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.

Billions and Billions…

…of shadfly (Ephemeroptera) moults on the water, and some smelly globs along the shore, where thousands and thousands have washed up.

Hard to see in this shot, but windrows of shells in every direction. (This is a sign of healthy water, so actually in the good column.)

However, yesterday, we were moving too fast to notice anything as mundane as shadflies.

Lonely Bay…

…over on south side of the Island, as a small slice of the Art Tour, to Gertha’s Lonely Bay Pottery (next door to Therese’s place). (G’s husband, Chris, is the guy who came sailing with us. )

They do have a nice place, with a Lake Huron view to the west, but it’s hard to beat Mudge Bay.

Land-ho

After the morning’s noisy north wind died away the bay went to glass but with a smooth residual swell. Perfect for kayaking.

And perfect for a long paddle far out into the bay. Get way out and then coast and drift and occasionally rock with the swell. Eventually decide you have to return to shore.

Where you can stack rocks with a unlimited supply of raw material.

Nighttime Rain…

…followed by damp and chilly morning. So, after a slow start, off to JD Garden Center for a few plants and a little lunch.

Sometimes outings are the thing. On the way home we detoured to Blue Jay Creek Provincial Park, on Michael’s Bay. Not the kind of place that invites you to stay, or calls you to return.

Sunny and pleasant after noon.

No More Air…

…in the waterline.

Having thought through every possibility without finding an answer, today I called the plumber. The solution was simple, and reminded me that false assumptions lead to false conclusions.

I assumed that the system was pressurized from faucet to foot valve, in which case air would have been impossible. However, because of a check valve, the section from pump to foot valve is not pressurized, and as a result, air was being sipped through a stub that used to be used to prime the pump.

Inspired, I watered the tomatoes (nothing planted from seed seems to make it) and took a nice high pressure airless shower.

Smoked Trout…

..as an hors d’oeuvre at Pinebox this evening. Apart from that, a few minor chores and a put-put on board Geode (with its 2.5 horse motor) over around Gray Point to the tall white pine from which a bald eagle often surveys his realm. (No eagle, just crows.)

Sunny and warm, with a strong south wind.

Fish and Chips…

…at Purvis Fish and Chips, the latest restaurant to occupy the old Red Roof Tea Room in the pavilion in Gore Bay. Pretty good fish and chips, almost as good as Providence Bay.

On the way home, we diners (us and Pinebox contingent) stopped at the marina for ice creams. Perfect weather for such summertime activities.

Lumpy, Bumpy…

…sail. Took Therese and her friend Chris out for a sail, scheduled some time ago in anticipation of nice weather. What we got instead was gray, chilly, and windy—from the north-east, wind coming straight into the marina. Our exit was not the most graceful, and, while the sail was fun, it was considerable work. After 3 years away from Heliotrope I am obviously a bit out of practice and somewhat out of shape. But, all that will improve.

Below, some of the cottage wildlife observed today. Kids who like slugs (perhaps the twins?) will not be bored.