Friday, December 28, 2007
Hi all, there is a reason for my long silence. Shortly after leaving Atlantic City I had a hard drive failure so I lost my files and could not use the computer. I now have a new hard drive and am back up and running.
I am now docked in Brunswick Georgia until after the holidays when I will continue my journey south. Updates to follow, in the meantime I hope everyone is having a safe and Merry Christmas. I was able to return to Chicago for Christmas and stayed with my friends Mike and MJ. They had a house full of relatives and friends and we all had a good time.
I am now docked in Brunswick Georgia until after the holidays when I will continue my journey south. Updates to follow, in the meantime I hope everyone is having a safe and Merry Christmas. I was able to return to Chicago for Christmas and stayed with my friends Mike and MJ. They had a house full of relatives and friends and we all had a good time.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Lake Erie
Day 25 we were setting out to get Dick into Detroit to catch a train into Chicago. As we started out I had trouble starting the engine and after about 30 minutes the engine died in the St. Clair River. We were able to secure the boat in the river and I changed the fuel filters, which cured the problem and the engine once again sounded healthy. We had an intermittent problem with a temporary loss of power on two occasions after Killarney but this was the first time it just died. We motored all day and when we arrived in Detroit found that the harbor we were going into was closed so motored down to Pier 500 in Wyandotte Michigan just south of Detroit on the Detroit River. Dick was able to get a ride to the Amtrak train station the next day. I stayed in Wyandotte another day and did engine maintenance and general cleaning up. Also did some grocery shopping
Day 27 I left for Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, which was a motor sail all the
way with little or no wind. I saw a Hallberg Rassy coming up the river from the lake, which was the only boat I saw going in that direction. I picked up a mooring ball in Put-In-Bay harbor and the tender came out and took me into shore where I explored and had dinner. This is a neat stop over which has a lot of places to have a drink and restaurants to eat. I enjoyed staying on the mooring and the weather has been warm after leaving the North Channel.
Day 28 this is Friday and I sailed off the mooring heading to Sandusky where the wind died of the north end of the island so I motor sailed towards Kelly Island where the wind picked up again and I was able to sail the rest of the way to Sandusky. I stayed two nights and did laundry and did some shopping for food and marine supplies.
Day 30 is Sunday and I left for Cleveland in flat seas and no wind so this will be a motoring day. Along the way I passed hundreds of fishing boats, which are all anchored so passing by is easy. I was able to sail when I got closer to Cleveland, which had more of a sea and wind, which was great and docked at the Lakeside Yacht Club. There aren’t too many places to stop along Lake Erie and I am thinking of going direct to Buffalo from here, which will be an all night passage.
Day 31 I left and decided to head to Erie Pennsylvania but as the day went it became apparent that I would not make it there until after dark. So I looked to see where else I could go when I heard another sailboat call Geneva State Park Marina and they could get in and also had room. I decided to try there also which was only three more hours out and I could get in before dark. I ate at the Geneva Spa resort next to the marina and I should have checked out one of their packages because I needed it.
Day 32, it has been on month since I left Chicago, which is hard to believe. I left a little late and was sailing towards Erie Pa. And now there are three of us heading east and I am farther off shore than the other two. The winds became light and now I have started motor sailing again and the engine was loosing power so I changed the Racor filter again. I am starting to run out of the spares. I was able to sail the rest of the way into the harbor at Erie and North Star docked at the same marina, the new Wolverine Marina because several had sold out and closed.
Day 33 started overcast and it rained over night but there is wind so I was able to sail out of the harbor wing and wing doing about 4 knots and North Start was on the horizon because they got away before me. I was getting some good information from a German couple on a catamaran next to me. They had sailed in Central America and were telling me how nice it is. Somewhere along the way I passed North Star and arrived in Dunkirk just ahead of them. We both called ahead and were given slip assignments but the harbor is very shallow and I was skimming me way in the mud at the harbor bottom. You need to stay close to the docks coming in. North Star ran aground in the mud and they were able to get off ok. It started to rain just after we docked.
