Halyard Retrieved

During yesterday’s cruise on Heliotrope the strap attaching the head of the genoa to the halyard furling drum parted. A gust of wind, a bang, and then the big sail dropped about a foot. We furled immediately so no further damage done to the sail, and we were able to reach, reefed, back to the marina, so no problem.
This morning the sail came off but the halyard furling drum remained stuck at the masthead. Sue volunteered to ride the bosun’s chair up the mast, but after a few feet of winching I came to my senses and belayed that plan.
We left word with warfinger Jim that we were looking to hire an agile, smallish person with no fear of heights.
Later in the afternoon, Jim called to let us know that another boater in the marina had volunteered two recently purchased 15 foot extension poles—and they, when taped to our boat hook, were able to reach high enough.
So the halyard is retrieved, the sail is being repaired, and very soon the genoa will be back up where it belongs.
Back home we went for a row and observed what looked like a yawl very slowing drifting across the bay in a flat calm, apparently heading for the marina.
After dinner we will check it out.

Update: not a yawl—rather a ketch, and a big, beautiful one at that. Anchored out, so no chat.

Cocktail Cruise…

… with Bob and Wendy.

Beautiful evening.

Summertime…

…or at least it feels like it. Warmer, nice west wind, not too much smoke. Out nearly to Gooseberry on the Windrider, then back to Sandy Beach, and then a lazy run close to shore back to the marina.

Last night’s Chicken Milanese.

I forgot to mention breakfast at Mum’s. Surprisingly good.

Row Before Rain…

…then…

…time spent listening to rain on the roof, rain on the trees, rain on the bay, rain on the rocks. Quite a nice rain, enjoyed by flora, fauna, and me.

Windrider…

…set up, launched, and taken on a shakedown sail. Mission accomplished, but it’s always a bit more fiddle-faddle than we anticipate. Next time we will have the protocol memorized.

Bail The Boats…

…pulling boat, dinghies, kayaks. Quite a bit of water, but bailing is not that bad—not like shoveling gravel or washing walls.

And, the water level seems to be up, though certainly not enough precipitation to cause that.

Trip to the dump today, and earlier, victory in the battle with the VPN (I had to give up on tech support and figure it out for myself).

Cloudy most of the day, but bright blue by cocktail time. No smoke.

Rain Day

First real rain in a long time. Light to moderate but all day, and supposedly helping extinguish the wildfires. Also departure day—the Minocqua crew on the way home after a wonderful week.

Rain, Actually…

…very light now, but more forecast. Ab and kids hiked to the top of Cup and Saucer.

Local resident

Providential

Lunch, pickup volleyball for kids, a passing rain shower.

And, some team wood splitting.

Wonderful Sail…

…out to Harbor Island. From little wind to burying the rail to a fine, fast reach to flat calm as we motored back into the marina. Lunch (well, snacks) at anchor in the lee of Harbor. Mimi and Bubba just along for the ride. (Photos by Mimi)

Photo by Will

Photo by Abby

Afternoon Cruise…

…around Gooseberry. Flat calm, smoky, cool, dry. On Gooseberry we spotted a log that looked for all the world like an eagle. Motionless. When we got really close it turned out to be a eagle, and took off. Big bird. So much for the log.

Lunch at Anchor Inn in Little Current.

Hike To The Falls

Clearer air, quite a lot of water in the river.

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Another fine, dry, cloudless day, except for the smoke, which is affecting, apparently, all the northeast. Brisk north wind, so particulate matter not extreme, and kids able to be fully active. (Photos by Abby)

Fun In The Sun…

…though rain badly needed. (Photos mostly by Abby)

They’re Here

Let the wild rumpus start.

Long Walk Off A Long Pier

The pier is in.

Haze in the photo is wildfire smoke. Mark and Lysanne did the heavy work. The kids were here too, and afterwards we all had a pizza party (but not before some rock stacking).

And below, native choke cherry, up the driveway near the Lane.

Could The Pattern Be Breaking?

Another day without clouds or wind. Hot, dry, and still. But this evening, a rustle in the treetops, and a distant rumble of thunder. Here’s hoping.

Meanwhile, the dinghy continued to exhibit its sinking problem, in spite of yesterday’s caulking of the problematic Elvstrom bailer.

So, the boat got motored over to the Pinebox beach where I planned to extract the bailer and glass over the hole. But then Sue suggested a trouble shooting algorithm—put sections of the boat back in the water and look for leaks. That we did, and found that, rather than the bailer, a hole caused by a missing rub strake bolt was the source of the leak.

That’s an easy fix.

Tree Frog In The Shower…

…and guess who jumped when it sounded off with its remarkably loud voice.

Star Flower

Buttercup

Another hot, dry, windless day. Fire ban in effect. Out on the flat calm bay long ribbons of crud composed mainly of pine pollen, midge residue, and cottonwood fluff. Black flies gone but mosquitoes ferocious. With this dryness we can expect them to swiftly give way to deer flies.

A Little Too Warm…

…since the water is still a little too cold (for swimming).

Somebody power washed the dock sections and boardwalk.

Here’s the updated land bird list:
Hairy woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker
Sandhill crane
Raven
Crow
Jay
Blackbird
Ovenbird
Great crested flycatcher
Northern parula
Northern flicker
Robin
Winter wren
Nuthatch
Barred owl
Whippoorwill
Blackburnian warbler
American redstart
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Red-eyed vireo

The whippoorwill can drive a person crazy, and prevent sleep. But try a barred owl right outside the window at 2 a.m

Moved…

…from Gore Bay to Kagawong.

Departing Gore Bay

Motor sail all the way to and through the Clapperton Channel. But then, turning the green buoy at the top of Mudge Bay, a nice breeze of about 12 knots. On the nose, of course, but still a pleasant beat down the bay.

Too much sun, though, and rain is needed here.