Activities All Over

Some here, some there. Ab and kid camped out on the lower deck last night. And they hiked today. Min-afternoon downpour, so a little rain time. No photos, though Abby has some great one on Instagram.

However, here’s a shot of a spectacular little shoreline volunteer garden. Cardinal flower, goldenrod, mullein, vervain? And what else?

Morning Ride To The Dock…

…for ice cream? Partially. But we did help a big cruiser overcome wind and captain issues and get safely into a slip.

Asclepius in bloom. This is what Mark Twain would call “college educated milkweed .”

Another huge wind day—enough to keep us landlubbers.

But, calm enough along shore for Katy and Will to go for a cruise.

Things Being Various

Damp but pleasant morning with a visit to Sandy Beach by means of various conveyances, followed by a tropical downpour, followed by a gale of wind from the north west. Perfect day for rigging and launching the Windrider (but not sail it). Before starting in on the project, however, Ab and I had to rescue a runaway dingy that was somehow untethered Upwind.

Crazy

Today, a person of uncertain mental perspicacity sailed a Force 5 sailboat (like a Laser) from Amerdroz Island, to Clapperton Island, to Gooseberry Island, and all the way down Mudge Bay onto the sand beach in Kagawong—during a Force 8 gale. He was wearing a wetsuit and lots of other gear, but was still so frozen that he could hardly get out of the boat. In spite of 6 foot seas he did not capsize.

Here he is, after drying out and warming up. Maybe the secret to his survival is chocolate milk?

Road Committee AGM

Our executive spent vast amounts of time and energy prepping—for fear of a hostile takeover, but the forces of evil did not show up, and all votes were unanimous, including the three families who participated via Zoom by means of this phone’s hotspot, my laptop, and the Fugoo Bluetooth speaker.

I feel that the problems our neighborhood is facing have brought us together as a real neighborhood.

Sailing With Bob

Beautiful, warm and sunny day with enough wind to warrant going with just jib and mizzen, and still bury the rail.

All the way out to Kittiwake Rock (nearly the entrance to Harbor Island). Then, when the wind faltered, as it often does in the channel, we turned and came down the west shore of Mudge, past Gray Point (MurrayAndElaines) and along shore, on the same tack and without adjusting sail, letting the wind do our work for us—from northwest to west to southwest to south to south east, all the way back to the marina

Great ride.

Squall

This time the forecast got it right—better to be in harbor than at anchor.

Slow moving storm, slicing diagonally across the Island from southwest to northeast. When I heard thunder while at the marina, I pedaled hard for home only to arrive more that half an hour before any real rain. Still and all, it was a decent storm, with a respectable amount of badly needed rain—and a cooler temperature.

Hard to imagine anything better than watching a storm.

One Hundred Percent Wrong

One hundred percent rain forecast—zero rain, not an uncommon Manitoulin occurrence. Sadly, it’s very dry, and rain is needed.

Our tree frogs wouldn’t mind a little moisture either.

Meanwhile, some attempts at Zen and the art of bicycle maintenance. Unfortunately, some of these clunkers are teetering on the edge of repairability.