Day 34 we both started out for Buffalo sailing which the weather forecast said would be out of the southeast, which it was not. We tacked into the direction of Buffalo and matching tack for tack pretty much. We both started to motor sail off Sturgeon Point because it started to rain and also we were not making too much progress in the direction we wanted to go. My knot meter stopped working at Dunkirk and later found out that North Star’s also stopped working. We motored all the way to Wardell’s boat yard and I was told to dock at the gas dock where I was aground in the silt about a foot off the dock and decided to leave the boat there for the night. The water level did rise about six inches over night and I was floating free again in the morning. We are in Tonawanda at the boat yard to get our masts un-stepped for the Erie Canal passage.
Day 27 I left for Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, which was a motor sail all the
way with little or no wind. I saw a Hallberg Rassy coming up the river from the lake, which was the only boat I saw going in that direction. I picked up a mooring ball in Put-In-Bay harbor and the tender came out and took me into shore where I explored and had dinner. This is a neat stop over which has a lot of places to have a drink and restaurants to eat. I enjoyed staying on the mooring and the weather has been warm after leaving the North Channel.Day 28 this is Friday and I sailed off the mooring heading to Sandusky where the wind died of the north end of the island so I motor sailed towards Kelly Island where the wind picked up again and I was able to sail the rest of the way to Sandusky. I stayed two nights and did laundry and did some shopping for food and marine supplies.
Day 30 is Sunday and I left for Cleveland in flat seas and no wind so this will be a motoring day. Along the way I passed hundreds of fishing boats, which are all anchored so passing by is easy. I was able to sail when I got closer to Cleveland, which had more of a sea and wind, which was great and docked at the Lakeside Yacht Club. There aren’t too many places to stop along Lake Erie and I am thinking of going direct to Buffalo from here, which will be an all night passage.
Day 31 I left and decided to head to Erie Pennsylvania but as the day went it became apparent that I would not make it there until after dark. So I looked to see where else I could go when I heard another sailboat call Geneva State Park Marina and they could get in and also had room. I decided to try there also which was only three more hours out and I could get in before dark. I ate at the Geneva Spa resort next to the marina and I should have checked out one of their packages because I needed it.
Day 32, it has been on month since I left Chicago, which is hard to believe. I left a little late and was sailing towards Erie Pa. And now there are three of us heading east and I am farther off shore than the other two. The winds became light and now I have started motor sailing again and the engine was loosing power so I changed the Racor filter again. I am starting to run out of the spares. I was able to sail the rest of the way into the harbor at Erie and North Star docked at the same marina, the new Wolverine Marina because several had sold out and closed.
Day 33 started overcast and it rained over night but there is wind so I was able to sail out of the harbor wing and wing doing about 4 knots and North Start was on the horizon because they got away before me. I was getting some good information from a German couple on a catamaran next to me. They had sailed in Central America and were telling me how nice it is. Somewhere along the way I passed North Star and arrived in Dunkirk just ahead of them. We both called ahead and were given slip assignments but the harbor is very shallow and I was skimming me way in the mud at the harbor bottom. You need to stay close to the docks coming in. North Star ran aground in the mud and they were able to get off ok. It started to rain just after we docked.
Day 34 we both started out for Buffalo sailing which the weather forecast said would be out of the southeast, which it was not. We tacked into the direction of Buffalo and matching tack for tack pretty much. We both started to motor sail off Sturgeon Point because it started to rain and also we were not making too much progress in the direction we wanted to go. My knot meter stopped working at Dunkirk and later found out that North Star’s also stopped working. We motored all the way to Wardell’s boat yard and I was told to dock at the gas dock where I was aground in the silt about a foot off the dock and decided to leave the boat there for the night. The water level did rise about six inches over night and I was floating free again in the morning. We are in Tonawanda at the boat yard to get our masts un-stepped for the Erie Canal passage.
It is Friday 19th of October and I am now in Atlantic City New Jersey doing this up date waiting for the weather to break so I will get all the updates finished and up loaded while here.
