuel all the way to the brim, and then and only then turned on. It took over six hours to complete this -- all the while, I'm hovering like a mother duck hoping that there will be no long term damage. The first siphoning with one pump appeared to be almost pure gas -- it was clear -- the second pump which was started about half an hour later showed pink -- diesel -- and the combination of the two pumps managed to pull as much as the attendants could reach. We were able to add back over one hundred and seventy-five gallons of diesel.
Bottom line, I guess that will depend on how the summer goes. BUT, I should be okay assuming that the gasoline which may be left in the tank is little enough that mixing at a ratio of less than ten percent gas to diesel will not harm the engines. There is no way to tell, except to run the engines and continue to add diesel to the tank about every fifty gallons to increase the amount of diesel in the mixture.
Oh, and pray!
I'm back at Ferry Landing, and will re-start my summer now.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Northport and Beyond
Beyond being Charlevoix -- approximately 21 nautical miles from Northport.
Don't NOAA predicted heavy fog -- and they were right about that -- and very strong winds -- they weren't so right about that. So, after one night in Northport, we decided to head back to Charlevoix and try our hands at land touring for a couple of days.
The trip back in the fog was uneventful. We left Northport Marina in a line of five sailboats and Sonador, but it was soon obvious that we wanted to go just a little faster than the sailboats were moving, so we moved out to take the lead. Motored at around 7 knots -- with the radar scanning the horizon for unknown objects -- and visibility of about half a mile most of the time. I had said that I wanted to see more of Lake Michigan, but I had in mind seeing a little more than grey water and grey sky in half mile increments.
By the time we reached Charlevoix's harbor entrance -- the Pine River -- the fog was thinning out and we were able to motor over to Irish's Ferry Landing Marina.
As I sit here on Sunday morning, the fog has moved in again on Lake Charlevoix -- it was bright sunshine earlier when Sophie and I went for our morning walk -- and there is a distinct chill in the air. We'll probably just stick around here, 'til things get brighter.
Don't NOAA predicted heavy fog -- and they were right about that -- and very strong winds -- they weren't so right about that. So, after one night in Northport, we decided to head back to Charlevoix and try our hands at land touring for a couple of days.
The trip back in the fog was uneventful. We left Northport Marina in a line of five sailboats and Sonador, but it was soon obvious that we wanted to go just a little faster than the sailboats were moving, so we moved out to take the lead. Motored at around 7 knots -- with the radar scanning the horizon for unknown objects -- and visibility of about half a mile most of the time. I had said that I wanted to see more of Lake Michigan, but I had in mind seeing a little more than grey water and grey sky in half mile increments.
By the time we reached Charlevoix's harbor entrance -- the Pine River -- the fog was thinning out and we were able to motor over to Irish's Ferry Landing Marina.
As I sit here on Sunday morning, the fog has moved in again on Lake Charlevoix -- it was bright sunshine earlier when Sophie and I went for our morning walk -- and there is a distinct chill in the air. We'll probably just stick around here, 'til things get brighter.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Underway at Last!
After several wonderful days at the Charlevoix City Marina, renewing old acquaintances and meeting new folks, my friends Dan and Jaye from Annapolis arrived on Tuesday afternoon -- and we set "sail" on Wednesday morning.
Not a long trip, mind you, but an enjoyable four plus hours motoring into Grand Traverse Bay and all the way down the Bay to Traverse City. The seas were glassy calm, the sun bright but there was a bit of a chill to the air -- perfect day for just gliding along at about 9 knots. We are now docked at the City Marina -- a nice facility next to a large water front park that curves around the bottom of the Bay for a couple of miles. Sophie likes that 'cause we can go for leisurely strolls on the grass. Dan and Jaye treated us to fish and chips at a local brewery -- and yes, we did try the beer.
Downtown Traverse City is one long block away from the Marina. So we've dragged Main looking into all the stores, purchasing books at a local (and very well managed/stocked) book store and also buying our share of "Cherry" products. Traverse City is the Cherry Capital -- later this month, they'll celebrate the Cherry Festival for a couple of weeks!
Tomorrow, our plan is to motor the short ten miles to Northport for the evening -- don't yet know whether we'll be in the marina or anchored (the marina does not take reservations!) Then, with predicted deteriorating weather we'll motor back to Charlevoix. If, however, don't NOAA is wrong again, we'll hang out for a couple of days at Suttons Bay (a larger and more developed community just south of Northport.)
