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5TH NOVEMBER MOBILE ALABAMA. STICK OR GO ? FUNNY HOW THING’S NOT IN THE LEAST RELATED TO NAUTICAL MATTERS EFFECT OUR VOYAGING. THING’S GOT OUT OF SINC AT DEMOPOLIS AS WE ARRIVED ON A SATURDAY AND COULD NOT GET TO THE POST OFFICE THAT DAY TO SEND OUR DVD TO THE DUPLICATORS IN THE UK SO WE WAITED AT ANCHOR AND BERTHED IN THE MARINA ON THE MONDAY AND EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE POST OFFICE ON THE TUESDAY AND POSTED OUR MAIL. WE LEFT DEMOPOLIS MARINA THE NEXT DAY WEDNESDAY AND WENT TO ANCHOR AS BAD WEATHER WAS FORCAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAY’S UNTILL THE SATURDAY, THIS AMOUNTED TO ONE WHOLE WEEK DELAY TO POST TWO LETTERS. AT LAST ON THIS SATURDAY AFTER THE FOG HAD CLEARED WE TRANSITED DEMOPOLIS LOCK TO CONTINUE DOWN THE TENN TOM WATERWAY. BECAUSE OF OUR DELAY WE PUSHED OURSELVES TO DO OVER THE 40 MILES PER DAY TO CATCH UP WITH OUR SCHEDULE WHICH WAS TO LEAVE BARBAROSSA ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA IN DECEMBER AND FLY BACK TO THE UK FOR CHRISTMAS. WE WERE UNDERWAY IN THE MORNINGS AS SOON AS THE FOG CLEARED AND WOULD ANCHOR AT DUSK AND WITHIN 4 DAY’S WE HAD TRANSITED THE LOWER TENN TOM WATERWAY THROUGH MOBILE TO TURNERS BOATYARD ON DOG RIVER IN MOBILE BAY, WHERE, WE HAD ARRANGED FOR THEM TO STEP BARBAROSSA’S MAIN MAST, BUT WE RAN OUT OF WATER AT THE MARINA ENTRANCE. THEN, WITH AN ASSURANCE THAT IT WAS SOFT MUD ALL THE WAY TO THE TRAVELIFT BERTH, I PUT OUR OLD ENGINE FLAT OUT (A RARE OCCURRENCE) AND MANAGED TO PLOUGH A FURROW WITH BARBAROSSA’S KEEL 150 YARDS AT A 1 QUARTER OF A KNOT. WHERE BARBAROSSA’S MAIN MAST OF 1500 LBS WAS RAISED SKYWARDS AT LAST. WE THEN MANAGED TO PLOUGH OUR WAY OUT AND INTO A SLIP. WE THEN CAME THE DILEMA. TURNERS MARINA @ 75 CENTS A FOOT IS A REALLY NICE FRIENDLY MARINA BUT THE AIR FARES FROM MOBILE TO UK ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE. VERSES ? IF WE MOVE ONTO FLORIDA THE MARINAS ARE APPROXIMATELY 2 DOLLARS A FOOT BUT THE AIR FARES ARE RELATIVELY CHEAP. SO, WITH THE DOCTRINE OF ’BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW’. AND WHEN YOU THROW IN THE RISING DOLLAR WE HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE BARBAROSSA HERE IN MOBILE OVER DECEMBER AND FLY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS TO CONTINUE OUR VOYAGING EASTWARD TO FLORIDA AND HENCE THEN PREPARE FOR OUR ATLANTIC CROSSING BACK TO BENFLEET CREEK UK.
LOG DEMOPOLIS ALAMABA 19TH OCTOBER 2008 BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF INTERUPTIONS AND UNDOUBTED OFFERS OF HELP WE LEFT GREEN TURTLE BAY MARINA AND ANCHORED IN A BAY JUST OUTSIDE AND SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY RAISING THE MIZZEN MAST AND GETTING READY TO RAISE THE MAIN MAST ON THE MORROW. THE MIZZEN MAST WAS RELUCTANT AND THE STAYS SEEMED TO CATCH AROUND EVERYTHING BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY AND A FEW ARGUMENTS LATER IT WAS RAISED AND EVERYTHING WAS READY. THE NEXT MORNING BRIGHT AND EARLY WE MOTORED BACK INTO THE MARINA AND AFTER AN HOUR WE BERTHED IN THE TRAVEL HOIST BERTH WHERE THE FOREMAN (WHO HAD SIZED UP THE RAISING OF OUR MAIN MAST THE DAY BEFORE) CALMLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR LIFTING ARRANGMENT COULD NOT REACH. SO AFTER A FEW CHOICE WORDS WE MOTORED OUT OF THE MARINA AND STARTED OUR PROGRESS UP THE TENNESSEE RIVER AGAINSTED THE CURRENT AND HAMPERED BY THE LOW WATER SITUATION WHICH WAS ABOUT 5FT BELOW NORMAL. THIS DENIED MANY OF THE RECOMMENDED ANCHORAGES TO BARBAROSSA’S 6FT 3INS DRAFT. WE DID HOWEVER MANAGE TO GET INTO PEBBLE ISLE MARINA A VERY FRIENDLY FAMILY RUN MARINA WHICH WE WISHED WE HAD FORGONE GREEN TURTLE AND SPENT MORE TIME HERE. ONLY ONE FRUSTRATING