Thursday 7/30: Sandusky, OH

The gathering at Put-in-Bay was great. We ended up with 13 boats and about 25 boaters. Some came by car from NY and Florida even! Trawlers ranged from a 1975 31' to a almost brand new American Tug - with full leather seating inside!

As always, we came away with knowledge that we didn't have before - including a disaster preparedness plan (basically what to have on the flybridge as we travel in case the boat would need to be immediately abandonded. Something we just hadn't really thought about.

Yesterday we moved on to Sandusky in a short 2 hour cruise. Again the sunset was breathtaking.

We'll move on to possibly Vermillion today and then most likely back to Cleveland for about a week. My brother Tom is due in from Arizona for a week so I'm certain a family gathering will be in order.

Sunday July 26: On to Put-in-Bay

After sitting a week here in Port Clinton, it's off to the MTOA (Marine Trawler Owners Association) Rendevous at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club. There will be 13 trawlers and over 30 members gathering to talk about - what else? - boating!

The week spent here was not without it's work days. We found a

new use for the dinghy - great as a way to put masking tape on the "water side" of the boat. After this we got smart and moved to a covered slip - how quickly we could become spoiled. It was great having hatches and windows open when it was raining.

All of the outside teak on the lower level is now finished - what a job - just glad it is done.

We're off to Put-in-Bay - a short run of about two hours.

Sunday July 19: Port Clinton

Stayed a second night in LaSalle as the wind was still pretty strong and the trip to Port Clinton was a 7 hour run - mostly across the west end of Lake Erie. It was a nice trip over yesterday with a strong west wind at our rear starboard quarter. (That's the right rear to you landlubbers :-) )

Along the Detroit River were hundreds of swans! It was really

neat to see so many in one place as we have always thought it was a treat to see the pair that nested in one of the swamp areas back in Sagamore Hills.

Also - Steve finally needed a hair cut! The last one was at the hair cut place near Camp Pendleton 6 weeks ago - any wonder he didn't have much hair left after that one???

We'll stay in Port Clinton again tonight and then head to either East Harbor (if we can find Joey Peters number) or possibly Sandusky -- or maybe just stay here again. Much progress made on the teak rails - getting ready to put the finish on it.

Thursday 7/16: LaSalle, Ont

No internet for the last couple of days as we were at the Thames River in Ontario. Nice river but very muddy :-( This is a picture of Steve trying to help Al get a line over the second halyard on his sailboat - quite the arrangement of duck taped boat hooks.

We met some very nice folks - Wolfgang and Helga took us to breakfast in the nearby town (by car) of Tillbury. They did the loop in early 2000's. Much in common.

This is a map of our travels so far. The red line is our way out and the yellow is the return trip. Winds today were 15 -20 mph from the west - no problem - we thought! After all how rough can the Detroit River get??? VERY! Most amazing - it's the combination of a 3 mph current battling a 15 mph wind: result? 2-3 foot waves in the RIVER! Click on the picture to enlarge it.

We are guests at the LaSalle Mariner Yacht club tonight - glad to not be anchored.

Monday, July 13: Belle River, Ontario

So on Saturday, we decided to clean the boat as it hadn't really had a good wash down since we left. Unfortunately, we left the window over the computers open: result was one good rinsing of the onboard electronics - including the radio installed under the window.

Hence the drying out of the computers. But the good news is both are still working fine! We left Crystal Bay Sunday, traveled up the Detroit River through Detroit (and Windsor) and are now at a marina on the east shore of Lake St. Clair. Nice lake - but only about 12 feet deep! Makes for big waves very quickly. We found a friendly water snake that rather liked our swim platform and spent the day there most of Saturday. Didn't care if we were standing of the platform or not!

Today is a semi work day. Installing a ground wire from the zincs on the back of the boat to the engine. Stray currents will then attack the zincs instead of the engine block so this is a good thing.

Nice town - Steve is resting easy on the way to Lake St. Clair!

Friday 7/10: 38th Anniversary

After traveling from Leamington to the Detroit River, we celebrated our 38th anniversary a day early by having a lobster dinner! Steve managed to find and backpack them to the boat. Anchoring in Crystal Bay (the water is as clear as the name implies) was great. We are learning how often the generator has to run to keep the freezer stuff frozen. The first use of the dingy (for breakfast across the river) was very successful - we continue to learn how this living aboard is going to work. And of course there is the 'job of the day' - in this case the work continues in recaulking the walkaround deck. Progress is measured by the foot in this case!

And even though all you see is Steve working, trust that I have a part in all of this as well. What a way to spend an anniversary -- but then who would have thought 38 years ago that this is what we would be doing :-)

Wed 7/8: Leamington, Ontario

The great debate this morning was whether today was Wednesday or Thursday. The computer settled it for us - definitely Wednesday! During a brief lull in the winds yesterday we scooted over here to Leamington on the north shore of Lake Erie. Seemed weird to see the sun rise over the lake! Look closely at the picture left and you'll see the rainbow - guess that's a good thing when we can make a rainbow anytime the seas are a little wild.

The new meaning of the word shopping is a bike and backpack. Canadian Tire is here - for what more could a boater ask :-)

Very nice marina - will stay again tonight even though the winds were fine for leaving. Maybe we move on tomorrow .....

Tues 7/7: Pelee Island

Left Kelly's early and headed on to Pelee Island (in Canadian waters) with the intention of then going to Leamington on the north shore of Lake Erie on Tuesday. This morning (Tuesday) We are still at Pelee waiting for the wind to die down a bit.

Long bike ride to what used to be a general store at the West dock. Steve said it was only 4 miles or so - I beg to differ :-)

Work is ongoing - the hatch is getting new hinges, corner railing is repaired and we continue to seek the deck leaks but are making progress. Hopefully we will make it to Leamington today - if not we go tomorrow or the next day or the next .....

Day 1: Kelly's Island

Left the dock at 9:30 am - and left Cleveland behind!

Waves were to be less than one foot but more descriptive would be ripples!!

Great Ist day at sea :-) Arrived at Kelly's Island about 4:30 pm.

Fireworks - Ready to Go :-)

The thought was to ride down to the mouth of the Cuyhoga River to watch the fireworks from the lake but after spending most of the day preparing to leave tomorrow morning, I don't think that is going to happen! The bikes are put away - dingy motor has a new home on the aft deck (lazerette storage idea was thrown out) and all is ready.

So the adventure at long last begins. We will head directly for Kelly's Island - about an 8 hour run (remember we only travel at 8 miles per hour!).

Goal: Leave Sunday July 5

Weather is still just not very nice - getting lots done though. Decided to store the dingy motor inside the lazerette (nice large opening in the aft deck) instead of hanging it off of the transom and wait for it to be knocked off when I got too close to a dock or something! The boom works great for hoisting it on and off of the dingy (weight of the engine is 85 lbs) so it's been kind of fun experimenting with it. Off to the farm for one last overnight visit with Mom on Friday 7/3. Then fireworks in Cleveland on the 4th. Plan is to leave then Sunday morning -- but we have had this plan before. Weather forcast looks good though.