Day 18 (& 19) is Tuesday and we motored and motor sailed to Tubermory because there was little to no wind in Georgian Bay. Tubermory is on the tip of the peninsula that separates Georgian Bay and Lake Huron this is a very pretty little town with a natural harbor.
We stayed here two days because of poor weather conditions of high wind and seas on lake Huron. Also there was a fast moving storm that caught us in the harbor and dumped a lot of rain that caused a neat waterfall in the harbor.
We walk around and explore the town after having breakfast.
Day 20 Wednesday we headed out to Port Elgin Ontario on lake Huron. We started out in flat seas and the wind on the nose. We were able to sail once we changed course south and as the day went on with building seas too. We made it into port just before sunset.
Port Elgin is a larger beachfront town and the area near the harbor is full of small rental cottages and B&Bs.
Once again the weather had become poor and we stayed three days. Tony from One Day who was next to us came over and we looked over charts for the next two harbors south. Our next jump south will be Bayfield which is about 70 nm south and gives us a shorter trip to Port Huron the next day.
Day 23 Sunday the weather and seas had calmed down some and we left about 30 minutes behind Tony and Linda on ‘One Day’ and Mark and Gayle on ‘Lo-Gra-Mar’ all heading towards Bayfield. The wind was about 15 knots out of the south and the seas were 4 foot. We were able to sail for and h our or two then we had to motor sail the rest of the day. Lo-Gra-Mar arrived at Bayfield first and could not get in because of shoaling from the storms, which left only 4 1/2 foot of depth in the channel. None of our boats would make it in so we diverted to Goderich to the north. We arrive into Goderich first and tied to the wall and helped the others dock too. There was a Valiant 40 on the wall which we later found out had come out of Bayfield a couple of days earlier and damaged their rudder and shaft on the way out.
Day 24 we left Goderich and set sail from inside the break wall and were able to sail all the way to Port Huron entrance channel just before dark. We motored down the approach channel in the dark while I was taking down the mainsail Dick said the range lights went out. I looked up and sure enough they were out then I adjusted to the dark and realized that there was a freighter heading right for us blocking the range lights. We arrived at Prot Huron and stayed at the yacht club wall for the night.
We stayed here two days because of poor weather conditions of high wind and seas on lake Huron. Also there was a fast moving storm that caught us in the harbor and dumped a lot of rain that caused a neat waterfall in the harbor.
We walk around and explore the town after having breakfast.Day 20 Wednesday we headed out to Port Elgin Ontario on lake Huron. We started out in flat seas and the wind on the nose. We were able to sail once we changed course south and as the day went on with building seas too. We made it into port just before sunset.
Port Elgin is a larger beachfront town and the area near the harbor is full of small rental cottages and B&Bs.
Once again the weather had become poor and we stayed three days. Tony from One Day who was next to us came over and we looked over charts for the next two harbors south. Our next jump south will be Bayfield which is about 70 nm south and gives us a shorter trip to Port Huron the next day.
Day 23 Sunday the weather and seas had calmed down some and we left about 30 minutes behind Tony and Linda on ‘One Day’ and Mark and Gayle on ‘Lo-Gra-Mar’ all heading towards Bayfield. The wind was about 15 knots out of the south and the seas were 4 foot. We were able to sail for and h our or two then we had to motor sail the rest of the day. Lo-Gra-Mar arrived at Bayfield first and could not get in because of shoaling from the storms, which left only 4 1/2 foot of depth in the channel. None of our boats would make it in so we diverted to Goderich to the north. We arrive into Goderich first and tied to the wall and helped the others dock too. There was a Valiant 40 on the wall which we later found out had come out of Bayfield a couple of days earlier and damaged their rudder and shaft on the way out.