THING THEIR EXELLENT CRANE JUST COULD NOT REACH ENOUGH TO PUT OUR MAST UP DUE TO THE LACK OF WATER. CONTINUNING OUR PASSAGE UP THE TENNESSEE RIVER STOPPING AT VARIOUS ANCHORAGES WE FINALLY REACHED PICKWICK LOCK BUT NOT BEFORE WE HAD HIT A DEAD HEAD WHICH POLE VOLTED BARBAROSSA OVER 10 DEGREES AND SENT SU AND I FLYING OVER ON DECK BUT ON CHECKING THE BILGE THANKFULLY THE OLD GIRL SEEMED OK. FRIDAY THE 10TH OCTOBER AFTER TWO DAY’S SPENT IN AN EXELLENT ANCHORAGE ON PICKWICK LAKE WE DECIDED TO BEGIN OUR PASSAGE DOWN THE TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY. AS WE MOTORED OUT ONTO THE LAKE I ESPYED A CRANE BUILDING A MARINA ON THE OPPOSITE BANK SO I MOTORED BARBAROSSA ACROSS AND ASKED THE GUY IF HE WAS INTERESTED IN RAISING OUR MAST FOR $200 HE SHOUTED HE WOULD HAVE TO RING HIS GOVERNER WHO REPLIED HE WAS NOT INSURED FOR THAT SORT OF THING! I SHOUTED NO WONDER THE ECONOMY IS IN SUCH A MESS (GET ME BACK TO ESSEX U.K WHERE ANYTHING IS DONE FOR READY‘S AND CASH IS STILL KING). WE THEN MOTORED AROUND TO THE JAMIE WITTEN LOCK WHICH LOWERED US 84FT THE BIGGEST LIFT WE THINK BARBAROSSA HAS BEEN IN AND AT LAST WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS DOWN TO SEA LEVEL AND FOR THE LAST WEEK HAVE BEEN MAKING OUR WAY DOWN THE TENN TOM RIVER WHICH HAS HAD ITS OWN PROBLEMS IN THE WAY THAT MANY OF THE PUBLISHED ANCHORAGES HAVE SILTED UP AND IT HAS TAKEN US SOMETIMES TWO HOURS TO FIND A SAFE CREEK OUT OF THE WAY OF THE TOWS AND MANY NIGHTS WE HAVE ANCHORED AGROUND IN SIDE DITCHES AMONGST THE BUGS SNAKES AND SPIDERS WHICH DOSE NOT PLEASE SU. ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS IS THAT I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED THE FULL ( 2HR 40MINS) VERSION OF OUR MOVIE OF THE FIRST PART OF THIS VOYAGE (LONDON ENGLAND TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND IT IS READY TO BE SENT TO THE DUPLICATORS AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON THE FIRST OF DECEMBER.
CUMBERLAND RIVER 30/09/08 WE HAD A GOOD TIME AT GRAFTON WHILE WAITING FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO BE OPENED TO NAVIGATION AND MADE MANY FRIENDS FROM THE STINKPOTS GANGS THAT WERE ALSO HELD UP BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING. WE ALSO MADE FRIEND’S WITH THE COUPLE (MIKE & SHERRI) THE RIVER TOUR BOAT. MIKE, (A BRIT) AND I BOTH WORKED FOR CRESCENT SHIPPING BACK IN THE U.K AND HAD PLENTY OF YARNS TO SWAP ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY TOOK SU & I OUT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT TO A LOCAL HOT SPOT OF “FAST EDDIES” . THE NEXT DAY SUNDAY , A GROUP OF MERRY BOATERS INSISTED THEY TAKE US UP THE TO THE “WINERY” WHERE THE VIEW OVER THE MISSISSIPPI WAS SPECTACULAR AND THE WINE GOOD. SEPT 22ND MONDAY WITH THE WATER LEVEL IN THE MARINA FALLING FAST (TOGETHER WITH THE DOLLAR LEVEL IN MY POCKET) I WAS ANCIOUS TO LEAVE. THE LOOPERS (AN ASSOCIATION FOR BAOTERS ON THE GREAT LOOP) HAD TRIED TO GET US TO GO ON THEIR LIST, TO FILTER THE BACKLOG OF BOATS DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI, BUT SU INFORMED THE REALLY NICE GUY THAT ASKED, SORRY, “BUT ROB JUST DOSEN’T PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS“, AND THE MATTER WAS LEFT AT THAT AND WE LET GO FROM THE MARINA AND PROCEEDED 4 MILES DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI TO ANCHOR BEHIND PORTAGE ISLAND. THE NEXT DAY AT 0800HR I TELEPHONED THE COASTGUARD AND WITH COMPLETE SURPRISE THEY SAID THAT THE RIVER WAS NOW OPENED TO PLEASURE CRAFT. I WAS LIKE A MAN POSESED IN WEIGHING ANCHOR AND GETTING ON THE ROLLER COASTER CURRENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI BEFORE THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS. “BARBAROSSA”, WAS PROPELLED THROUGH ST LOUIS AT A HEADY 10 KNOTS WITH OUR OLD GARDNER ENGINE ON TICKOVER AND BY 1400HR WE HAD MADE THE 55 MILES TO HOPPIES MARINA, WHERE THE WISE OLD MRS HOPPIE SERVED US DIESEL AND HELPED US MOOR UP FOR THE NIGHT. