Well, at least we are near boats and water...Nap-town

We all know Syracuse is just about ready to get snow....yes, it sleeted today and it's really lousy here. But......we did get to Annapolis last weekend to harass Amy and Jason and also got a chance to catch up with Kismet and Kasidah, plus a few more friends. A good time was had by all and we got our crab sandwich at Davis's.

Wrapping up our sailing on Lake Ontario

It has been a very short sailing season up here this year and the time at Fair Point is winding down. There are not many folks left at the marina and our dock partners have already headed south so the evenings at the marina are very quiet. Fall is definitely here. Cooper Canvas is doing a little more work for us and we'll have some new sun shades and new solar panel for the winter sailing season. Now all we have to do is get our butts down there!!

Right now we are watching Kismet and Kasidah on their blogs.........we'll be a little quiet until we can catch up!!! Stand by............

Some pictures of the fun at Binnacle.....

Ok, sorry for the delay....Binnacle was GREAT!

It was my fault that the computer was left in GHP so we had no coverage for over 2 weeks. We did however have a super time with all the family and friends that showed up this year. We'll work on some of the stories over the next few days but in summary we had:

- something like 45 people show up

- Pasta night fed 20 nuts for a sit down dinner and was done by the Naptown 4

- Jack-son drove the Chief out of the Murray Suite with his snoring

-Jeff continued his cheating streak in the dinghy races

-someone we know got her hair wet for the first time in a long time

AND:

Teagan made about 45 more friends than ever before!!!!!!!!!!

& no Kim, she cannot date a American/French 15 month old hottie!!!

More updates to come.............

Binnacle Island......Here we all come!

This weekend begins the 2009 version of a "wild and crazy week" up in the 1,000 Islands. The whole fam damly will be there along with Teagan's 1st island trip. I have a feeling that her "island" days will be frequent over the next 50 years.......which island will be the only determination for this little girl.

Stand by for some good pictures of fun on the "rock"!!

Wellington, Ontario

It is always a fine time when we can make it to Wellington. The entrance is always interesting (very narrow with big rocks) but if one can make it into the entrance the town and warm water is great! This year there was 4 feet of water in the channel so no problem with getting in. There was shoaling at the public dock but we made it over the thin water went directly to our favorite sandbar and spent the next two nights swimming and cleaning Grey Hound. Wellington is the town that is closest to Sandbanks Provincial Park which boasts some of the nicest and biggest sand dunes on Lake Ontario. We try to make it there at least once a summer. If you can get in there it's some of the best holding and protected anchorages on the lake!!!!

For the return trip to Fair Haven we had to battle light "on the nose" winds and a big "A" thunderstorm but in the end we wrapped up the day with a nice 10-14kt sail for the last 14 miles. It kind of made up for the uncomfortable, slow first 30 miles!

Summer is here in the Great Lakes!

Over the last few days we have been able to get Grey Hound out on the water again. There wasn't enough time, but then again there never is so we headed north and checked in at Waupoos and met up with our buds, the Merrill's and had a couple of good days swimming and eating. We had a good lunch at the Waupoos Winery and of course the food coming from both Otium and Grey Hound tasted fine. For the second night we went over near Halfmoon Bay (Prince Edward Bay) for a change of pace and got to anchor in 29 feet of water........that anchor was sure a long ways down!

Jeff & Cathy had to head back to Sackets Harbor for work but we had two more days so it was west to Wellington!

Waupoos......finally!

After a great week watching our friends in action it was time to head to a more quiet place so after two nights in Kingston we took off for some anchoring. Because the winds were blowing pretty good right out of the west we decided to go to Sato Bay for a night a wait out the blow. We had a lovely night and we saw our first Bald Eagle of the year on Lake Ontario along with his buddy, the osprey. Oh yea, a small water snake decided it would be "cool" to rest on our transom until we decided he was not our type.

From there we had a great sail all the way down the North Channel and only had one tack to the Upper Gap on the lake. We had two good nights at Waupoos. Nu-it took us to the Black River Cheese Factory and we also met up with an old friend, Les (Cadenza II). He took my begging to heart and made us his famous soda bread for the trip south across the lake. Thanks Les!! You haven't lost your touch!

As part of the Mimico Cruising club's group we also met David & Brenda aboard Wind Rose II and Mike and Allison sailing Soul Healer. It's a small world as David and Brenda know of Jim & Sharon of mv Blue Angel from days past when they too had a Bayfield 36.............

Hobie Cat 16 Continentals

After Sugar Island we came towards Kingston and had a few good nights in the lee of Simcoe Island.  It ended up to be a nice anchorage with sand near shore.  After that we pulled into Olympic Harbor and caught up with a good many of our old Hobie friends while they help the Women's, Youth and Open events.  We had some good laughs and ended up being spectator boat for the week.  Fun time for all.  

Ah.....we're sailing again!

After a nice night in White's Bay (Henderson Harbor) we headed north to meet up with Otium in the islands.  On the way we got our first glimpse of the windmills on Wolfe Island.  While they may be needed today, the cutting down of beautiful trees and wrecking a nice landscape can't help us wonder if we are viewing a short term gain for a long term loss......who knows.

We caught up with Jeff & Cathy a Sugar Island and had a nice night on the hook.

WELL......better later than never!

July 14th and we have just completed the first sail on Lake Ontario for 2009

 - First 49 miles on a cold 61.5 degree lake

 - First sail with our new Mack Sails

 - First sail with a reef in our new Mack Sail main

 - First anchor in White's Bay

The seas were a lot bigger than the forecast but we blasted through them, got a little wet but now we are NOT tied to a dock!!

Life if Good!!!

A little bit of luck....

It is going to be a wet and unsettled week in Fair Haven but we had a good day today so Anne has proclaimed after today's waxing that Grey Hound is officially " de-salted!"  She looks just like she did before we did the 6 months in salt water............which means "lets go back and do it again!"

We had a few storms come through right at dinner but we got the lamb cooked between storms.   Now our mantra is:  Come on Mack Sail.............we need sails.

Now this is what you do for entertainment in the north!

Because the weather has been so lousy of late we have decided to start staring into the launch pit and wondering what we can find.  Then Arline decided that instead of just looking, why not get involved.....

Now remember the water isn't too warm up here yet but she is practicing to be an expert at diving for cell phones, so we have to give her credit.....

Victor now owes her some vino for the turnbuckle she pulled from the grimy deep.......

Tim, No worries here!!!.....enjoy Italy........Chow baby!  ;-)

Finally.......we're in!

After a long 6 weeks of cleaning and polishing we were able to get GH in the water last Friday during a brief spell in all the rain we've been having.  All went well and our boat is back on "A" dock for the season.

Hooray!

In the meantime.....a little different type of speed!

Anne and I went for a little boat ride to Connelly's Cove last night for dinner with John & Connie.  Their new 27 footer scooted right along.....if you call 52mph scooting!!

A good night was had by all and we got our first boat ride on Lake Ontario for 2009.  And yes, it is still pretty cool on the lake when you are going that fast!!