Day 24 we left Goderich and set sail from inside the break wall and were able to sail all the way to Port Huron entrance channel just before dark. We motored down the approach channel in the dark while I was taking down the mainsail Dick said the range lights went out. I looked up and sure enough they were out then I adjusted to the dark and realized that there was a freighter heading right for us blocking the range lights. We arrived at Prot Huron and stayed at the yacht club wall for the night.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The North Channel
Day thirteen (6th September) we finally left Thessalon and are heading to Meldrum Bay under overcast skies and light winds out of the southeast, which is the direction we want to go. We motor sailed until we had cleared Bigsby Island then the wind picked up and shifted and we shutdown the engine and were able to sail again. We ended up tacking into the bay along with another sailboat. This is the first boat we have seen traveling other than fishing boats. Meldrum Bay is very small with three long piers and the area has campsites and a boat launch. There is a general store, which was closed but is under new management and will reopen in a few months. Also there is an inn with a restaurant that had only a few selections on the menu and the food was excellent. The whitefish is fresh caught the day before and is brought into the docks right here by the fishery.
Day fourteen (7th September) we woke to overcast skies and winds 15 to 20 knots out of the south. These would carry us swiftly to Gore Bay our next stop. We needed to turn the boat around in the slip to get out because of obstructions at the end of the docks, which were the pilings that the docks were anchored. They were leaning into our exit path. After we got turned around with help it started to rain, we canceled our departure because this became a pattern all day. A squall line would come thru every hour or so.
Day Fifteen (8th September) we woke to clear skies and after breakfast set off for Gore Bay.
Once we got out side the bay the wind was on our bow again with two-foot waves so we motored all the way. This was a very picturesque harbor with the town and homes starting at the waters edge and sweeping up the side of the hills to the bluffs about two hundred feet above. The bay is “V” shaped and somewhat narrow with bluffs lining the shore with pines and rock outcrops along the edges and a meadow at the inner most part. There are several bed and breakfasts and inns around the bay. New docks now take up most of the anchorage area, yet there is still enough room to swing at anchor if you choose.
Day Sixteen (9th September) we woke to a beautiful day and setout towards Clapperton Channel, which is full of rocky shoals. Although the channel is marked it looks hard to negotiate from the chart view because of the shallow water. After motor sailing again with the wind on the bow we cleared the shoals and set course towards Little Current. It seems like the wind is funneling around all the island and channels so it keeps changing direction on us, which is usually where we want to go. We docked in Little Current and walked around town, which is right along the waterfront. It was Sunday and most of the shops were closed or going to close. There was a nice restaurant open that had free WiFi. There were many people in there having dinner and using their laptop computers. This by far is the most populated town we have been in and many of the people are locals not visitors like us. Most of the towns it seemed like the visitors outnumbered the local residents.
Day Seventeen (10th September) we got ready early so we could make the 0900 bridge opening. There is a swinging bridge that opens hourly on the hour so our next opportunity would be 1000AM. We made the opening and went thru with two other sailboats. Once on the thru we set sail and were off at a fast pace heading for the Lansdowne Channel which I was certain we would be motoring up to get to Kallarny. Kallarny is in a river or channel that is very narrow between it and Georges Island. The only way to get on Georges Island is by boat or you could swim the 100 yards or so across the river. We had fish and chips at the famous Herbert’s Fisheries bus. We met the dock master at the Mountain Lodge and discover that he and his wife come here to work in the summer and have a boat in Florida where they winter. They also know the previous owners of my boat. We got a lot of good tips from them about sailing down in the Bahamas.
Day fourteen (7th September) we woke to overcast skies and winds 15 to 20 knots out of the south. These would carry us swiftly to Gore Bay our next stop. We needed to turn the boat around in the slip to get out because of obstructions at the end of the docks, which were the pilings that the docks were anchored. They were leaning into our exit path. After we got turned around with help it started to rain, we canceled our departure because this became a pattern all day. A squall line would come thru every hour or so.
Day Fifteen (8th September) we woke to clear skies and after breakfast set off for Gore Bay.
