I really did mean to post long before this but the last two weeks were a whirlwind of emotion and boat issues and packing and packing and packing. Not to mention trying to wrap up my duties as program coordinator of the PDYC Sailing School!
So we did leave Monday. We probably shouldn't have. it was blowing like stink but it was supposed to be out of the northwest which would carry us nicely along the coast to Buffalo. It started piping up to about 20 to 24 knots (1.1 miles to each nautical mile) and shifted perfectly to dead on our nose.
On top of that, of course Lake Erie likes to do a dance of confused big seas and so we lugged our way loaded down with cans of soup, way too many clothes and books not to mention about 400 pounds of water and tons of fuel, radar strapped to the back and dinghy and life raft strapped to the bow along with our pre-cut pieces of wood to make our cradle for our mast once it was destepped in Buffalo.
Naturally, the wind shifted to the east dead on our nose. Now we were bashing our poor heavy boat into the waves, burying the bow in a way I've never seen.
Thank God for Janice Eammons' handy hammock work. Our wooden cradle was worked loose and if not for her hammock, it would have jettisoned overboard. Scott ran up to the bow wearing a life jacket (of course Molly) and had to secure it. He was in water up to his shoulders.
Cold water.
He came down below, stripped down and got dressed.
Last year was the first year I'd ever been seasick but now that i've got the hang of it, turns out I'm pretty good at hurling. So Elizabeth and I were rather ill at the back.
Scott and I decided to head to Port Maitland and tuck in for the night and let the lake lie down. We did so, and found a lovely anchorage just inside the quiet port.
We tried to dry out everything that had gotten sodden with our pounding. We are very very thankful for the dodger, awning and bimini Ken and Linda Foote so carefully made for us.
Aidan decided that our first day would likely be our worst. So far, it's true.
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