An ocean-sailing friend many years ago in Genada taught me how to look at the water and decide what the sea-state was, and if it was safe, or not. And the worst condition when you DON'T go, he called "elephants dancing".

Yesterday we left GSMarina at 9:30. About an hour into the trip [at 5 -7mph] a wind warning for Lake Huron and Georgian Bay came over the radio. Coincidentally, the OPP were heading out at the same time and commented how calm it was over here as opposed to Huron. By the time we got to Cape Commodore 20 or so miles up the Bay, they weren't dancing. It was a stampede and I'm sure there were hippos in the mix.

With 30 knots [mph for you land lubbers] on the nose, we had to drop the sails and still couldn't push through, so we turned back as far as Presquile [you can see Owen Sound from here] and sat for the night in a barely protected but shallow beach. I'm seasick today!

In the course of assesing the situation, we have decided that the smartest, safest course for us is to go back over to the dreaded Trent Severn Canal system, suck it up, pay to have the mast taken down and the cost of a one-way transit [about $600.00 all tolled]

Its 300 miles shorter and we will give ourselves an extra 6-8 days of down time if necessary. The weather is too unpredictable. We are still 5 days ahead of when we left last year. And right now we are closer to Midland that we are to Tobermory.

Right now we are still at anchor, waiting for another storm system to pass. The winds will be behind us and we will follow the rain over to the canal. Even another day lost going this way is not a problem, so we have confidence that it will be ok.

I HATE the Trent Severn System; I've made that quite clear but it's the devil you know. Sometimes you have to do what you need to do, so it is what it is. Not sure when I will post again. Everyone is asking me to blog again [if I can still open it} so if you can't find me here try the othergoose.blogspot.com.

Stay warm and dry !!

P.S. We are anchored at Beckwih Island just east of Christian Island. Lovely little Bay. Sails are off the boat andwe are hunkering down for the night. Bright blue sky right now and very little wind... good decision to come this way. Tomorrow Midand and dwn with the mast! Have a good night!