Once we got out side the bay the wind was on our bow again with two-foot waves so we motored all the way. This was a very picturesque harbor with the town and homes starting at the waters edge and sweeping up the side of the hills to the bluffs about two hundred feet above. The bay is “V” shaped and somewhat narrow with bluffs lining the shore with pines and rock outcrops along the edges and a meadow at the inner most part. There are several bed and breakfasts and inns around the bay. New docks now take up most of the anchorage area, yet there is still enough room to swing at anchor if you choose.Day Sixteen (9th September) we woke to a beautiful day and setout towards Clapperton Channel, which is full of rocky shoals. Although the channel is marked it looks hard to negotiate from the chart view because of the shallow water. After motor sailing again with the wind on the bow we cleared the shoals and set course towards Little Current. It seems like the wind is funneling around all the island and channels so it keeps changing direction on us, which is usually where we want to go. We docked in Little Current and walked around town, which is right along the waterfront. It was Sunday and most of the shops were closed or going to close. There was a nice restaurant open that had free WiFi. There were many people in there having dinner and using their laptop computers. This by far is the most populated town we have been in and many of the people are locals not visitors like us. Most of the towns it seemed like the visitors outnumbered the local residents.
Day Seventeen (10th September) we got ready early so we could make the 0900 bridge opening. There is a swinging bridge that opens hourly on the hour so our next opportunity would be 1000AM. We made the opening and went thru with two other sailboats. Once on the thru we set sail and were off at a fast pace heading for the Lansdowne Channel which I was certain we would be motoring up to get to Kallarny. Kallarny is in a river or channel that is very narrow between it and Georges Island. The only way to get on Georges Island is by boat or you could swim the 100 yards or so across the river. We had fish and chips at the famous Herbert’s Fisheries bus. We met the dock master at the Mountain Lodge and discover that he and his wife come here to work in the summer and have a boat in Florida where they winter. They also know the previous owners of my boat. We got a lot of good tips from them about sailing down in the Bahamas.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Start of The Adventure 8/26/07 to 9/5/07
Well my trip has finally started. There were many false starts but finally after several weather delays I untied the dock lines from Montrose Harbor for the last time this year. I also waited on a friend of mine Dick who has the boat next to me to go along until Detroit.
First day out (25th August) we finally got under way 1645 hours (4:45PM) and motor sailed to Waukegan. There was very little to no wind all day and we tied up at 2130 hours. It was hard leaving Montrose because many people came by to say good-by and as we left the harbor friends from other boats waved and wished us a safe trip.
Day Two 26 August. The next morning we had breakfast with another friend Ed who drove up and visited for a while and my friend Linda also came up. We prepared to leave in the afternoon and this time got out at 1600 hours to ESE winds at 12 knots. This gave us a great ride across the lake all night with an almost full moon to Muskegon Michigan. We laid over a day here running errands and lounging around cleaning up the boat.
Day four (28th August) we awoke to wind out of the south at 15 knots so we had breakfast and prepared to leave. At 1040 in the morning we sailed off the dock and were off at a great pace. When we cleared the channel we set course for Ludington Michigan and we sailed wing and wing all the way into Ludington then reached into the harbor. We laid over here an extra day and met many boaters and got some great cruising information about east coast places to visit. The weather was threatening to rain with heavily overcast skis. There were many boats doing the great loop. This is a circle tour that takes boaters thru the great lakes down the river system via the Illinois Waterway to the Mississippi river the Ten Tom waterway to Mobile bay. From there you sail around the state of Florida up the east coast to the Hudson River to the Erie Canal and back to the great lakes. This is some trip and there are boaters that are doing this year after year.
Day six (30 August) we had breakfast with Graham and topped off our fuel and departed at 1035 hours. We sailed to Frankfort on a reach with winds out of the NE 12 to 15 knots. I set up the Monitor vane gear to steer us along and it carried us all the way there. We called ahead to get a dock before they closed for the night and arrived just at sunset outside the harbor. When we attempted to dock we ran aground in the mud only five feet into the slip so we tied to the gas dock for the night.
