To Little Current for errands, including coffee and a blueberry muffin, a drive by Low Island and Spider Bay, and a steep drive up McLean’s Mtn. Also, a stop at the Outpost to pick up a check of $37.50 (my half the price) for the one photo (out of 12) sold since the display of my stuff went up approximately two months ago. Not exactly hotcakes, although the Outpost management wants to keep the display, saying it looks very nice on their wall and generates a lot of interest (and very remotely I would say, might result in future sales).

Finished ditching our stretch of the Lane. Cool and crisp, with a strong north wind. The day fading ever so early, and now a fire in the grate

A Change of Pattern

Rain in the night. Cool north wind. Thoughts of a fire in the stove.

Looking through a folder of old Heliotrope papers I came across the checklist Unkie gave us prior to departure on our 1978 sailing trip.

Colloquy of Crows

Michael working on the second of his three boulders, all of which have a deadline of this Friday.

They are not the earliest risers, but well after sunup the flock of crows that roost here wake up and begin discussing matters. First one, then another, and then everybody all at once, and it is quite raucous. No point in trying to sleep past that.

The forecast today was clouds, rain, and cooler temperatures, so we began road work, clearing  and deepening the uphill ditch along our section of the lane so that the spring runoff will not run off across the road and erode it away. About halfway through the project we realized that it was sunny, dry and hot so we switched activities.

Sue got in two swims, which is not bad for September 28 (after cutting the grass and chipping some paths). I got in a bike ride, a sail, and a Pax ride. 

This evening, sitting on the deck, we watched our dozen or so crows come sailing in for their roosting rendezvous. Quite a lot of chatter as they decided on the perfect roost, but nothing like the morning colloquy. I suppose, working off on their own all day, they get starved for conversation.

Glorious Day

Pulled the mooring. Had to row up a brisk wind with a broken oarlock, but the shackle came loose, and with a float attached, the chain dropped to the bottom, where it will spend the winter.

Then, later, at 2:30, we get to the marina. Bright sun, clear sky, warm south wind, sparkling blue water, but nobody around. We run the 'Rider up on the beach, raise the main, and shove off, with the wind right behind us. The farther out we get, the more we notice the wind, until it looks like the wind aft is trying to bury our bow (which, of course, is impossible in a Windrider). So we pull into Sandy Beach and throw a reef into the main. 

On the way back, even with the reef, we are screeching. Then we notice Wolf out solo, reefed, thankfully, and it appears he is doing fine.  We fly to the east side of the bay, and tack and gibe in the gusty puffs off the marina until we are sure he can make it in okay. Then up, in the shifty shifts, onto the beach where we drop the main. Following that, we use the ancient 2-hp motor formerly assigned to Geode (bought in Two Rivers, WI, btw), to back from the beach to the slip, thus demonstrating the highest level of seamanship achievable. Pretty amazing to have a whole marina to yourself (not counting Wolf) on one of the most glorious days of the year.

This evening— hamburgers (etc.) at the Pinebox with J. and ME. and Murray and Elaine, and then down to the lower deck to watch the blood moon. As of now, the sky is still clear,but clouds seem to be creeping in on that muscular south wind.

September to Remember

Try To Remember The Kind Of September....

Beautiful day. To the dump, of course, but then a sail—only to find the steady east wind gone light and variable.  But who cared? It was fun trying to outsmart the puffs. Back at the property a steady east wind, sending in ten inch waves to endlessly trip on our ridge of rocks. Sitting in the Zen spot, I found it hard not to be hypnotized, rendered immobile, and like Sylvester, turned into a piece of the shoreline lithosphere.

Dismasted!

Continued brisk NE wind (with surf), but, still and all, a lovely day. Pulled the sticks out of Heliotrope for the first time in 20-some years (remembering  all the wiring disconnects was a bit of a challenge.) But, it will be good to re-paint the masts, replace all bulbs, put a new wind feather at the top of the mainmast, and check everything out. This kind of maintenance should be done every score years. (And, with the Canadian dollar now at 68 cents, it is time to make hay while the sun shines.

Crickets in the Wind

Pleasantly cool warm day. Onshore breeze all last night and all today, with a noisy surf almost drowning out the crickets. The leaves are just starting to turn—some maples tinged, and most ash (which are always the earliest) yellow and falling.