Day Seven Journey to the North Channel Wednesday July 7, 2021

Sister's Cottage in Oliphant  

Woke up at 10:30 am!!!! I cannot believe I slept that late. I guess we were tired. Being on dry land was a comforting experience. The weather was cold and wet. So thankful to be in a warm cottage.

Dick and Bill went to Wiarton to find stove alchohol. The company Captain Phab quit making it during the pandemic and started making sanitizer. Bill found a place in Wiarton that had Lloyd's brand.

Janet and I had a wonderful day to catch up. She made us a delicious dinner and drove us back to the boat.

When we got back to the boat we checked the weather and we have a wonderful wind tomorrow and  a purposeful direction to the wind. We hope to make Tobermory. Sound like a long and wet day.

Day 6 Journey to the North Channel Tuesday July 6, 2021

 Bayfield to Port Elgin

Today we headed out and it was what we call on Lake Erie a bug day. There was no wind and so we set the auto pilot and cleaned and packed, read and ate. We made it in to Port Elgin about 4:30 pm and we were meet on the dock by my sister and her husband Bill. This had been a milestone for me to sail to my sisters cottage in Oliphant. We were advised by sailors in Erieau to pick Port Elgin and leave GraceC tied up at a dock. We went to Wismers for dinner and they took us back to the cottage for the night. 

It was a rainy and windy night and so glad we decided to park here. 

Day Five Journey to the North Channel July 5, 2021

 The Cove at Sarnia to Bayfield

We decided at 45 nautical mile trip today was long enough so that brought us to Bayfield.

My cousin Brenda joined us for the evening and took us to The White Squirrel Golf Course. Apparently the owner started M&M Meats. It was all outdoors. Bayfield Restaurants are closed on Mondays. The Albion Hotel had a 40 minute wait so we went up the road and later for a tour to Grand Bend.

It was fun to catch up and see all the places. Ed and the boys have decided to sail all night. 

Day Four Journey to the North Channel July 4, 2021

 Peche to Sarnia Yacht Club/NOT

Day Four reminded me of walking a tight rope. The sportof cruising we took up puts you in positions like that sometimes. We were depended on our engine for the whole day. No wind and calm water meant we would not have support from the sails and we had a downbound current to forge through all day. If the engine fails today we are in a big pickle. All around us is the beauty of creation and everyone out enjoying water sports for the 4th of July. You become the centre of massive amount of wake waves that throw you around like a top. After a day of this my head was pounding. We still had the Blue Water Bridge ahead where you get down to one knot. Oh engine, 'do not fail us now. '

I had called Sarnia Yacht Club and amazingly was told I had a reservation. What I did not know at the time was I was talking to another marina. We forged on to the Sarnia Yacht Club and stopped for diesel. When we asked our dock location the marina deck hand call someone and they told us they were NOT taking TRANSIENT Boaters for 2021. 

Dick and I had to Anchor in a small body of water. This gave us front row seats got 4 of July Fireworks all the way up the coast of Michigan and they were letting off  about every mile down the coast. Never seen anything like that before.

It was a sweet treat to be the only boat in the anchorage and have the celebration take place when your are there.

Wake in the St. Clair River

Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia 

Day Three Journey to North Channel July 3, 2021

 Leamington to Peche Island Anchorage

This was an exciting day for me. We left Lake Erie and headed up the Detroit River. The water way narrows and you can see things on both sides of the boat. Actually you see two different countries! I wish my parents could have joined us they would have loved the view. Sailing under the Ambassador Bridge was a big thrill for me and brings back memories of  some many wonderful visits to the USA.

The Kanters told us about an anchorage at Peche Island across from Windsor Yacht Club. It was a great location and apply placed for a break. Ed and his all man crew joined us for the evening. Terry and Steve braved the waters and swam over for a visit. This is our first visitors on the trip.

The weather co-operated and we had a glass sea and low wind. It was a good practice at our first anchorage. One of the power boats beside us came over in their dinghy to talk and they were former Port Stanley residents. They have been enjoying the Island Provinacial park for years now.

Day Two Journey to the North Channel

 Left Erieau this morning at 8:00 am. Lisa Freeman waved good-bye. The wind was 15 to 20 knots from the North so we left the main down and just ran with the Gib. The waves kept building and it picked up as the day went on. After we rounded the Point Pelee we had to take the sail down and beat into the wind and waves directly. It was the most uncomfortable ride I have been on in Grace C. It kept crashing in the troughs. When we got into the harbour we realized our electrical panel has pulled the screws out and blew them across the room with the washers and the anchor cover I made had blown aside in the wind and the waves has spilled into the anchor locker and wet the end of our bed. We were happy it was only 8 miles.

The weather at night is going down to 11 degrees and so we went to a store and got a blanket and I picked up some long sleeve tops. So much for packing in sweltering heat. 

The harbour here is beautiful for photos and so we got to see a graduation complete with Oscar winning carpet ball gowns. Not something I expected to witness.

Day One Journey to the North Channel 2021

This holiday we have been planning for over a year began today, Canada Day 2021. Our weather window opened for two days of North wind so we were able to get away when we planned. Because it is the holiday we were joined by some other boats from the club. I called the marina mid day to book a dock and they said they were full for two weeks!! Erieau had been discovered. That meant we would have to anchor in Rondeau Bay. When we rounded Point of Pins the wind was really strong and the bay was not an option.We went up the creek to Erieau Marina to beg for mercy. Kathy was on the dock and tied us up with no problem. Lisa and Manfred Kanter came down to welcome us and she was happy to see we knew each other. Kudos to Kathy an wonderful dock master and someone who has your back.

All the Port boats were put together and Randy was the harbour Prince who towed Christine in for six hours. Amazing people you meet out on the lake. We fortunately ran into Bill Kerr and his family. Bill and his wife Annalee have gone to the North Channel 18 summers now and they were full of some tips and things to watch out for.

I am starting to realize as we enjoy our retirement honeymoon age that we are old enough to have some wonderful friends we have know for a lifetime and young enough to be able to still enjoy this sport of sailing.

Special thanks to Rose Lang for getting up to take the photo as we left on Thursday am