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG WITH THE “LIST” AS ONLY “BARBAROSSA” AND TWO OTHER BOATS WERE AT HOPPIES THAT NIGHT. WE LEFT HOPPIES THE NEXT DAY AND WIZZED DOWN TO KASKASKIA LOCK TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN COMPANY WITH MOTOR BOATS THAT HAD BEEN STUCK THERE FOR TWO WEEKS. NEXT MORNING AFTER BEING DELAYED BY FOG WE TRAVELLED THE 66 MILES TO OUR ANCHORAGE IN A SWIFT 6 HOURS BUT IT WAS NOT WITHOUT STRESS, AS THE NAVIGATION BUOYS WERE BEING DRIVEN UNDERWATER BY THE CURRENT AND WOULD AT AN INPACT OF 10 KNOTS CERTAINLY PUT A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH “BARBAROSSA”, THIS WAS SERIOUS STUFF! SO, IT WAS NOT WITHOUT RELIEF THAT AFTER 4 DAYS WE LEFT THE MISSISSIPPI TURNED LEFT TO PROCEED UP THE OHIO RIVER AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE PUNCHING THE CURRENT FOR 60 MILES IT SEEMED A BREEZE AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN WE TURNED RIGHT INTO THE CUMBERLAND RIVER STILL PUNCHING THE CURRENT FOR ANOTHER 20 MILES TO THE TOWN OF GRAND RIVERS AND GREEN TURTLE BAY MARINA WHERE WE RAN FIRMLY AGROUNDTRYING TO GET INTO OUR ALOTTED SLIP. AFTER AN HOUR OF TUGGING WITH THE MARINA BOAT AND THE OLD GARDNER FLAT OUT, “BARBAROSSA” FINALLY DECIDED TO COME OFF OF THE BOTTOM AND WE DOCKED IN ANOTHER PART OF THE MARINA AND ARE NOW TRYING TO ORGANISE GETTING BARBAROSSA’S MAST BACK UP.
SATURDAY 13TH SEPT THE REMENENTS OF HURRICAN IKE STARTED GIVING US HIS LITTLE PRESENT. IT RAINED AND RAINED AND THE WATER IN THE RIVER STARTED TO RISE DRAMATICALLY BUT WE WERE SAFE IN OUR LITTLE SIDE CREEK WHICH NOW RATHER RESEMBLED A RIVER IN IT’S SELF, ALL WE NEEDED WERE THE ANIMALS TWO BY TWO. WE BATTENED OURSELVES DOWN SU READING HER NORA ROBERTS WHILE I MANAGED TO CATCH UP ON SOME VIDEO EDITING, ONLY EMERGING ON DECK TO CLEAR THE DEBRIS FROM THE BOW. MONDAY THE 15TH ALTHOUGH COLD IT HAD FINALLY STOPPED RAINING SO WE WEIGHED ANCHOR AND JUMPED ON THE LIQUID CONVEYOR BELT OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND PROCEEDED DOWN STREAM AT 8KNTS WITH THE ENGINE ON TICKOVER, WOW! WHAT A FUEL SAVER. WE COVERED THE 35 MILES TO BAR ISLAND IN NO TIME AT ALL AND ANCHORED FOR THE NIGHT. UNDERWAY BRIGHT AND EARLY NEXT MORNING WE WIZZED DOWN THE RIVER 47 MILES TO ANCHOR SAFELY BEHIND TWIN ISLAND FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY WE CONTINUED ON DOWN THE RIVER BUT THE DEBRIS WAS GETTING PRETTY BAD AND THE CLEARENCE ON THE BRIDGES A BIT TIGHT WHICH WE HAD TO ROUND ROUND AND DROP THROUGH STERN FIRST TO MAKE SURE WE HAD CLEARENCE, STILL, WE MADE 12 MILE ISLAND IN GREAT TIME BUT THAT NIGHT WE LEARNT VIA THE VHF THAT THE RIVER HAD BEEN CLOSED TO NAVIGATION FOR THE PASSED THREE DAYS WHOPP’S! PROBABLY 12 MILE ISLAND IS NORMALLY A GOOD SAFE ANCHORAGE, BUT NOT DURING A FLOOD LIKE THIS AS THE CURRENT WAS STRONGER BEHIND THE ISLAND THAN IT WAS OUT IN THE MAIN RIVER AND IT WAS FUNNELING THE FALLEN TREE’S AND DRIFTWOOD RIGHT ONTO “BARBAROSSA’S” BOW WHICH WAS LIKELY TO CAUSE US TO DRAG OUR ANCHOR. IT BEING TO LATE IN THE DAY TO MOVE SU AND I SPENT A LOUSY NIGHT WORKING TWO HOURS ON TWO HOURS OFF (OUR NORMAL SEA WATCHES) CLEARING THE ANCHOR CHAIN OF EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE FROM FALLEN TREES TO GARDEN FURNITURE. SO, WITH THE DEFENCE OF “FORCE MESURE” WE WEIGHED ANCHOR THE NEXT MORNING AND MOTORED THE 10 MILE DOWN TO GRAFTON MARINA WHERE WE BERTHED (WITH A LITTLE DIFFICULTY DUE TO CURRENT) ON THE FUEL DOCK FINALLY SAFE FROM THE MAYHEM OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER IN FLOOD.