Day seven (31 August) we left early for Charlevoix with almost no wind and flat seas so we motored all the way. When we arrived the harbormaster was gone for the night so we anchored in the inner lake for the night. This is a very nice anchorage with homes and boathouses all around the lake and very courteous boaters leaving no wake when motoring through to lake Charlevoix from lake Michigan.
Day eight (1 September) we motor sailed from Charlevoix to St. Ignace. We had light winds all the way to Gray’s Reef then the winds picked up enough to sail towards the Mackinac Bridge running wing and wing then we reached into St. Ignace with increasing winds. Nice town with a lot of activity until Labor Day and everyone had left. We stayed over another day here because the winds increased to 10 to 20 with gusts to 40 knots in the harbor. We could not get out of the dock because the winds were on our stern blowing us into the dock. So day nine was another layover day to relax and do some projects. We explored the town some more.
Day ten (3rd September) we motored from St. Ignace to Detour Village with no wind almost the whole way. Just west of Detour Pass the wind picked up and we motor sailed into the pass until the wind switched directly out of the pass where we needed to go. We met the mayor of Detour who owns a restaurant and bar near the harbor, they were having a year end party. Everything in town closed early because of Labor Day holiday.
Day eleven (4th September) we got up showered had breakfast and went to the grocery store to a few things. We then motored all the way to Thessalon Ontario Canada. The wind was very light when we started and picked up along the way but we did not raise any sails because of many course changes around islands and reefs. We got to the harbor and the office had a sign on it that said it was closed. We cleared customs and checked in with the harbormaster via phone and he came out to do the paperwork. Dick and I walked into town and picked up some fruit, which the last store, did not have and had pizzas for dinner. We came back and did laundry read and planed our next stops. We also went to the library and used the computers to check email.
Day tweleve (5th September) we awoke to rain and strong winds right out of the direction we wanted to go so we are having another layover day. This afternoon late the sun is shining again I hope tomorrow is the same. The winds have moderated and are supposed to switch to the southwest which will give us a reach to the next harbors. I have been doing maintanince to day and trying to update this blog. So for all you with charts and those without we are sitting at 083 degrees 33.088 minutes west, and 46 degrees 15.256 minutes west. We have covered 396 nautical miles as of today.
I’ll try to get some pictures up here soon also or a link to them too.
First day out (25th August) we finally got under way 1645 hours (4:45PM) and motor sailed to Waukegan. There was very little to no wind all day and we tied up at 2130 hours. It was hard leaving Montrose because many people came by to say good-by and as we left the harbor friends from other boats waved and wished us a safe trip.
Day Two 26 August. The next morning we had breakfast with another friend Ed who drove up and visited for a while and my friend Linda also came up. We prepared to leave in the afternoon and this time got out at 1600 hours to ESE winds at 12 knots. This gave us a great ride across the lake all night with an almost full moon to Muskegon Michigan. We laid over a day here running errands and lounging around cleaning up the boat.
Day four (28th August) we awoke to wind out of the south at 15 knots so we had breakfast and prepared to leave. At 1040 in the morning we sailed off the dock and were off at a great pace. When we cleared the channel we set course for Ludington Michigan and we sailed wing and wing all the way into Ludington then reached into the harbor. We laid over here an extra day and met many boaters and got some great cruising information about east coast places to visit. The weather was threatening to rain with heavily overcast skis. There were many boats doing the great loop. This is a circle tour that takes boaters thru the great lakes down the river system via the Illinois Waterway to the Mississippi river the Ten Tom waterway to Mobile bay. From there you sail around the state of Florida up the east coast to the Hudson River to the Erie Canal and back to the great lakes. This is some trip and there are boaters that are doing this year after year.
Day six (30 August) we had breakfast with Graham and topped off our fuel and departed at 1035 hours. We sailed to Frankfort on a reach with winds out of the NE 12 to 15 knots. I set up the Monitor vane gear to steer us along and it carried us all the way there. We called ahead to get a dock before they closed for the night and arrived just at sunset outside the harbor. When we attempted to dock we ran aground in the mud only five feet into the slip so we tied to the gas dock for the night.
