[Public-list] Test message..

Gordon Laco mainstay at csolve.net
Thu Nov 2 12:59:35 PST 2006 

OK- you asked for it...



Well indeed,

We had a fair measure of weirdness, some misery, and one evening of nice
weather.

Here goes...MISERY TRIP '06

Day One

Departed Midland about 10:00 am broad reached in a blessed 10-12kt sw wind
up Severn Sound, up backside of Giants Tomb Island, through the newish
bouyed channel around northern tip and up to O'Donnell Channel light.  Went
in through the reefs there and toodled under power up to Wreck Island.
Grilled steaks over camp fire, ate them in the rain.

Day Two

Howling north wind after frigid night (but warm and dry in the cabin with
the woodstove stoked up all night...) Motored up past San Souci, across
Parry Sound entrances and on up Adanac Island way... Fog and light air from
north as we approached Sin Twisters aka Twin Sister Islands), but visibility
cleared and all was well as we rounded them.

Arrived Pointe au Baril about mid afternoon.  Walked around friend's cottage
(closed up for season of course) found all well. As dark fell retreated to
Siren Song's mooring.  Also admired colossal peeled snake skin on walkway...

Were awoken at 4am by screaming wind as squall came through; dressed and sat
in cockpit watching the violence.  Were quite surprised to see bay suddenly
drained of water - docks aground and all. After about an hour the water all
came back.  Were very glad to be on the mooring and not in the river mouth
as first considered; with a seitch like that the current there must have
been considerable.  Learned later that an intense low had passed just south
of us and had slurped up the water for a while.

Had a bad moment when a very ugly struggle nearly broke out... Was in
process of setting extra anchors I pulled a life jacket out of the cockpit
locker and dropped it.  A moment later I looked for it and found it gone.
Rod had put it on.  Apparently I looked a little fierce when I took it
back... We laughed and laughed later at the thought of how we would have
looked fighting over a life jacket while the storm howled.

Day three

Motorsailed up to Pointe au Baril lighthouse - told Rod story (probably
again but he was a good sport) of earlier trips there.  Just for old times
sake sailed in lumpy swells 15K NW wind out to bell buoy (not bell any
more...) then back into Nares Inlet.  Anchored in little cove Caroline named
Birdsong Bay last year.
Quiet night.

Day Four

Sailed off anchors and out inlet, roared back into P au B under genny alone;
hung a right at Kitsilano Channel and banged a rock in the narrows just past
(who put that f*kn thing there - must have gone over it a hundred times...)
motor sailed in drizzle down past Twisters and increasing sw wind, blowing
over 30 by CCG weather report at Twisters.  Once out from behind them
slogging along at 3/4 throttle only making 3kts into fairly large steep
waves...ducked into inside passage and peace.

Motored all day getting blasted every time an openning appeared in islands -
decided to stop at Franklin Island Regatta Bay (crowded in summer but of
course not now) A little traumatized by the violence of the wind all day,
forcast promised worse during night so put down two anchors and had a nap.

Were awoken about 4pm by squall (right on time by forecast) and noticed we
dragged during it.  Once past got to work in dinghy and moved boat further
up bay and laid elaborate tackle.  Doubled little Bruce anchor on the big
CQR on the all chain rode... Teamed up two fisherman anchors (like Popeye
has on his arm) on 100' nylon 60 degrees to stbd... Big danforth on nylon 60
to port.  Five anchors down on three lines... Had a peaceful night although
it howled the whole time.

Charcoal running out so all hands frantically cutting firewood to fit in
stove as sun set....

Day Five

Blessed clear day - motored in glassy calm around entrances to Parry Sound,
on down to Long Sault.  Anchored for lunch in cove off channel (one of those
I have looked at for years and said - if only we could stay there some time
instead of being half way to somewhere evey time...)  Saw eagle nab a large
bird (crow?) then eat it while being yelled at by two crows sitting just
above it out of reach in tree.  Wondered if they wanted to avenge a friend,
or steal the feast, or both?

Ran aground in mud on way out - moment of fear as it crossed collective
minds that water had dropped while anchored but no, not this time, got out.

Sadly looked again at ruin of old cottage at narrows that burned down
recently.

Stopped in at Sans Souci for fuel and pumpout - found all power still out
from storm of day 2  - nothing working.  Bought two steaks and some pototoes
carried on with all our sh*t still below but OK so far, tank not near full.

Motored all day down to Indian Harbour, anchored with two hooks off cove on
Bands Island.  Went ashore and cooked steaks over coals of fire, ate them in
soft warm clear air sitting on rock top of island watching sun set.  Lovely.

Went back down to shore and lay on warm rocks feet toward fire watching
stars - incredible show.  Suddenly heard loud clank on Rod's beer can.
Switched on flashlights and saw HUGE beetle enjoying fire with us.  Measured
4" See pictures, look at evil shining eyes...  V. ugly monster.  Eventually
flew off into dark. Holy cow, it can fly?!

Suddenly darkness not so attractive anymore, retreated to boat lit woodstove
and continued yarning in safety.

 Wye Marsh naturalist has since reported we encountered a female Giant Water
Bug. Wonder how it got that name...

Day 6

Woke to calm and morning mist to find a 30 yacht was anchored near us, must
have come in while we were ashore eating evening before.  Was from King Bay
and had dead batteries.  Handed over our booster and circled while he
started up.  Parted, he going North we going South.

Wind built all morning to usual howler on the nose.  Went inside all way
down to Honey Harbour, were in hopes of sailing close hauled from Present
Island to Midland.  Not to be.  Once out in Sound big pair of squalls
developed and motored through them.  Watched fool behind us sailing into one
with everything up, then panic scramble to drag down sails while on ear
sliding onto lee shore at Present.  Could imagine tale later "...wind came
suddenly from out of nowhere...'

Arrived at Club late afternoon - Called Caroline on cell, had quiet beer
with her before going home.

Airport shuttle picked up Rod at 3am to catch plane back to Boston - end of
story.

-------------

Big improvements to boat this season were second fuel tank with associated
valves; complete success.  Extra range v nice and engine ran fine.  I have
always wanted to increase the range but here is how I came to break down and
do it.

This summer the fuel gauge on the factory installed tank died.  Traced
trouble to sending unit.  Discovered cannot come at sending unit without
removing tank...can't remove tank without removing steering and engine.

Decided to break down and install new second tank with working new sending
unit... Routine now is to use old #1 tank until empty (estimating fuel by
hours run) then switch to new larger tank with gauge.  Success.

The other improvement was decent galley water pump.  What a diff to washing
dishes etc that little change made.

Perhaps becoming fond of boat at last... Still  dream about finding Touch
Wood and buying her again though.











> Gord Who,  tell us a story.  Tales of misery cruises, lost kayaks, cockpits
> full of water, sailor versions of the Darwin Awards,  the Canadian version
> of the rebel yell while docking; that kind of stuff.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [Public-list] Test message..
> 
> 
>> Gord who ?
>> ; )
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>
>> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at alberg30.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 2:35 PM
>> Subject: [Public-list] Test message..
>> 
>> 
>>> Hi there - this is a test message - have not heard from anybody for a
>>> long
>>> time...
>>> 
>>> Gord #426
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
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