WE STAYED IN PENTWATER FOR THREE DAYS AND GREATLY ENJOYED THE ANCHORAGE AND TOWN, LEAVING THERE ON FRIDAY 29 WE SAILED DOWN TO MUSKEGON AND DROPED ANCHOR TO THE NORTH OF THE ENTRANCE, YET ANOTHER GREAT ANCHORAGE RECOMMENDED BY DERECK ,A FELLOW YACHTSMAN THAT WE HAD MET BACK IN THE ERIE CANAL AND WHO HAD PENCILED IN ANCHORAGES INTO OUR CHART BOOK AND WE HAD DONE THE SAME FOR HIM ,AS IS THE GREAT TRADITION AMONGST CRUISING PEOPLE. WE STAYED AT MUSKEGON LAKE THE NEXT DAY AND ENJOYED A RESTFULL DAY WITH A BARBAQUE IN THE AFTERNOON, WE DID HAVE ONE VISITOR DURING THE DAY WHEN DAVE DUDGEON OF LATITUDES & ATTITUDES STOPPED BY TO SAY HELLO WITH A GIFT OF MAGAZINES AND GOODIES.WHICH WERE VERY WELCOME. THE NEXT DAY (SAT 31ST) WE MOTORED DOWN TO HOLLAND ANCHORING JUST SOUTH OF THE HARBOUR ENTRANCE. WE HAD INTENDED TO STAY HERE A FEW DAYS, BUT A DILEMA AROSE WITH THE WEATHER FORCAST .WHICH GAVE BAD WEATHER IN TWO DAYS TIME (THE REMNANTS OF HURRICAN GUSTAF) AND REMAING FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. SO,WITH A GOOD BERTH EXPECTED IN CHICAGO, WE DECIDED TO GET FUEL AND SAIL OVER NTGHT THE 80 MILE AND GET SETTLED IN BEFORE IT CAME. AFTER 3 HOURS OF MOTORING SOUTH WITH ONE FOOT ON THE BEACH ,THE WIND GOT UP FROM THE SOUTH EAST AND WE HAD A TERRIFIC SAIL ACROSS LAKE MICHAGAN, ARRIVING OFF CHICAGO AT 0500 WE HOVE TO FOR 3 HOURS SO WE COULD ARRIVE AT A SOCIABLE HOUR. IT, BEING THE DAY AFTER LABOUR DAY OUR EXPECTED BERTH AT A GOOD FRIENDS YACHT CLUB COULD NOT BE ARRANGED, SO WE TOOK A BOUY IN MUNROE HARBOUR. THE NEXT DAY SUE TELEPHONED OUR FRIENDS YACHT CLUBSHIP AND GOT A COMPLETE RUDELY DELIVERD SNUB . THIS ONLY REINFORCED MY OPINION OF YACHT CLUBS (I WAS WEAKENED AT WINSOR Y.C. ONT) SO! WE ROLLED AND ROLLED THROUGHOUT THE BAD WEATHER IN WHAT SKIPPER BOB DESCRIBED AS THE WORST HARBOUR HE HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN ! LUCKLY THE WIND EASED ON THE FRIDAY AND LET US MOTOR UP TO BELMONT HARBOUR WHERE THEY EXPERTLY LOWERED BARBAROSSA’S MAIN MAST. STOWING IT MUCH SAFER THIS TIME, WE MOTORED BACK TO MUNROE HARBOUR IN QUITE A SWELL LEFT OVER FROM THE BAD WEATHER. THE NEXT DAY SATURDAY 6TH IT WAS TOO ROLLY ON THE BOUY TO LOWER THE MIZZEN SO WE MOTORED TO THE PUMP OUT DOCK WHERE IT WAS CALMER , ALSO DOCKED THERE WERE SEVERAL JOLLY BOATERS FROM THE “POOR MANS YACHT CLUB” THESE GUY’S, ON HEARING OF OUR CURT TREATMENT EARLIER IN THE WEEK, INSTANTLY HELPED SUE AND I LOWER THE MIZZEN AND PRESENTED US WITH THE CLUB FLAG, (WHICH BARBAROSSA WILL WEAR WITH PRIDE ). THE NEXT DAY, UP WITH THE LARK’S WE TRANSITED THE CHICAGO LOCK AND MOTORED THROUGH THE CITY CENTER WHICH DID NOT TAKE AS LONG AS I HAD EXPECTED AND INTO THE CHICAGO SHIP AND SANITARY CANAL WHERE WE MET OUR FIRST LARGE TOWS IN THE NARROWEST PART OF THE CANAL AND ALTHOUGH BARBAROSSA AT 32 TONS IS PRETTY BEEFY AMONST YACHTS ,SHE FELT LIKE AN EGG AS WE SQEEZED BETWEEN THE CONCRETE SIDES OF THE CANAL AND THE STEEL SIDES OF THE TOWS , FURTHER DOWN THE CANAL A BARGE HAD COME ADRIFT AND WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE CANAL AFTER A WHILE A TUG APPEARED AND CLEARED IT OUT OF THE WAY, BUT THEN WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE BACKLOG OF COMMERCIAL CRAFT BEFORE OUR WAY WAS CLEAR. AT 1800 WE WERE VERY RELIEVED TO TIE UP AT THE FREE DOCK AT JOLIET. AFTER A DAT’S REST WE MOTORED 53 MILE ANCHORING FOR THE NIGHT BEHIND SHEEHAN ISLAND THE NEXT DAY WE MOTORED 41 MILE TO ANCHOR BEHIND THE LOWER END OF BARRY ISLAND IN 12 FOOT OF WATER WOW! I WISH EVERY ANCHORAGE WAS LIKE THIS. NOT THE CASE THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE TRIED TO GET IN BEHIND COON HOLLOW ISLAND AND FOUND IT TOO SHALLOW FOR OUR 6 FOOT DRAUGHT SO WITH NIGHT COMING ON WE ANCHORED AGROUND AT THE SIDE OF THE RIVER AND ALTHOUGH SAFE WE KEPT AN EYE THROUGH THE NIGHT AS MANY TOWS TRANSITED THE FAIRWAY LIGHTING UP BARBAROSSA WITH THEIR SEARCHLIGHTS AS THEY STEAMED PAST ,.THE NEXT DAY WE MOTORED OUT OF THE MUD AND IN POORING RAIN MOTORED 20 MILE TO ANCHOR BEHIND THE LOWER END OF QUIVER ISLAND AND DECIDED TO STAY OVER THE WEEKENDS FORCAST BAD WEATHER
