Road/Water Trip

I awoke to the alarm clock on Friday morning at 5:30 AM. I got a lot of stuff to do early this morning and then a road trip, so I best get er' done!

I started by watering the grass seed out back for half an hour. Then I shaved and jumped in the shower. I got dressed, grabbed a jacket (its cold outside!) and headed to Home Depot.

I had two things to get at Home Depot: More mortar repair and some wasp spray. I found the mortar repair tube easily enough, but then learned they were out of wasp spray. Damn! So, I ran over to Meijer's and got a big can of wasp spray there.

I wasted no time back at home, but went directly from the garage to the stone wall outside. I used the spray to drench the hole where I had observed the yellow jackets flying in and out (its best to do this either in the early morning or the late evening, when the wasps aren't as active). I also sprayed all the remaining cracks in the mortar, just in case. I went with my German heritage and just gassed their ass!

Back inside, I washed up and then finished packing an overnight bag. I had that and my sleeping bag ready when the phone rang. It was my friend B___, offering me a pass on today's trip. Why? Well, when we first agreed to this adventure several days ago, it was supposed to be 77 degrees F. today, with sunshine and light and variable winds.

However, as I had noted myself this morning, this had been revised to a high of just 74 degrees, cloudy with winds 10-20 mph and a 20% chance of rain when a cold front came through. Although this would be less than ideal boating conditions, as I pointed out to him, it was sort of like now or never. So, we decided to give it a shot.

I left at a little after 9:00 AM (to give rush hour traffic a chance to calm down). Oddly enough, he was right behind me on the road to the marina. What are the chances of that happening?

It took a little over an hour to prep the boat for the trip, but about 11:00 AM, we headed out. There were only a handful of boats on the water and the sky to the northwest was an ominous dark purple color. But we were headed into the sunshine and, after fetching a windproof jacket, the wind wasn't too cold.

BTW, we had what he called a "light chop" on the water. Now, I'm no sailor, but when I see whitecaps, I think "light chop" is an understatement. I did drive the boat a bit while it was up on plane, (he was either getting things or doing things) but I must confess, I like riding on boats better than steering a boat (even out in the middle of the lake). I kept watching for other boats or floating debris and constantly checking the depth finder, ripping along at 23 MPH. It was a bit nerve-wracking...

We finally reached the old South Channel lights, went past them and into the new south channel. We took a leisurely trip up it (now out of the worst of the wind) as, for a boat his size, this is a strict, "no wake" zone.

Now, I've been up this way several years ago, but that was earlier in the season, in the sunshine and with boats everywhere. Today, it was overcast, windy, gray and almost no boats to be seen. But, it was slow and pleasant to check out the Old Club, the Idle Hour, and the now too few colorful cottages and the many mansions (as I would describe them) built on Harsen's island.

Finally, we reached the spot where the South Channel meets the St. Clair cutoff (I think that's what it's called on the chart and where the freighters now come through). We had to kill some time waiting for the Edward Speers (again, I think that was the name) freighter went by. It was riding high in the water (empty, I'd guess) and bound for Lake Superior to get iron ore. I fancy myself quite the lake freighter connoisseur after living for several years, watching them go by on the St. Clair River.

We headed back down the cutoff (B___ was surprised at just how many of the buoys had already been removed by the Coast Guard). This part of the journey had no colorful cottages or even residences, just trees and rushes, all monochromatic. Here I didn't mind steering as we were chugging along and I had 34 feet to the waterline. When we finally cleared the land, he took it back up on plane and we headed for home.

Oddly enough as we settled in for the ride, the sun came back out (I think the cold front had passed through) the wind died down and this was much more like the summer boating I remembered.

We got back to the marina a little after 1:00 PM. It always amazes me to watch him park that big-ass boat in that little tiny space, not using the steering wheel at all, just adjusting the two transmissions back and forth. When he got it in the slip, he jumped down and tied it up (with only one real arm, I was completely useless, to my shame).

After hitting the head (I love sea talk, lol!), he dug out an 12-inch Italian sub sandwich he had bought this morning and we split it and ate it under the shade on a picnic table (it was now that warm). It was damn tasty, BTW.

We discussed our next steps and I suggested a nap. Okay, okay, I know... but I've been taking a nap each day for a month or so now. Give me a break... Besides, there is something about all that fresh air, wind and water, etc., that tires you out.

Well, I doubt he took a nap (he was moving around a lot) but I think I did, sprawled out on the couch. When I finally got up, it was a little after 4:00 PM. He was doing stuff and I was lazy. I suggested we watched the DVD he'd brought: "Captain Ron," starring Kurt Russell, a movie he's raved about for years and one I've never seen. So, we watched that (hilarious, seriously... I laughed my ass off).

When that was done, the cold had come back and the wind had really picked up. He claimed it was about like when we left for the boat trip that morning. I disagreed as the whitecaps seemed a lot higher and the boat was rocking in the wind. I suggested going to the restaurant across the street for some dinner. We both had the perch sandwich with some coleslaw. It was excellent! I had some coffee as the chill was really getting to me.

Back at the boat, it was almost 7:00 PM and time for a decision. Should we break out the sleeping bags and spend the night on the boat, or just go home. It was my call, he said.

Now, I must admit, in the last few years, I have really become an old man (my biggest fear is that I become the old guy in the movies, getting the mail in just my boxer shorts and yelling at kids to get off my lawn). But, I kinda hate being away from home at night. So, I apologized if I was ending the day too soon, but said I would really rather head on home.

So, I did. Traffic was light and I got there around 8:00 PM. I lugged all my gear inside, checked the perimeter (no apparent problems) and checked out the TV menu. I unpacked everything (I'll put the attic stuff up tomorrow) and settled in to wait for 9:00 PM and a special night of the Friday Night Fights.