Day seven (31 August) we left early for Charlevoix with almost no wind and flat seas so we motored all the way. When we arrived the harbormaster was gone for the night so we anchored in the inner lake for the night. This is a very nice anchorage with homes and boathouses all around the lake and very courteous boaters leaving no wake when motoring through to lake Charlevoix from lake Michigan.
Day eight (1 September) we motor sailed from Charlevoix to St. Ignace. We had light winds all the way to Gray’s Reef then the winds picked up enough to sail towards the Mackinac Bridge running wing and wing then we reached into St. Ignace with increasing winds. Nice town with a lot of activity until Labor Day and everyone had left. We stayed over another day here because the winds increased to 10 to 20 with gusts to 40 knots in the harbor. We could not get out of the dock because the winds were on our stern blowing us into the dock. So day nine was another layover day to relax and do some projects. We explored the town some more.
Day ten (3rd September) we motored from St. Ignace to Detour Village with no wind almost the whole way. Just west of Detour Pass the wind picked up and we motor sailed into the pass until the wind switched directly out of the pass where we needed to go. We met the mayor of Detour who owns a restaurant and bar near the harbor, they were having a year end party. Everything in town closed early because of Labor Day holiday.
Day eleven (4th September) we got up showered had breakfast and went to the grocery store to a few things. We then motored all the way to Thessalon Ontario Canada. The wind was very light when we started and picked up along the way but we did not raise any sails because of many course changes around islands and reefs. We got to the harbor and the office had a sign on it that said it was closed. We cleared customs and checked in with the harbormaster via phone and he came out to do the paperwork. Dick and I walked into town and picked up some fruit, which the last store, did not have and had pizzas for dinner. We came back and did laundry read and planed our next stops. We also went to the library and used the computers to check email.
Day tweleve (5th September) we awoke to rain and strong winds right out of the direction we wanted to go so we are having another layover day. This afternoon late the sun is shining again I hope tomorrow is the same. The winds have moderated and are supposed to switch to the southwest which will give us a reach to the next harbors. I have been doing maintanince to day and trying to update this blog. So for all you with charts and those without we are sitting at 083 degrees 33.088 minutes west, and 46 degrees 15.256 minutes west. We have covered 396 nautical miles as of today.
I’ll try to get some pictures up here soon also or a link to them too.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Welcome
On this blog site I will try to update my family and friends on my open ended sailing vacation. What am I say by open ended? Well I have not decided at this time how long or short it will be. I have only made short range plans at this time. My plans contain only a hint of a timetable and stops along the way. This is all without any end point in mind.
I have been dreaming about sailing in the warmer climates during winter for over thirty years and now I am about to start heading in that direction. My intension is to sail in the waters of Florida and the Bahamas from November 2007 to May 2008. I will be visiting friends in Florida all along both coasts including the Keys. Also I would like to be in Honduras in mid April to meet up with my church group who will be doing a mission trip for a week in Tegucigalpa Honduras.
To get there I will depart Chicago Illinois around the second week of July and sail towards Green Bay Door County and then on to Canada's North Channel. These are some spectacular cruising grounds in the Great Lakes that I want to see again. Then on to the Erie Canal and Chesapeake Bay with a stop in New York for a visit. This is an over simplified route that will have many stops and side trips I'm sure.
I have been dreaming about sailing in the warmer climates during winter for over thirty years and now I am about to start heading in that direction. My intension is to sail in the waters of Florida and the Bahamas from November 2007 to May 2008. I will be visiting friends in Florida all along both coasts including the Keys. Also I would like to be in Honduras in mid April to meet up with my church group who will be doing a mission trip for a week in Tegucigalpa Honduras.
To get there I will depart Chicago Illinois around the second week of July and sail towards Green Bay Door County and then on to Canada's North Channel. These are some spectacular cruising grounds in the Great Lakes that I want to see again. Then on to the Erie Canal and Chesapeake Bay with a stop in New York for a visit. This is an over simplified route that will have many stops and side trips I'm sure.
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