LOG 28 2008; WE GREATLY ENJOYED OUR STAY IN CHARLEVOIX WITH FRIENDLY LOCALS , ALWAYS READY TO STOP ALONGSIDE FOR A CHAT ABOUT OUR BOAT,WHILE I WOULD BE WEAK KNEED AT THE SIGHT OF THEIR PRISTINE RESTORED VARNISHED SPEEDBOATS. BUT THE WIND WENT NORTHERLY AND WE HAD TO MOVE ON. SAILING SOUTH APROX 45 MILE SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND ANCHORING IN THE LARGE BAY THERE FOR THE NIGHT. UP BRIGHT AND EARLY THE NEXT MORNING WE WERE UNDERWAY FOR ARCADIA SOME 40 MILE SOUTH. BEING A LOVELY DAY AND AN ABCENCE OF TREEHUGGERS MADE IT AN IDEAL TIME TO GET THE GUNWALES SANDED I HAD JUST FINISHED WHEN THE WIND PICKED UP AND SAILING NEEDED MY ATTENTION . BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE PIER HEADS AT ARCADIA THERE WAS A FAIR OLD BREEZE AND A SWELL TO MATCH,AND REALLY WE SHOULD NOT BE ENTERING THIS HARBOUR WITH OUR DRAUGHT OF 6FT 6INS. STILL IT WAS ALL OVER IN A FLASH AND WE WERE MOTERING UP THIS WELL PROTECED BEAUTIFULL CREEK. WE HAD INTENDED TO STAY A DAY BUT SUE GOT ANOYED AT BEING TOLD BY THE MARINA TO RE ANCHOR OUT OF THE WAY . SO WE LEFT EARLY THE NAXT DAY AND SAILED TO PENTWATER ABOUT 45 MILE SOUTH. AGAIN THE WIND PICKED UP IN THE AFTERNOON AND IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD TIME TO DO THE “CAPT ARTY ENTRANCE “ (THROUGH THE PIERHEADS UNDER FULL SAIL) ONCE INSIDE PENTWATER LAKE WE ROUNDED UP AND ANCHORED OFF OF THE TOWN.
LOG 22 AUGUST 2008
WE WERE UNDERWAY FROM KINCARDINE MARINA AT 0230 AND HEADED FOR TOBERMOREY ABOUT 60 MILE NORTH, THE WIND WAS N.W 15 KN AND WE HAD A RIGHT OLD BASH BUT THE OLD GIRL WANTED TO GO AND THE SPEED NEVER DROPED BELOW 5 KNOTS , ROUNDING CAPE HURD AT 1300 AND ENTERING BIG TUB HARBOUR TO ANCHOR AT 1400. WE BOTH LIKED TOBERMOREY AND STAYED FOR THREE DAYS USING THE DINGHY WITH OUR SEAGULL OUTBOARD TO GET TO TOWN. MONDAY 4 TH WE SAILED WITH A GOOD WIND 50 MILE TOENTER THE NORTH CHANNEL AND BEAVER ISLAND TO SET TWO ANCHORS FOR THE EXPECED BAD WEATHER THE FOLLOWING DAY. ONCE ALL THE NASTYNESS HAD GONE WE MOTORED TO LITTLE CURRENT AND BERTHED ON THE TOWN DOCK FOR THE DAY CAUSING QUITE SOME INTREST AND IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE WE HAD A VISIT FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.BUT AS USUAL WE WOULD NOT GET TO SEE THE ARTICLE AS WE WOULD BE MANY MILES AWAY TIME IT WAS PUBLISHED. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE FINISHED UP AT ANCHOR AT EAST ROUS ISLAND. UNDERWAY AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WE MOTORED TO CLAPPERTON ISLAND AND ANCHORED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LARGE BAY TO GAIN SOME PROTECTION FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS. SATURDAY 9TH MOTORED 5 MILE SOUTH TO KAGAWONG BERTHING ON THE PUBLIC DOCK FOR A FEW HOURS WHILE WE VISITED THE CHURCH AND THE WATERFALLS, THEN MOTORED BACK TO CLAPPERTON TO SHELTER FROM YET MORE THUNDERSTORMS . THE NEXT DAY WE DISCOVERED OUR LITTLE STOWERWAY’S IN THE FORM OF 100’S OF LARGE SPIDER’S THAT WE HAD PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY. SUE HATES SPIDERS AND SHE WENT ON AN ALL OUT OFENSIVE TO KILL THE LITTLE CRITTERS LIKE A WOMAN POSSESED, SHE EVENTUALLY CLAIMED VICTORY BUT IT TOOK TWO WEEKS. MON 11TH WE MOTORED TO SOUTH BENJIMIN AND SHOEHORNED OURSELVES TO ANCHOR AMONST THE OTHER BOATS. NEXT DAY WE MOTORED THROUGH THE NARROW LITTLE DETROIT CHANNEL AND INTO THE WALEBACK
