…in preparation for visitors from Colorado. Had to go to both Mindemoya and Gore Bay to complete the shopping list. (Both stores somewhat depleted after the holiday. )
Pretty much stumped about how to get out of the political quagmire in the U.S.
Strong south wind, a few afternoon wisps of drizzle. And, now that I mentioned the lack of transients, two in the marina tonight
,
Cottages occupied, parties, fireworks—but nothing excessive. Good beach day—sunny, warm, and calm. Water warm enough for a swim.
Three sailboats anchored off, but no transients. In fact, no transients all year. Season off to a slow start.
Not on this year’s to-do list, but what’s the fun of having a boat if you don’t work on it all the time?
Quite chilly last night, after a little rain. Blustery west wind today.
Water up; probably wind induced.
Two varieties of Asclepias.
But, to my untrained eye, no sign of eggs or baby caterpillars.
…so bit of a gray day. Something between mist and drizzle.
Kayak back in service. Mimi accomplished a variety of tasks.
Not much sleep last night. Still trying to recover from the debate.
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.
…for this boulder.
Whereas we’ve been rolling along—pier scrubbed, stone steps down to the pier rearranged, deck steps painted, kayak sanded and given an epoxy overcoat. R and R on the agenda tomorrow (after a visit to the dump).
…natives making up the surrounding forest. Just a few of the shrubs and trees that have chosen this place to live.
Spreading Dogbane
Canada Honeysuckle
Chokecherry
Beaked Hazelnut
Staghorn Sumac
Round Leaf Dogwood
Ninebark
Big Leaf Linden
Sugar Maple
Northern Red Oak
Of course, this leaves out birch, ash, poplar, all the conifers, and much else.
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:
