Post Trip Thoughts:

I have uploaded most of the video and photos from the trip here:

       http://www.flickr.com/photos/wombom/collections/72157627347127933/

The sets include my pictures as well as pictures and video from Elsabe (thanks).

Of particular note is the set from Goderich, and another set of pictures from around the internet of the tornado (not mine).  It certainly makes me pause and think what would have happened in that had come through while we were there.  The Harbour got very battered, and the Sifto buildings were badly damaged.  The salt loading conveyor, which we watched for quite a while the morning we arrived, was completely blown over and destroyed.  Buildings nearby were stripped of much of their roofing and metal cladding.   The marina we were at was right beside the harbour, and I'm sure must have been hit very hard, and must have been terrifying as debris was whipped about at high speed.

As I write this, a significant front passed through Lake Huron, southern Ontario, and finally through Kingston last night.  This morning, on King Street, telephone poles are down, and there is a fair amount of tree damage.  While we did have some foul weather on our trip, we were particularly lucky to avoid anything too serious.  Moral here is to always be vigilant and keep your options open when heading to big water.

Cheers
Chris

Mile 1551: Home again, home again, jiggity jig

Here is a track of the entire trip:

Some interesting stats:

• 1551 Nautical Miles ( 2872 km)
• 31 Days ( Average: 50 nm/day)
• 165 engine hours (~5 hours per day average, < 2 litres of diesel per hour, likely less than $450 for the whole trip)
• Max wind (under motor): 37 knots (squall near Detroit)
• Max wind (under sail): 32 knots (fresh breeze heading for Kagawong)
• Max speed (under sail): 11.8 knots SOG (on final leg to Kingston).  Chute up, surfing a wave - Niagara to Kingston
• Max speed (under motor): 10.5 knots SOG (passing under the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia, going with the current)
• Ice bags/blocks consumed: probably near 100!
• Breakdowns:
• Blown shackle on Vang (new shackle)
• Bum through forward hatch (duct tape, lots of it!)
• Torn batten pocket (needle & thread)
• everything else was minor
• Collisions with other boats: 0
• Collisions with underwater obstructions: 1 (Baie Fine)
• Sea Sickness events: 2
• Queasy events: 3-5
• Stable Flies killed: 1000's 

Our final leg of the journey had a variety of wind.  15-20 until midnight.  We has some large swells for most of the evening, but they subsided as the wind eased and shifted northerly.  As the morning hours approached, the wind became light a died.  We motored for some of the wee hours, but as we passed the Ducks, and the sun starting coming up, the wind picked back up again.

140 nm in 21 hours for an average of 6.6 knots all the way from Niagara.

The morning was perfect, with flat seas, a nice breeze, and great visibility.

The final few miles seem'd to go slowely, but before we knew it, we were head to wind, Cara Mia was welcoming us back, and we were at the gas dock (pump out!).  Once back in our slip, we solicited a ride from some friends to both pick up a vehicle, and to head to Morrison's for some breakfast.

We did a quick unload of the boat, and packed the Jeep as full as it would go.

Mmmmmm .... as fantastic a trip as it was, there is nothing like getting back to your own home on terra firma.

Cheers to anyone was was paying attention!

Safe and sound at home again, Let the waters roar, Jack
Safe and sound at home again, Let the waters roar, Jack
Long we tossed on the rolling main, Now we're safe ashore, Jack Don't forget your old shipmatesFolly-rolly-rolly-rolly-rye-o! We have worked the selfsame gunQuarterdeck division Sponger I, and loader youThrough the whole commission Long we tossed on the rolling mainNow we're safe ashore, Jack
Don't forget your old shipmates, Folly-rolly-rolly-rolly-rye-o!

I'd like to thank a few people who made it all possible:  John, Debbie, Jill, Aaron, Conrad, Elsabe, Kathy and Family, Coast Guard, Otto & Gertrud.

Chris

Preparing to depart

We spent another day in Niagara on the Lake to see if the winds would ease up.  Forecasts show about the same, possibly lighter winds this afternoon.  We're going to lash things down and head out near mid-day so we arrive in Kingston in daylight.  There will be big waves, but the sailing will be fast and I expect we'll make good time.  The winds will be westerly, so it will be a reach the whole way, but quartering seas (Sorry Earnest ... you may have to wait this one out).

We went to Fort George yesterday.  We wandered about the fortification.   We happened to stick out head into the Officers quarters, and one of the interpreters was giving a talk about musical instruments of the British at the time.  He followed that immediately by a weapons talk.  It turns out that this guy has been working here since the 80's and he was very good.   He was an excellent musician and played all the instruments (except the Serpent thingy) with aplomb.  He weapon talk was funny and engaging as well.

After that we wandered downtown and looked at shops (Went to the Scottish Shop).

We went to an Irish Pub for dinner, and then Linda and I went to a play while the boys hung out at the boat.  We saw the The Admirable Crichton.  Funny and a interesting exploration of the British class system.

We need to do some minor repairs, get some ice, tidy the boat, and we'll be heading out near noon.  I expect it will be a real workout of us and the boat.

See you back in Kingston.

Chris

Mile 1412: Niagara on the Lake

 

Got up a little late, but had to get blocks and cubes to keep the cooler under control.  We then headed for the canal entrance.  Immediately I noticed that engine sounded wrong ... intake must be plugged again even though I checked the strainer.  We motored slowly to the fee dock.  Linda paid our fees while I cleaned out the intake seacock (got to install a larger one!).   Linda was told we needed to hop to it to join a group already in the locks or end up having to wait for the next group.  I quickly reconnected the cooling water intake, popped the dinghy of deck and we headed right into the canal.  The bridge opened for us as we arrived, and we continued along without delays.  At the second or lock, we joined the other boats waiting for us.  A Coast Guard boat, and a very large motor boat.