CHANNEL TO ANCHOR IN BEARDROP HARBOUR, A LONG NARROW BAY WITH SPACE FOR MANY BOATS WITH GRANITE AND PINE TREES ASHORE IT WAS MORE LIKE WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD THE NORTH CHANNEL WAS LIKE BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, BOTH SUE AND I HAD MILAGE FEVER AND THE DESIRE TO GET THE UNSERTAINTY OF CHECKING INTO THE UNITED STATES OUT OF THE WAY WE PRESSED ON 30 MILE THE NEXT DAY TO ANCHOR BEHIND VIDAL ISLAND. BEING A LOVELY DAY WE WENT FOR A SWIM ,I DONED A WETSUIT AND TIGHENED THE OUTBOARD STUFFING BOX OF THE STERN TUBE,I HATE THIS JOB IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG AND I CAN’T GET THE NUT BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY WE WEIGHED ANCHOR AND MOTORED OUT OF THE ANCHORAGE, JUST WHEN I THOUGHT WE WERE CLEAR IN 12 FT OF WATER BARBAROSSA LEPT OUT OF THE WATER WITH AN ORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, WE HAD HIT SOME UNCHARTED ROCKS AND WERE STUCK FAST ! WE EVENTUALY GOT OFF BY SWINGING THE DINGHY OUT ON THE MAIN BOOM AND FILLING IT FULL OF WATER . THIS LUSTED BARBAROSSA OVER ENOUGH TO GET OFF. WE THEN COLLECTED OUR NERVES AND SAILED TO DRUMOND ISLAND BERTHING
IN THE MARINA AT 1600. WHERE THE DREDDED MOMENT CAME AND WENT AS WE WERE CLEARED BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES BY TWO VERY POLITE AND EFFICIENT CABP OFFICERS AND WE AGAIN HAD 6 MONTHS STAMPED IN OUR PASSPORTS. WE WENT INTO TOWN AND HAD A SLAPUP MEAL TO CELIBRATE. SATURDAY 16TH ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD NOT GO TO SEA BUT YOU STILL DO! WITH A LOUSEY FORCAST AND 20KNT WIND ON THE NOSE WE MOTOR SAILED 55 MILE TO ST’ IGNACE , NOT WANTING TO GET AMONST THE PLASTIC YACHT’S IN THE MARINA WITH OUR BOWSPRITE IN A 20KNT CROSS WIND WE ANCHORED IN THE OUTTER HARBOUR WITCH WAS A BIT ROLLY WITH THE FERRY’S WAKE’S BUT HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF SUITING MY POCKET. GREAT PLACE ST IGNACE, SUE AND I CERTAINLY WELCOMED THE LOWER BOOZE PRICES IN THE STATES. TUE 19TH AFTER SHIFTING ANCHORS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NIGHT WE WERE UNDERWAY AT 0300 SAILING THROUGH THE MACINAW BRIDGE AT 0330 WHICH DESPITE BEING 135 FT HIGH LOOKED ABOUT 50FT IN THE GLOOM OF NIGHT AND GAVE US A BIT OF A SCARE UNTIL WE WERE CLEAR. WE THEN HAD THE SAIL OF THE YEAR 50 MILES TO CHARLEVOIX ANCHORING IN ROUND LAKE AT 1500. SPENDING THE NEXT FEW DAYS REPAIRING THE EXAUST WHICH HAD BEEN LEAKING BADLY AND REPLACING THE BRUSHES IN THE AUTOPILOT MOTOR
31/JULY 08 KINCARDINE. WE FINALY LEFT THE WINDSOR YACHT CLUB ON FRIDAY 25TH JULY AND MOTORED ACROSS LAKE ST CLAIR AND INTO THE ST CLAIR RIVER STILL CLIMBING UP HILL, 6PM WE WERE DUE TO BE ON CHANNEL "A" ON THE TV SO WE DIVED IN TO CHANNEL ECART A SMALL RIVER HALF WAY BETWEEN WINDSOR AND SARNIA AND ANCHORED ABOUT 1 MILE IN FROM THE ENTRANCE YET ANOTHER GOOD ANCHORAGE NOT MENTIONED IN THE PILOT BOOKS ! AND MANAGED TO JUST CATCH US ON THE GOGGLEBOX. NEXT DAY (SATURDAY) WE CONTINUED CHUGGING UP THE ST CLAIR RIVER AND GOT MIXED UP IN A POWER BOAT RACE WE WERE JUST COMMING CLEAR OF THE COURSE WHEN ONE OF THE RACE BOATS CAME SLIDING AROUND IN FRONT OF BARBAROSSA AT SUPERSONIC KNOTS THE DRIVER MUST OF HAD BROWN PANTS, YOU COULD SAY I WAS MOST CONCERNED AS I OPENED THE OLD GARDNER RIGHT UP AND STEERED STRIGHT FOR THE RIVER BANK. AFTER THAT OUR PASSAGE UP THE ST CLAIR WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFULL FINDING THE CURRENT UNDER THE BLUE WATER BRIDGE NO MORE THAN THE THAMES ON A SPRING EBB. ONCE CLEAR OF THE RIVER WE TURNED TO STARBOARD AND ENTERED THE BASIN BY THE SARNIA YACHT CLUB AND DROPED ANCHOR .WE SPENT 3 DAYS IN THIS WELL PROTECED BASIN AND YET AGAIN WERE WELCOMED BY THE LOCAL YACHTSMEN.
