Fox Pointed
Lunch, park, gymnastics, dinner--among other things.
Up above "Courage," on her way back down after almost touching the ceiling.
Road Weary
Back in Whitewater. Strong tail wind all day-- almost chilly tonight in south-east Wisconsin.
Luxuriant clouds and the occasional rain cell.
Cool and Damp...
...interrupted by an hour of sunshine during which we picniced in a sheltered spot out of the wind alongside Old Mill.
Did Alice eat the wrong side? No, we think Tamiasciurus.
Truck and trailer loaded for the season's penultimate home trip.
September Rain
Rain beginning before midnight and lasting until after noon. A goodly amount but still not enough to cause runoff.
Perfect weather for a slow start followed by a leisurely finish.
Testing various gizmo options to see how we can get the debate. And feeling nervous because it's not easy to debate a solipsistic serpent.
Last of the Windriding
After a fine morning sail the Windrider was hauled, and power washed--marking the end of a memorable season (which included the impossible incident).
Patrick's Windrider
While we were pulling out, another boat was setting up-- a Norse faering boat-- a beautiful, twenty-foot, wide-lap lapstrake, four-oared, sprit-sail yawl-- an ancient Norwegian, small-craft, fishing boat.
One could have a thousand boats and still not have half the cool ones.
Tranquility
Deep calm after all the wind and surf of the past two days. A few tourists wandering the lower village, but still a pervading sense of quiet, and downwinding. Whitetails and turkeys on Main Street. Right now both a crow and a pine squirrel complaining about things (probably me) and breaking the stillness.
Mist rising in the cold morning air over at the mouth of the river.
Phragmites! Down at the end of the lane, by Woods. After reconnaissance, a little spraying (this is the right time of year), and next spring-- some chopping.
Ahoy there! What kayak is that?
High Society
Dinner party with some of the Island's artsy and theatrical folk...at sailing acquaintances Jean and Dave's place at Norm's campground on lake Kagawong. Good food and lively, eclectic conversation.
On another note, high five to William on his fifth birthday.
Rainy Equinox
Rain and mist and drizzle on this the first day of fall. North wind, providing a soft sonic background--waves endlessly coming ashore and curling up amongst the rocks. Frequently, the sound of rain on the roof also in the mix.
Day of reading, naps, and contemplation interspersed with dog walks and a muddy bike ride to the marina.
I have a distinct (though typically vague) memory of rainy childhood days when a few of us neighbors would gather on a porch to play board games and snack on crackers and cheese. (I think that's where I developed my fondness for cheese and crackers, undiminished to this day.)
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"The recurring cycles of the year, rooted in "the pilgrimages of the sun," are-not simply entertaining phenomena, to be noted at our convenience and for our enjoyment, but signs that the cosmos is still intact, that we remain included in something larger and more reliable than our own short-lived enthusiasms. It is for this that we need to know that insects will hibernate, that turtles and warblers will migrate and return, that the tide will retreat, the ice let go, the earth tilt back toward the sun, and the grass reawaken."
—Robert Finch
Pierless
Dock out of the water and ranged high along the shore. Truck extricated from its layer of glue-mud picked up on the road to Gore Bay. Grass-seed planted in the area around the sandbox that was burned by the summer' drought. And, almost certainly, last swim of 2016.
Calm afternoon.
The sea (or lake or river), once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
--Cousteau
Season of Purple
Final Heliotrope work (winterizing) completed, and half the pier removed. It's that time of year.
Purple asters and purple mint, among others of that hue.
Crystaline air today, and the kind of light Rembrandt would like, making all colors vivid.
Truncated pier.
Rainbows
Unexpected storm. Brief heavy rain. Now clear sky and bright moon.
Photo by Sue
Photo by Mary Ellen
Clouds, Air, and Wind
Spectacular sky.
Photos courtesy Sue.
And wonderful sailing, with challenging winds and spectacular light.
Various And Sundry
Last night, moonrise through a cloud bank, followed by clear sky, followed by rain.
This morning, dark and drizzle swept away by noon to bright sun.
This afternoon, brush burning interrupted by a downpour that also soaked Murray and Elaine as they were out kayaking.
Tonight, clear sky except for a cloud bank in the east.
Ride The Wind
Strong south wind.
After noon, down to the marina and the Windrider, which has lain idle for over three weeks, or more. Then: Clear the cobwebs and eject the spiders. Reef the main. Shove off and head out, slightly behind Patrick and Wolf on their windrider.
Even with reefed main we walked away.
The graphic below is, actually exactly (or almost) accurate. And not only interesting but important.
Another Perfect Day
Scattered clouds, some very dramatic.
This morning Pax and I were surprised by the "whump" of large wings as we stepped out onto Gaiser's beach. Looking up, we watched an eagle wing its way across the bight to a tall tree at Murray and Elaine's.
Extended morning spent readying Heliotrope for hibernation.
The inuksuk tribe at Gore Bay is growing. Looks like Katy and Will started something.
What Is So Rare As a Day In September?
Cool, crystalline air. Wind easing toward calm. The occasional cloud making a sweatshirt seem appropriate. Blanket, perhaps, tonight?
Is this breakfast or dinner?
The outdoors is what you go through to get a taxi.
Rain Day
Moderate rain mid-morning to mid-afternoon, followed by mist. Got to Gore Bay only to find Heliotrope in slings, about to be lifted, and then the clouds opened.
At the moment, a pileated woodpecker, a jay, and several crows providing the soundtrack.
Hard Slog To Windward
The weather is turning iffy, the forecast looks bad, and Heliotrope needs to be back in Gore Bay since Norm wants to haul her. Today looked like the best opportunity in the coming week, so we took off at 9:30, Pax staying home. and rounded the red mark off the new Gore Bay breakwater at 3. Steadily building wind from the south-west, more that we expected. Twenty to twenty-five knots, more or less on the nose, with 4 to six foot seas.
Hard work with eight tough tacks, but still lots of fun, and absolutely beautiful. We did see one other boat—heading downwind.
Cold Front
Yesterday—No thunder and little rain.
But a big squall followed by 40 plus knots of wind. About 10 p.m. we headed out into the maelstrom, to the dock, to find spray flying and the boats rolling. With Martin's help we got more lines on Heliotrope, Sophia, and the Windrider.
Martin had just brought his 28 foot boat in from its mooring out around the point of the bay's eastern arm, and he had a hard go of it. He was then planning to walk the three or four miles back to his property (around the far point of land to the right in the photo above), and the tent in which he's been living all summer, be we intervened and gave him a ride.
Today—lovely cool and breezy day, with clouds and sun, followed by home-made pizza with J& ME, and Murray and Elaine.
Mooring Retrieved
One of the earliest of the multiple steps en route to seasonal shutdown.
In spite of the dry summer, some water still running down the Kagawong River, as observed from the east side path.
And by late afternoon a few light rain showers impersonating the predicted thunderstorms.
Quite warm and humid this morning, so like good campers, we took a morning dip, undoubtedly the last of this year.