Kayak, which was built in Rockport, TX about 18 years ago, experienced a fiberglass problem, but is now well on the way to a brilliant future. (Epoxy is amazing stuff.)
Picnic tables, ancient neighborhood hand-me-downs, might be coaxed along a few more years.
Stairs getting a re-paint, too. Hot work in the hot sun, but we quit in time for a sail on Heliotrope and a dip in the lake.
Inches and inches.
Swales full to overflowing, drains draining, which is unusual for this time of year. Good thing the dinghy is unsinkable, because this morning, before bailing, the floorboards were floating up to the center (seat) thwart.
But, as is typical, after a big weather event a seiche made its appearance, so the big lake water, instead of coming up, went down. The overall result has to be positive, however, since the deluge ranged from Wisconsin, across Lake Michigan, the state of Michigan, and Lake Huron—in other words, much of the watershed.
Late afternoon I sat for a good long while at the Zen spot, just being there. I watched a minuscule spider (possibly related to Whitman’s Noiseless Patient one, though not so patient) slide along an invisible strand from one blade of grass to another at least three feet away, in a matter of seconds. Method of propulsion a big unknown. Then, when I looked up, a bald eagle came winging by along the shore. (Maybe visible in the photo below if zoomed in.)
And, of course, deer in the grass, “alas, alas…”(although Gertrude was more worried about pigeons. )
…listening to it drum on the deck. Hard to beat. Of course, I got saturated later when I bailed the dinghy and took it for a row.
Substantial all-day rain; most significant of the season. Happy lakes and forests, soggy tourists.
Seventeen hours of light here on this day at 46 degrees north latitude. And tonight a full moon, though it will be occluded.
Above, wild lily—Tiger Lily, Canada Lily?
Below, Day’s Eyes.
…a little cooler and less humid, and no wind at all.
…hot and humid, but with an afternoon wind shift.
As we were out for the afternoon Windride an errant cloud sailed over bringing a dry squall, a shift to the west, and some minutes of gale force wind. Being reefed already, we found it fun.
Mimi productive behind the controls of the power washer; me more focused on reading and naps. Lively Windride, however, flying along under reefed main. Another brief chinny dip in the very cold water off the end of the pier.
…but with an onshore breeze, pleasant near the water.
A little zen rock stacking, and, we both took our first official bay water dip (up to the chin or a “chinny dip”) and that leaves a person well chilled long after.
…fish and chips for dinner at Purvis.
Bob and Merc here after a long drive from New Hampshire. Dinner, Sequence, conversation.
Above, morning row in Geode.
…after a day of grocery shopping, cleaning, and other mundane tasks.
Hot, bright, humid morning with a pervasive sense of possible storm. And by golly, at 5 pm we got what I call a Manitoulin mini—a few flashes, a few rumbles, and 5 minutes of rain.
Several ravens in the neighborhood are now talking it over, but this morning it was:
…from the bottom of Gore Bay to the bottom of Mudge Bay.
Leaving Gore, dinghy obediently following
Just after lunch
Heading down Mudge
Home port advantage
Brisk south wind out of Gore Bay, moderate breeze on the starboard quarter along the coast, fluky swirls of noting in the Clapperton channel, and then a nice beat down Mudge to Kagawong. It took us at least half an hour to get through the Clapperton channel, sitting at times without steerage, while whitecaps beckoned from just a few feet away. Sometimes, that’s the way of a sailboat.
Photos by Sue.
Forty-sixth year and looking good. Engine started right up. Refurbished main hoisted with new halyard, all smooth. Tomorrow we sail to Kagawong.
Canada anemone now blooming in Canada.
What started out wild and windy gave way to a beautiful afternoon, necessitating a bit of evening contemplation on the lower deck.
Bright sun, dark clouds all mixed by a lively northwest wind. Quite cool.
Garden iris, a donated transplant from the incredible old-time gardener’s garden in Mindemoya.
Wild, blue flag iris growing in the swale.
…sore, very cold.
We were helpers, but still, a lot of dancing over boulders, with mud and pebbles in our shoes.
Pulling the last section off the rocky shore, a line came loose and I did a gentle back dive, luckily landing in mud and not on boulders.
…but back after a whirlwind graduation week of fun and projects. Huge NW wind all the way from Minocqua to Kagawong, but as we were heading east, the wind was on our port quarter, which is a good place for it to be.
Note in the photo above that the water gauge rocks are not visible. Could that be because of all the recent rain, or just the mighty west wind?
…but, “we never complain about rain.” Mosquitoes, on the other hand…
Yellow Flag—nonnative iris that loves water and acidity.
Peace lily, or calla lily, another bog-loving plant. Native to northern Wisconsin, I think.
Katy now a high schooler. Congrats Katy.