LEAVING SARNIA AT 0500 WITH A FISHERMAN SHOUTING AT US TO GO AROUND HIS LINE RIGHT IN THE HARBOUR ENTRANCE WE MOTORED TO GODERICH MOORING IN THE COMMERCIAL HARBOUR WHICH CAN BE DESCRIBED AS "GROTTY BUT SAFE" . ON LEAVING AT 0900 THE NEXT MORNING WE FOUND THAT A SHIP HAD HIS UNLOADING BOOM RIGHT ACROSS THE ENTRENCE, HE DID MOVE IT ON OUR REQUST BUT I WOULD NOT LIKE THE SAME SITUATON SAILING INTO THIS HARBOUR AT NIGHT WITH A GALE OF WIND UP MY STERN ! WE THEN SAILED THROUGH A THUNDER STORM 30 MILE UP THE COAST TO KINCARDINE RUNNING THROUGH THE PIERHEADS IN A GOOD SIZE SWELL TO MOOR IN THE MARINA AT 1$40 PER FOOT WHICH BROKE MY HEART OF COURSE ! SEE YOU LATER ROB.
WINDSOR ONT CANADA 25/7/08 UNDERWAY EARLY FROM PORT PORT STANLEY WE CLEARED THE HARBOUR BEFORE THE FISHING FLEET GOT UNDERWAY AT 0400 AND HAD AN ENJOYABLE MOTOR TO ERIEAU WHERE WE WENT TO THE MARINA FOR FUEL , NOW THE RULE IS HERE THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO GET OFF THE BOAT, WHILE THE MARINA GUY FILLS THE TANKS, THIS DID NOT PLEASE ME, AS A MASTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS VESSEL AT ALL TIMES,DIESEL SPILLS AND ALL! BARBAROSSA'S TANKS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND ARE VERY PRONE TO "BLOWBACK" I WAS NOT HAPPY, BUT I HAVE TO GIVE THE YOUNG LAD HIS DUE HE DID NOT SPILL A DROP. WE SPEMT THE NEXT DAY (MY BIRTHDAY) ANCHORED IN THE LAGOON OF RONDEAU AND MANAGED TO GET THE HATCHES VARNISHED. WE DRAGED OUR 80LB DANFORTH ANCHOR THAT NIGHT IN A THUNDER STORM AS IT HAD CLOGGED WITH WEED AND FLIPPED OVER. AFTER THE STORM WE GOT UNDERWAY FOR PELEE ISLAND 55 MILE AWAY WHICH WE MADE AT 1500 FINDING IT A MUCH BETTER ANCHORAGE THAN THE PILOT BOOK HAD SAID.
BUT WE WERE A BIT ALARMED AT THE SNAKES SWIMMING ABOUT THE BOAT. NEXT DAY SATURDAY 19TH WE HAD A GREAT SAIL TO THE DETROIT RIVER ANCHORING AT CRISTAL BAY. SUNDAY 20TH , AS LAKE HURON IS 8 FEET HIGHER THAN LAKE ERIE AND THERE IS NO LOCKS IN BETWEEN THERE IS YOU COULD SAY A BIT OF A CURRENT SO WE DECIDED TO CHUGG IT IN STAGES AND OUR DESTINATION FOR TODAY WAS WINDSOR, WE STOPED EN ROUTE AT LA SALLE FOR BREAKFAST IN THE CAF'E AND MEET A GREAT COUPLE GEORGE & LAUREL WHO CAME UP THE 10 MILE TO WINDSOR WITH US, EXPECTING RELATIVES TO VISIT WE DECIDED TO STAY FOR A FEW DAYS. WHILST AT ANCHOR OFF OFF PECHE ISLAND TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WINDSOR YACHT CLUB(JIM & WILL) CAME OFF AND INVITED US TO BERTH ALONG SIDE THE CLUB AND USE ALL OF THE CLUB FACILITYS, NOW MY THOUGHT'S ON YACHT CLUB'S IS WIDLEY KNOWN. BUT AFTER BEING MOORED AT THE CLUB'S DOCK THREE DAYS MY OPINION IS CHANGING AS THESE GUY'S HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE OUR STAY ONE WE WILL ALWAYS REMENBER A BIG THANK YOU TO THE WINDSOR YACHT CLUB.
