Friday 1 August 2014

Meldrum Bay to St. Joe's and Beyond!




DAY 11  what day?
Another grey day but the horizon looks promising. No wind, of course.  We left at 6:45 am to get a good jump on the day, figuring it would take most of the day to get to Meldrum Bay. All of the sailboats around us were still sleeping when we left.  We could see them leaving behind us, heading for the Benjamins or Little Current as we rounded Janet Head. They popped their sails...we beat into the wind!
Today was not so bad... we made good time and and got into Meldrum Bay around 4 pm.  This is a pleasant little spot. We called ahead and got a dock. Elaine, the Harbourmaster, was a treat to deal with. The Marina building is open 24/7 with a TV /VCR , kids books and movies, a games room and showers and  and laundry. Up the road is a fabulous restaurant  (humungously expensive) with live entertainment.  We ate on the boat. But we went up for dessert and the entertainment. Todd had a piece of double fudge cake. It was two pieces!! He could only eat one!!!!
So,  Todd was bored after he ate and went back to the boat. We stayed. There were three entertainers: an American couple off one of the trawlers, who carried a guitar and cello with them.  (JimKrausMusic.com)(I was eavesdropping)   they write their own music... totally awesome! But the other guy who was advertised as the entertainer, was an American who summers in Meldrum Bay and a dead ringer for Stan Rogers. The irony is ...they didn’t know who Stan Rogers was! His name is Marty Rosen and apparently does You-Tube videos. I thought I was looking at Stan Rogers as he would look today!
DAY 12,
As delightful as Meldrum Bay was, we left early and headed for St. Joseph’s Island.  We had next to no winds and what we did have were ...on the nose! It sucks being a motor boat when you have sails! Did I say that already?!!
The sky was iffy but we anchored in dead calm in Milford Haven, a beautiful long sheltered bay at the south end of St. Joe’s. Todd and Rick went off fishing...no luck. Grampa almost got a pickerel but pulled his hook out of the way so the fish wouldn’t get hurt!
It was a beautiful night and we saw stars for the first time in a long time! We woke up to gassy water and a clear sky. No wind but sunshine all day.
We are in the upbound channel for Sault Ste. Marie and will be in Bondar Marina tonight. We could go to Bellevue.. .cheaper but no facilities... like a mall! And since no-one we know is home...
I hope today is a sign of what Superior will be like. I have truly hated the North Channel and if there was a way to avoid it coming back,  I would! I think Todd does too. This is the first day he hasn’t asked to watch a movie while we were moving. He has worn his life jacket all day and been all over the boat...outside! Of course we’ve been racing cargo ships! That helps!


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