Day 23 (Friday July 16, 2010)
Grenadier Island, just off Mallorytown Landing
Today is the second last day of our trip. We were hoping for a month long voyage but decided to cut it a bit short since Sal did not get as much practicing or working out as he had hoped. This will give him a few extra days studying and getting in shape before he has his test in 10 days time. I’m looking forward to the comforts that living on land with electricity and running water has to offer. Sal is most looking forward to a long shower and I’m looking forward to a cold drink containing ice. I am sad in a way that the trip is ending. It feels like only a few days ago that we had launched the boat and were excited about all the places we would go. Sal and I have both learned a lot about sailing and living on a small boat, as well as how to work together and how at times it can be difficult to live with another person. We both had a great time and are definitely more confident and sure that our Bahamas trip will be a success. That is not to say that we didn’t have our arguments and disagreements but we also learned how to work them out and when to give each other the space we need.
Once the rain stops and the clouds clear a little, we will be heading towards Brockville, hoping to find a place to anchor for the night. Tomorrow we will take the boat out in Brockville and trailer her home. The next month and a half will consist of doing some minor upgrades and fixing some of the problems we encountered on this trial run. We will also be launching Chautauqua and helping my mom and dad get the house set, and all the last minute details that must be taken care of before leaving for an extended period of time.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
SAILING
We have absolutely had the most wonderful sailing the past week. Our first week out was cold and it rained every day. The opposite can be said about last week. It was hot and sunny and a good breeze each day.
We attempted to leave for Picton on the 30th of June but the winds were too strong and I didn’t feel comfortable, so we spent another cold day anchored off Amherst Island. We spent a lot of time reading, watching movies and practicing Spanish (Sal is trying to teach me). The following day the wind had died down significantly so we headed out again and made it to Picton which was a 21 nautical mile trip (probably more because we had to tack a few times). We anchored just outside of all the marinas and yacht clubs, sneaking the only spot not taken up by mooring bouys. Picton is very protected so we spend a quiet Canada Day evening, getting a glimpse here and there of the fireworks. The following day we spent running errands in town (laundry, groceries, LCBO) and we even treated ourselves to dinner out.
We continued our trip sailing up to Desoronto, Belleville and Trenton. The winds were westerly so we had to motor where the channel narrowed and where there was no room to tack. We found the Bay of Quinte quite busy, shallow and weedy so didn’t spend a lot of time swimming. We spent a night in Trenton’s Fraser Park Marina, which turned out to be the hottest night of our voyage, as the city blocked any breeze from cooling our little sailing vessel. However, we did get to treat ourselves to a nice ice cream and catch the latest Twilight movie. We continued on our way up the Murray Canal and to Presqu’ile. We spent a night there before our early morning departure into Lake Ontario and around to Waupoos (A 50 nautical mile trip). We have just spent the last 3 hot days exploring some areas of Waupoos and Prince Edward Bay, which both Sal and I loved. We visited a pebble beach, swam in the cool deep clear waters and watched beautiful sunsets before quickly seeking refuge in the cabin before getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.
Today we left Prince Edward Bay and sailed in Lake Ontario to Main Duck, where we are currently bobbing peacefully listening to music, reading and trying to decide what to have for dinner. Canned macaroni beef or canned tuna? Hehe no the food has been good. We have decided that we will not be bringing along any more corned beef, spam or canned peas, but other than that we have eaten well
We attempted to leave for Picton on the 30th of June but the winds were too strong and I didn’t feel comfortable, so we spent another cold day anchored off Amherst Island. We spent a lot of time reading, watching movies and practicing Spanish (Sal is trying to teach me). The following day the wind had died down significantly so we headed out again and made it to Picton which was a 21 nautical mile trip (probably more because we had to tack a few times). We anchored just outside of all the marinas and yacht clubs, sneaking the only spot not taken up by mooring bouys. Picton is very protected so we spend a quiet Canada Day evening, getting a glimpse here and there of the fireworks. The following day we spent running errands in town (laundry, groceries, LCBO) and we even treated ourselves to dinner out.
We continued our trip sailing up to Desoronto, Belleville and Trenton. The winds were westerly so we had to motor where the channel narrowed and where there was no room to tack. We found the Bay of Quinte quite busy, shallow and weedy so didn’t spend a lot of time swimming. We spent a night in Trenton’s Fraser Park Marina, which turned out to be the hottest night of our voyage, as the city blocked any breeze from cooling our little sailing vessel. However, we did get to treat ourselves to a nice ice cream and catch the latest Twilight movie. We continued on our way up the Murray Canal and to Presqu’ile. We spent a night there before our early morning departure into Lake Ontario and around to Waupoos (A 50 nautical mile trip). We have just spent the last 3 hot days exploring some areas of Waupoos and Prince Edward Bay, which both Sal and I loved. We visited a pebble beach, swam in the cool deep clear waters and watched beautiful sunsets before quickly seeking refuge in the cabin before getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.