It's good to be on the water, and to know that the summer has really begun.
Pictures later.
Not a long trip, mind you, but an enjoyable four plus hours motoring into Grand Traverse Bay and all the way down the Bay to Traverse City. The seas were glassy calm, the sun bright but there was a bit of a chill to the air -- perfect day for just gliding along at about 9 knots. We are now docked at the City Marina -- a nice facility next to a large water front park that curves around the bottom of the Bay for a couple of miles. Sophie likes that 'cause we can go for leisurely strolls on the grass. Dan and Jaye treated us to fish and chips at a local brewery -- and yes, we did try the beer.
Downtown Traverse City is one long block away from the Marina. So we've dragged Main looking into all the stores, purchasing books at a local (and very well managed/stocked) book store and also buying our share of "Cherry" products. Traverse City is the Cherry Capital -- later this month, they'll celebrate the Cherry Festival for a couple of weeks!
Tomorrow, our plan is to motor the short ten miles to Northport for the evening -- don't yet know whether we'll be in the marina or anchored (the marina does not take reservations!) Then, with predicted deteriorating weather we'll motor back to Charlevoix. If, however, don't NOAA is wrong again, we'll hang out for a couple of days at Suttons Bay (a larger and more developed community just south of Northport.)
It's good to be on the water, and to know that the summer has really begun.
Pictures later.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Charlevoix City Marina
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| Looking south over the Marina - the dark hull is Sonador |
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| And, from the other direction. The sailboat to the right belongs to friends Kathy and Dave -- they winter at Irish also, and are North Channel explorers. Like me, and so many others, they fled to the City Marina to avoid the midges! |
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Charlevoix City Marina -- Devoid of Bugs but Overcast
I do have pictures to post -- just having connection problems.
Meanwhile, the "adventures" continue.
Yesterday I begged a ride from Kathy and Dave back to Ferry Landing to "pick up" my dinghy -- that is to have me start the motor and bring it around to the city marina to pair it up with the mother ship. So, loaded with oars, gasoline, my life jacket, and a portable VHF radio, we drove over -- BUT, we forgot to bring the inflation bellows. Oh, well, a little softness in the side chambers and no pressure in the floor -- let alone about an inch plus water in the bottom -- never hurt anyone. So, after several tries, the motor started and I was off. Wish I had a picture -- the dinghy was so soft that I could only sit on the seat, the bow bent upwards and the motor was dangerously close to the water line. Glad the US Coast Guard wasn't looking out their windows as I tooled by -- might have been hauled in for insanity. However, an hour or less and I was tied up to the stern of Sonador -- and pumping up the inflatable chambers (still holding this morning) and pumping out the water (no additional in the dinghy now). All is well that ends well, but this really wasn't the smartest of stunts.
More friends are down at the City Marina, so a bunch of us (Kathy and Dave (Katherine Ann) and Oat and Rosemarie (Almost Heaven) went to the local eatery last evening to have fish and chips and to catch up on winter doings.
I'll work on the pictures later today.
Meanwhile, the "adventures" continue.
Yesterday I begged a ride from Kathy and Dave back to Ferry Landing to "pick up" my dinghy -- that is to have me start the motor and bring it around to the city marina to pair it up with the mother ship. So, loaded with oars, gasoline, my life jacket, and a portable VHF radio, we drove over -- BUT, we forgot to bring the inflation bellows. Oh, well, a little softness in the side chambers and no pressure in the floor -- let alone about an inch plus water in the bottom -- never hurt anyone. So, after several tries, the motor started and I was off. Wish I had a picture -- the dinghy was so soft that I could only sit on the seat, the bow bent upwards and the motor was dangerously close to the water line. Glad the US Coast Guard wasn't looking out their windows as I tooled by -- might have been hauled in for insanity. However, an hour or less and I was tied up to the stern of Sonador -- and pumping up the inflatable chambers (still holding this morning) and pumping out the water (no additional in the dinghy now). All is well that ends well, but this really wasn't the smartest of stunts.
More friends are down at the City Marina, so a bunch of us (Kathy and Dave (Katherine Ann) and Oat and Rosemarie (Almost Heaven) went to the local eatery last evening to have fish and chips and to catch up on winter doings.
