[Public-list] Test message..

Thu Nov 2 13:26:46 PST 2006

Gord,

You are the man. Awesome story. Thanks for sending.

Tally-ho!

J

On 11/2/06, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
>
> 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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