Today we left Prince Edward Bay and sailed in Lake Ontario to Main Duck, where we are currently bobbing peacefully listening to music, reading and trying to decide what to have for dinner. Canned macaroni beef or canned tuna? Hehe no the food has been good. We have decided that we will not be bringing along any more corned beef, spam or canned peas, but other than that we have eaten well
Friday, July 2, 2010
TRIAL RUN
So today is day 6 of our trial sailing voyage on the St. Lawerence, Lake Ontario and surrounding areas. We are anchored off Amherst Island which is around 20 minutes West of Kingston. A ferry brings residence to and from the mainland. The anchorage is called Kerr Bay. There are currently 5 other boats anchored in the bay also. As I write this Sal is doing a workout on the deck to keep in shape for his upcoming police examination in the End of July.
I haven’t written in the blog in a long while, this is partly due to having dial-up internet at my parents place, being very busy with boat preparations and work and a hint of procrastination. Over the past few months we installed 2 water tanks in Second Wind, one that holds 15 gallons in the bow, and one that holds 26 gallons under the port setee. We also installed a holding tank for the head under the cockpit. This turned out to be quite a tense day as the tank took 2 weeks to arrive and though I had sworn the measurements I took were correct, it was about ½ inch too long. I got lucky in that we were able to do a bit of trimming along the edges of boat and it just fit with two people maneuvering the tank to various angles. Other jobs included painting, putting in locker dividers, installing a water pump for the water tanks and creating an anchor locker in the stern for our Danforth.
My parents have also been very busy getting their boat Chautauqua ready for launch, hopefully mid August. My dad has recently painted the decks, we painted the bottom and a new waterline. The galley was redone, holding tanks, water tanks, new interior cushions, etc. etc. The list goes on. Last time we spoke they had put in the new engine and propeller.
So Sal finished work mid May, and has been doing a lot of travelling between Kitchener and Brockville and getting things organized for his application to RCMP and Regional police. I worked on the neighbours dairy farm until the middle of June. We are planning to have this trip last approximately 1 month to see if #1. It’s possible, for us to live together in tight quarters #2 get the bugs out and find any improvements before we go on the ‘big adventure’ and #3 take some time to enjoy the summer since we haven’t really had a summer together for the whole time we’ve been together.
We launched the boat Thursday June 24th in Gananoque between the periods of rain. The engine started, we got all our food stores packed away and we awaited a break in the rain before motor sailing around to an anchorage off Leek Island. We spent the rest of the day putting everything away and getting used to ‘life afloat’. The next day we had a great sail up to Brakey Bay, followed by a wet sail to Navy Bay (between RMC and Fort Henry in Kingston) and then the following day motored to Confederation Basin where we got a slip in the day docks for the night. My parents came up for coffee and to check that we were doing ok. We left yesterday and had another great sail past Kingston up to Kerr Bay where we’ve spent the whole of today relaxing and catching up on some reading. Our plan is to head to Picton and then up to Belleville.
Next post will hopefully be shorter in both time and length.
I haven’t written in the blog in a long while, this is partly due to having dial-up internet at my parents place, being very busy with boat preparations and work and a hint of procrastination. Over the past few months we installed 2 water tanks in Second Wind, one that holds 15 gallons in the bow, and one that holds 26 gallons under the port setee. We also installed a holding tank for the head under the cockpit. This turned out to be quite a tense day as the tank took 2 weeks to arrive and though I had sworn the measurements I took were correct, it was about ½ inch too long. I got lucky in that we were able to do a bit of trimming along the edges of boat and it just fit with two people maneuvering the tank to various angles. Other jobs included painting, putting in locker dividers, installing a water pump for the water tanks and creating an anchor locker in the stern for our Danforth.
My parents have also been very busy getting their boat Chautauqua ready for launch, hopefully mid August. My dad has recently painted the decks, we painted the bottom and a new waterline. The galley was redone, holding tanks, water tanks, new interior cushions, etc. etc. The list goes on. Last time we spoke they had put in the new engine and propeller.
So Sal finished work mid May, and has been doing a lot of travelling between Kitchener and Brockville and getting things organized for his application to RCMP and Regional police. I worked on the neighbours dairy farm until the middle of June. We are planning to have this trip last approximately 1 month to see if #1. It’s possible, for us to live together in tight quarters #2 get the bugs out and find any improvements before we go on the ‘big adventure’ and #3 take some time to enjoy the summer since we haven’t really had a summer together for the whole time we’ve been together.
We launched the boat Thursday June 24th in Gananoque between the periods of rain. The engine started, we got all our food stores packed away and we awaited a break in the rain before motor sailing around to an anchorage off Leek Island. We spent the rest of the day putting everything away and getting used to ‘life afloat’. The next day we had a great sail up to Brakey Bay, followed by a wet sail to Navy Bay (between RMC and Fort Henry in Kingston) and then the following day motored to Confederation Basin where we got a slip in the day docks for the night. My parents came up for coffee and to check that we were doing ok. We left yesterday and had another great sail past Kingston up to Kerr Bay where we’ve spent the whole of today relaxing and catching up on some reading. Our plan is to head to Picton and then up to Belleville.
Next post will hopefully be shorter in both time and length.
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