We passed one up bound freighter (Algoma Transfer) in the process.  We had checked the AIS tracking website in the morning, and it showed virtually no traffic.

Except for a 15 minute period when the lock operators told us to tie up and wait, we has no delays.  Every bridge was open as we passed under, and all locks were green lighted and we motored right in.  Started at 10:30, and out the other end by by 4:30.  6 hours must be about the fastest you can transit the locks.  Not bad.

The weather was a combination of cool rain, mist, and some clear periods.  By the time we exited, it was quite pleasant out.

Once out of the piers, we took a quick right and checked out St Catherine's Marine ... didn't look so hot, so we went to NOLSC and found a slip there with much nicer accommodations and a hop away from the town.  Dinner out tonight!

A nasty electrical storm passed by during the night requiring battening down everything to keep dry.

Chris

Mile 1380: Port Colborne

We had a wet night at Erieau as a number of cells continued to pass by.  Is made for a nice sunset as we walked along the beach to the pier.   We could hear a low thronging noise as we reached the beach.  We thought it might have been the surf, but as we go closer, it was clearly something else.   Eventually we pinned it down to a fishing/work boat out of the lake booting it to the harbour.   It was only a spec on the horizon when we identified it.  It's incredible how far sound can carry in the right conditions.

We got our act together a little late and were heading back out to the lake by about 9am.   We hooked around the point, headed for long point, found our GPS track, and went on our way.    Ben examined our (my) GPS track in a little more detail, and correctly observed that my waypoint at Long Point would take us aground!  ... wuuups ... We don't leave the helm unattended, or the GPS unwatched, so would have noticed at some point, but it does show that you need to zoom in close when making waypoints, and double check the whole route after assembling the points.

The wind built for a while and then died and stayed dead for most of the night.  We kept the main up, but it did little to improve our progress or fuel economy.  As we approached Port Colborne, in the last few hours of the trip, the wind picked back up again, and the swells increased.  At one point, when Ben and I were below sleeping/napping we passed close to a freighter wake.  I noticed it, but Ben might have gone airborne!

Our night included a lot of time dodging well head marks.  Flimsy looking white PVC tubes that a scattered all over the Canadian waters of  Erie.  Through the night, we passed close to about 15 of these, with hundreds passing a little further away to be of less concern.  We had the big spot light out to try to locate them in the haze.  Most where pretty close to where the chart indicated.  The biggest worry is about new ones that are not yet on the charts.  We had a drilling platform in view for most of the night.

The Nanticoke power station provided us with something to look at for much of the night.  It's a big operation and make for good night viewing.  There appears to be one or more burn off stacks, and other large structures with lots of lights.

We pulled into Sugarload marina just before sunrise.  The sky was beginning to get light but only barely.  We found a spot after motoring through weeds so thick that the boat barely moved.  Once tied up, we all went below to get some sleep.

Tomorrow ... the canal.

Chris

Mile 1251: Erieau

The wind was up this morning.  In fact is was up last night.  Both Linda and I were up securing things outside, and making things quiet.  A sailboat is much like the sound box of a guitar and the shrouds and stays are like the strings.  Things like flag halyards, and radar dishes are amplified inside the boat.  In particular, in the aft berth, where the backstay attaches directly above your head, you can hear every thing that touches it, but 10x louder.
Anyway ... back to bed ... but at daybreak, it was blowing 15-20.  Not too bad, but a little rough outside the little harbour at Pelee (Scudders).

BTW, we see that our friends, Dragon III, had bee here in the past, perhaps on their trip to the North Channel a few years ago.  Ben left a Ramble On "imprint" on their dock.  A few weeks ago, when we here, they said they were planning on installing a new set of fingers.  Upon arrival, we saw a whole brand new set of fingers, almost doubling their capacity.

There appeared to be some event going on nearby.  We could hear a band playing in the distance, and there were a large number of boater partying at the dock.

Anyway ... after watching the weather for an hour or so, we decided to depart.  The WX weather on my GPS has been very handy.  I can just tap on weather buoys anywhere on the lakes, and get their current reading, usually only a handful of minutes old.  The forecasts were for ~15kts over most of the lake and diminishing, and the direction was favorable, so off we went.

John? ..does this count?

We wove around the the Pelee point light tower, and the shallows off Point Pelee and they reached in a straight light to Erieau.

The wind eased, then eventually built again as we approached, and the swells built as the water shoaled.  Entering the channel, was a little bumpy for dropping sails.

I'm wonder what this will catch?

We fueled up a the gas dock, and low and behold, found a LCBO/Beer Store right there too, right in the marine store 20 feet from the gas dock.  Someone is thinking here!

Once fueled up and pumped out, we puttered down the harbour and were assigned a spot along a very protected inner pier.  First class place this is!   Pool, super clean restrooms ... with art! ... all good.

We went for an evening walk between storm cells.  Looked at the local fishing harbour, went to the beach, and back around again.  This place is clearly vibrant.  The homes along this sand bar are nicely kept, the harbour is full, and it looks like things are continuing to develop.

Tonight we will check on the weather tomorrow.  We are thinking about heading for the canal in a 24 hour run.

Can anyone identify this?

Chris

Mile 1203: Pelee Island (again)

6pm, and we're back on Pelee Island.  We dodged a few small rain cells. and arrived to still, hot conditions, very similar to when we were here last.

Water green

New docks

Sunset

Chris