WE DID A RIGHT TURN OFF THE ERIE CANAL TO THE CITY OF ROCHESTER TO PICK UP THE STEEL FOR OUR MAST STEP AFTER MOORING UP WE MADE FRIENDS WITH A LADY WHO LIVED OVERLOOKING THE QUAY, CAROLEE,REALY HELPED US OUT RUNNING US TO THE STEEL STOCKHOLDERS AND WHEN THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DELIVERY WE SOMEHOW GOT THE 37INCH X 37INCH STEEL PLATE IN THE BACK OF HER SMALL CAR! SHE THEN DROVE US BACK TO THE BOAT WHAT A LADY!. BACK ON THE ERIE CANAL WE CONTINUED OUR WAY WEST TO LOCKPORT WHERE WE TRANSITED THE LAST TWO LOCKS WHICH ELIVATED BARBAROSSA TO 526FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL. WE THEN MOORED ON AN OUT OF THE WAY QUAY AND SPENT A WHOLE DAY GRINDING AND CUTTING THE STEEL WITH SOME WELL DODGY LOCALS HAVING A PARTY IN THE WOODS NEARBY, WHEN NIGHTFALL CAME WE MOTORED UP THE CANAL ABOUT A MILE AND ANCHORED IN THE MIDDLE TO AVOID ANY TROUBLE. THE NEXT DAY WE MOTORED TO TONAWANDA, AFTER MAKING FAST WE ASKED THE HARBOURMASTER IF HE KNEW ANY WELDERS, HE SAID YES JUST ON THE BOAT IN FRONT. 10 MINS LATER HAD ME HAGGLEING WITH "TONAWANDA WELDERS" DARREL AND BARTMAN. THESE GUY'S WERE GREAT PICKING ME UP THE NEXT DAY WITH THE STEEL AND IN THEIR WORKSHOP SOON HAD THE NEW MAST STEP ALL WELDED UP, THAT NIGHT IT WAS BACK ON THE BOAT ALL PAINTED UP!
JULY 4TH WAS THEN UPON US AND WE HAD A GREAT EVENING WITH BARTMAN AND DARREL ALONGSIDE THE CANAL IN TONAWANDA. EARLY THE NEXT MORNNG SUE AND I TOOK BARBAROSSA UNDER THE LAST TWO BRIDGES TIED UP AND RAISED THE MIZZEN OURSELVES THE BOATYARD OWNER ACROSS THE CANAL THEN SAID HE WAS READY TO STEP OUR MAIN MAST, WE LET GO AND I STARTED TO MOTOR UNDER THE BRIDGE TO TURN AROUND WHEN SUE SHOUTED "WE'VE GOT THE MAST UP" HARD OVER , HARD ASTERN AND SHEER LUCK AVERTED DISASTER THE BOATYARD OWNER SAID HE'D LIKE A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME HE'D SEEN THAT HAPPEN, WHICH EASED MY PRIDE A LITTLE. WITH THE MAIN MAST RAISED SKILLFULY IN NO TIME AT ALL AND 340MILE OF CANAL BEHIND US WE MOTORED OUT ON TO LAKE ERIE
MOTORING THE 20 MILE TO THE PORT OF PORT COLBOURN CANADA
THE NEXT DAY WE MOTORED WEST TO PORT MAITLAND, THE PILOT BOOK SAID "LIMITED ANCHORAGE" INSTEAD WE FOUND A LOVELY RIVER IN WHICH ONE COULD ANCHOR WITH SHELTER FROM WINDS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS IT'S WHOLE LENGHT. WE STAYED AT ANCHOR FOR 3 DAYS GETTING THE OLD BOAT SHIPSHAPE FOR GREAT LAKE SAILING. UNDERWAY AGAIN FOUND US AT THE PORT OF DOVER, WE MOORED ON THE PUBLIC DOCK NEAR THE ENTRANCE BUT WHEN THE LAND WIND GOT UP IN THE AFTERNOON IT BECAME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SO WE WALKED UP TO THE HARBOUR MUSEUM AND IAN BELL KINDLY SAID WE COULD BERTH BARBAROSSA ON THEIR NEW WHARF, 10MINS LATER WE HAD HER ALL TIED UP IN A PERFECT SETTING, WE COULD HAVE STAYED THERE FOR DAYS,BUT THE SAD THING ABOUT THIS CRUISING LIFE IS ONE ALLWAYS HAS TO MOVE ON TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF THE VOYAGE GOING
WE MOTORED 15 MILE SOUTH AND ANCHORED IN THE LEE OF LONG POINT FOR THE NIGHT , BUT WHEN THE WIND CAME UP FROM THE SOUTH ABOUT 2100 WE DECIDED TO GET UNDERWAY FOR PORT STANLEY 50MILE AWAY WHICH WE MADE AT 0900 THE NEXT DAY JUST BEFORE THE FORCAST GALE.
TO ALL OUR FRIENDS. WE ARE NOW THREEQUARTERS OF THE WAY ALONG THE ERIE CANAL, WE HAD INTENDED TO GO THROUGH THE TRENT SEVERN CANAL IN CANADA, BUT THE CONTROLLER HE SAY NO YOUR BOAT TOO DEEP. SO, WE NOW ARE GOING THE FULL LENGHT OF THE ERIE CANAL TO BUFFALO, THIS HAS IN A WAY SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS THE MAST IS NONE TO SAFE STICKING 19 FEET OUT FROM OUR BOW, AND THIS CANAL IS A LOT DEEPER, AND THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALY GREAT. OUR MAIN PROBLEMS NOW ARE THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BASE OF HE MAST STEP, AND OUR AMERICAN VISA'S RUN OUT JULY 7 . STILL, ONWARDS AD UPWARDS ALL OUR LOVE, ROB & SU ROCHESTER NEW YORK STATE 24 JUNE 2008
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