The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

Ah, well...I was ready to go out on Friday, but Sonador wasn't. Didn't have repairs "done" until well after 4 p.m. and it's a 3 hour trip to Bone Island -- and, more importantly, there is still a little thing like an anchor wash down pump that has to be repaired before I do any serious anchoring.

So, instead I hung around here -- watched some spectacular storms roll through on Saturday morning and afternoon -- and went for a short ride out into the Bay just to shake down the engine repairs.

These light towers are a "range" just outside of Midland -- don't believe they are in use any more as the harbour has become less commercial -- but they would have led boats out of the Trent Severn Waterway below some of the islands and into Midland.

Today is clear, crisp and tempting -- but I think I'll wait until the last of the repairs have been done. Crew arrives on Wednesday.

And, of course there are some really nice sunsets to top off the days here.

Mid-week

Woke up today to rain again -- but we had two straight days of beautiful sunshine, so I shouldn't complain. Got the dinghy to run just fine -- needed oil but I conquered that without polluting the Bay -- and did a spin around the marina just to test her out. Yesterday, sanded "bad" spots in the teak and then painted so the wood is protected -- did some other chores around the boat, and generally lazed around.

Am planning -- assuming the weather cooperates and some engine repairs have been completed -- to take off on Friday for the weekend. There is a Great Lakes Cruising Club rally anchoring in one of the National Parks, so I'll join in that fun and have help if I need it. The chart was sent to me by our host, if you look closely you'll see the straight purple lines that lead us back to the anchorage -- and it will give you an idea of the fun navigating that has to be done up here when there are no buoys or other marks. Will have pictures when we return on Sunday night.

One day it rains, the next it's hot and sunny

Weather was everything but snow over the weekend. Friday night's concert was a hoot -- from the marina we could here the bands playing on til almost midnight. Then the heavens decided to give their version of a concert -- thunder, lightning, and pouring rain. Saturday was cold, grey, and drizzling all day -- still had our hot dog roast, but that was about it. Yesterday, the sun came out, the sky was bright blue, and it became downright hot -- a good day for puttering around in the dinghy. At least I tried, I practically smoked out the dock when I started the motor -- will try once again today -- but I fear there are some "issues" here.

Chessie is really much to tense for her own good! She is having a ball -- has made friends with everyone who has dog cookies that works at the marina -- so naps are in order.

It's a boat!!!

Finally, the weather conspired to be a great day -- and Sonador pulled away from the dock at 0930 to test her engines and my navigating skills as I explored the approaches to Chimney Bay on Beausoleil Island. On a chart it looks okay, and for the most part it was a sinch -- except that part where the water went from 23' to 12' to 8' and bottomed out at 6'. I was standing on my tip toes (don't know what good that does, but it makes me feel better). Then back to 8', 10', and 12' as I passed the final red mark into Beausoleil Bay.

It's all just a beautiful as I remember. And the best thing is that going over that skinny spot on the way back out wasn't nearly as nerve racking!

That's not quite a lie -- maybe a little fib. The locals tell me that I was in deep water, when it gets to be less than 6" below your keel -- it was 18" -- that's when you really worry!!!

Tonight there is a free concert on the pier in town -- Jimmy Buffet style music. Tomorrow, there is a hot dog and burger roast here at the marina -- and it supposed to turn back to cold and rainy by late tomorrow afternoon. So, perfect timing and I can at last say "IT IS A BOAT!!"

It's raining, it's pouring, the old woman is snoring..

Ah, well the best laid plans...woke up about 2 a.m. to the light pitter pat of rain -- and it hasn't really stopped all day. A couple of dry patches to allow for walks, and then chill (probably below 60 all day) and grey drizzle -- now again at 10 p.m. a true rain.

Thank goodness that we are not compelled to venture onto the water

Another week

So far, we've had days where it is almost ninety and days where it's below fifty in the morning, warming to a balmy sixty by noon. Last weekend was rained out -- just as well -- I've still been puttering around the boat -- and more importantly the marina had forgotten to clear the boat through customs, and I didn't want to venture out without that official task done (got the paper work this morning).

Today would have been good, but I got distracted and here it is almost six p.m. -- how time does fly when you doddle along.

Tomorrow, assuming the weather is fine, I plan to venture over to Beausoliel Island, just to see what's happening -- that's the national park where I managed to break an ankle last year. Not planning on going ashore, just a test of my navigating skills and maybe playing with the anchor (haven't set the anchor on my own since I was on the Chesapeake.

Then back here to get the dinghy and the outboard ready for the weekend of the 20th when I will be following some fellow cruisers to another remote anchorage for the weekend.

I'm reading -- finished my fourth book -- doing jig saw puzzles -- and generally only catching the news when I see people in town. My blood pressure has to be down!

No photos -- sorry, just pictures of Chessie in varying stages of repose and you've seen that before.

So, a week has gone by

...and Chessie has assumed her rightful place. We go for half hour strolls about three times a day -- staying on marina property -- sometimes visiting with people, sometimes playing with other dogs.

Think we are just about the only "live aboards" although others arrive on Thursday nites for long weekends.

It has been raining the last few days -- so ventures are limited. Today, I took Sonador out for a high speed run into the Bay just to let her feel the water beneath her hull -- and to have the volvo guy listen to the slipping belts! Even got to put her into two separate slips before we agreed that I had the right one.

Three books down -- and half way through a fourth -- I'll have to slow down or will run out of reading material.

If I get out more, then there will be pictures later. Right now, the slow pace is just right.