I'll work on the pictures later today.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The Midges Won the War
And, this morning I retreated to the Charlevoix City Marina where it is unbelievably midge free (only a mile from Irish). I hesitated for a few seconds -- winds were clocking at 20 plus miles per hour -- but placed the call at 8 a.m., and by 10 a.m. Sonador was snugly tucked into a slip downtown. By 2 p.m. all vestiges of those creatures were gone, and Sophie and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the bow midge free!!
Should have done this two days ago, but I kept wishing that the plague would end -- several other boats from Irish and neighboring marinas are down here, so I shouldn't be ashamed. Besides, my dear friends Dan and Jaye are coming from Annapolis on Tuesday, and there was no way to clean the boat with all the bugs. Sometime over the next day or so, I will go get the dinghy which sits covered with bugs and wishing life were different.
Today was the farmers' market in Charlevoix which is in the park right in front of the marina -- I bought some fresh asparagus, home made bread, cannelli bean hummus, and lettuce -- it's always rewarding with both the good food and the support of local farms to roam the stalls of the local markets.
I'll get some pictures posted tomorrow of our new environs -- in the interim, Sophie and I are happy campers!!
Should have done this two days ago, but I kept wishing that the plague would end -- several other boats from Irish and neighboring marinas are down here, so I shouldn't be ashamed. Besides, my dear friends Dan and Jaye are coming from Annapolis on Tuesday, and there was no way to clean the boat with all the bugs. Sometime over the next day or so, I will go get the dinghy which sits covered with bugs and wishing life were different.
Today was the farmers' market in Charlevoix which is in the park right in front of the marina -- I bought some fresh asparagus, home made bread, cannelli bean hummus, and lettuce -- it's always rewarding with both the good food and the support of local farms to roam the stalls of the local markets.
I'll get some pictures posted tomorrow of our new environs -- in the interim, Sophie and I are happy campers!!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Fog, bugs, and drizzle
And you thought living on a boat was all dreamy evenings sipping cocktails and enjoying sunsets -- well, not so. For the past several days, we've been experiencing the spring hatch of midges -- pesky swarms of harmless flying things that penetrate your mouth and nose, your clothes, your hair, and make the simple task of walking Sophie a pain. Then, this morning, I woke to dense fog which should burn off by noon -- couldn't see the end of the dock, let alone the shore which is only two hundred feet at most. The combination of bugs and fog just isn't very pleasant.
Yesterday, drove by car over to Cheboygan to visit with Jo and Ron on Annwfn (pronounced an u vin) before they take off for a summer on Lake Superior. We sat outside at Duncan Bay, commenting on the boats, weather, and life in general -- had a great visit over a bottle of Zinfandel! Then, to top off the evening, I went to the Cheboygan Yacht Club's weekly dinner meeting in downtown Cheboygan, visiting with friends BD and Rick and others. Heading back on Saturday to Duncan Bay for their annual pig roast and pirate dinghy run -- yes, boaters can be a little crazy at times, but that is what makes us so interesting :)
First trip will be next week, when Jaye and Dan from Annapolis come up to visit the ports on Grand Traverse Bay for seven or eight days. It'll be good to move out and see if the bugs will leave us alone.
Yesterday, drove by car over to Cheboygan to visit with Jo and Ron on Annwfn (pronounced an u vin) before they take off for a summer on Lake Superior. We sat outside at Duncan Bay, commenting on the boats, weather, and life in general -- had a great visit over a bottle of Zinfandel! Then, to top off the evening, I went to the Cheboygan Yacht Club's weekly dinner meeting in downtown Cheboygan, visiting with friends BD and Rick and others. Heading back on Saturday to Duncan Bay for their annual pig roast and pirate dinghy run -- yes, boaters can be a little crazy at times, but that is what makes us so interesting :)
First trip will be next week, when Jaye and Dan from Annapolis come up to visit the ports on Grand Traverse Bay for seven or eight days. It'll be good to move out and see if the bugs will leave us alone.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Pictures as Promised
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| Looking out over Ferry Landing Marina -- our home for the summer on Lake Charlevoix |
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| Ms. Sophie is right at home on Sonador -- she can watch all the comings and goings, and make sure that she gets her fair share of petting and praise. Not too shabby since there is a park just around the corner to play in. |
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Onboard Sonador -- and it's still cold!
Thanks to Lou and Donna, I had a warm bed to sleep in -- not to mention delicious meals -- through the weekend and into the first couple of days of this week.
Yesterday, Wednesday the 5th of June, I moved onboard -- the last of my stuff is out of the car and on the boat -- and prepared my first meal onboard for the summer. It is too cold to be June -- in the low 40's this morning with a brisk wind coming off the lake. Sophie loves the cooler weather, and to be fair, I have to admit that long walks are easier when it is cool than when hot. But, really, this is taking the "north" to a little extreme.
Seems every year, I complain about the cold. And, I get to complain about the midges again too! These are harmless swarms of bugs that populate every nook and cranny of the exterior of the boat, the docks, and the shore line. They look like mosquitoes, but don't bite or anything -- just drive you to distraction. There is no sense cleaning the boat, not 'til they finish hatching, because as soon as it is clean, the midges return.
No one else is staying over at the marina -- yet -- but folks do come down during the day light hours to work on their spring lists of repairs, fixes, and improvements. I won't call down the wrath of Neptune by boasting about Sonador.
Tuesday, one of the mechanics from Irish Boat joined me for an hour's sea trial -- running the engines at all range of speeds, and checking on all the electronics. Except that I must switch out my C-Map chip so that I have inland and full Lake Michigan coverage, everything seemed to work like a charm. I even docked with a port side tie -- not my favorite move, but the only solution if I am to be bow in.
Pictures over the next couple of days, promise.
Yesterday, Wednesday the 5th of June, I moved onboard -- the last of my stuff is out of the car and on the boat -- and prepared my first meal onboard for the summer. It is too cold to be June -- in the low 40's this morning with a brisk wind coming off the lake. Sophie loves the cooler weather, and to be fair, I have to admit that long walks are easier when it is cool than when hot. But, really, this is taking the "north" to a little extreme.
Seems every year, I complain about the cold. And, I get to complain about the midges again too! These are harmless swarms of bugs that populate every nook and cranny of the exterior of the boat, the docks, and the shore line. They look like mosquitoes, but don't bite or anything -- just drive you to distraction. There is no sense cleaning the boat, not 'til they finish hatching, because as soon as it is clean, the midges return.
No one else is staying over at the marina -- yet -- but folks do come down during the day light hours to work on their spring lists of repairs, fixes, and improvements. I won't call down the wrath of Neptune by boasting about Sonador.
Tuesday, one of the mechanics from Irish Boat joined me for an hour's sea trial -- running the engines at all range of speeds, and checking on all the electronics. Except that I must switch out my C-Map chip so that I have inland and full Lake Michigan coverage, everything seemed to work like a charm. I even docked with a port side tie -- not my favorite move, but the only solution if I am to be bow in.
Pictures over the next couple of days, promise.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Arriving at Lake Carlevoix
Had an uneventful trip north -- I-75 is a funnel from Florida to Northern Michigan filled with snow birds and large 53' trucks barreling along at 75 plus miles an hour. At least there are places to stop along the way, including good friends.
Stopped in Cincinnati with Chuck and Joann for two days. We had a delightful time -- Joann took me on a tour of the city and the local art museum (which has a remarkably extensive collection). Chuck was restricted to home because he was scheduled for meniscus surgery on Friday (which I've since learned was successful).
On Saturday, the first of June, I arrived in Boyne City to stay with Lou and Donna for a couple of days before moving onto Sonador. It was sunny, warm (hot for here), and the lilacs were blooming in the woods. We drove to Irish Boat Yard to check on the boat -- she had just been splashed and moved to her new slip. Lots of work to be done before I can move onboard. AND, today it is raining, blowing and in the low 40's. What a change from yesterday!
Sophie remembered the boat, and all the people who greeted her with as much enthusiasm as they greeted me!
Looking forward to really beginning our adventures.
Stopped in Cincinnati with Chuck and Joann for two days. We had a delightful time -- Joann took me on a tour of the city and the local art museum (which has a remarkably extensive collection). Chuck was restricted to home because he was scheduled for meniscus surgery on Friday (which I've since learned was successful).
On Saturday, the first of June, I arrived in Boyne City to stay with Lou and Donna for a couple of days before moving onto Sonador. It was sunny, warm (hot for here), and the lilacs were blooming in the woods. We drove to Irish Boat Yard to check on the boat -- she had just been splashed and moved to her new slip. Lots of work to be done before I can move onboard. AND, today it is raining, blowing and in the low 40's. What a change from yesterday!
Sophie remembered the boat, and all the people who greeted her with as much enthusiasm as they greeted me!
Looking forward to really beginning our adventures.
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