It’s raining, it’s pouring

Let’s see, it is now Saturday evening so I need to backtrack a little. The “details” seemed to keep us tied to the dock for an extra day so we could mail and fax papers. Alan finally returned the car on Thursday morning. The bill was actually a nice surprise since we had kept the car for nearly a month. The agent tried really hard to get us the best rate. By one o’clock we were actually untying the dock lines and headed out. After stopping for an expensive pump-out we headed toward Lake Ontario. Voila! felt really sluggish so we motored backwards for a while to see if we had picked up weeds. There was not an instant improvement but it seems to be getting better over time. As soon as we were in clear water we put up the sails and stopped the motor. Even though we were tacking upwind in a light breeze it was wonderful to be sailing. We headed west between the mainland and Amherst Island. We dropped anchor in a lovely little place called Kerr Bay on Amherst Island. In spite of the fact that it is September, it was a warm and muggy day so our first action was to go for a swim. I floated around on a pool noodle for quite some time before climbing up the ladder again. We gazed at a property for sale wondering if this was a place we would like to live one day.

The next morning brought more light winds and warm temperatures. We hauled up the anchor and quietly left the anchorage under sail, headed west again up Adolphus Reach towards Picton. We were coasting along, close hauled for several hours content just to be out on the water. We finally had to admit that we should turn on the engine to reach our destination before nightfall when the speed dropped below 1 knot. We went past the ferry we had ridden last year when we came down to explore the area.

Calling ahead brought a warm welcome from the Prince Edward Yacht Club. We were directed to a mooring ball for the weekend. The forecast was nasty for Friday evening and Saturday. We awoke this morning to the wind and rain that was in the forecast. Picton is a really protected harbour so I was glad we were tucked in. Even here the boat was being blown around by the squalls. Our plan was to head to Canadian Tire to buy oil and a filter for an oil change of the diesel. It’s last as we have already ordered the replacement. A friendly couple explained that it was a long walk and promptly offered us a lift, one way. As we were shopping, they took pity on us and went out of their way to take us back into town. Alan and I stopped into a local cafe for a burger and perused the bookstore down the street. The bookstore was a wonderful collection of new, used and collectible books. We walked past many of the old houses and buildings. Although late in the season and a drizzly day by that time the gardens were lovely and the day reminded me of the UK. Alan is currently rereading The Hobbit. Fans will appreciate this photo of the municipal building here.

After rowing back to the boat at top speed to beat another squall, I spent a lazy afternoon with a book and Alan changed the oil and went ashore to find a place to dump it. That is more difficult than it sounds in this day of environmental correctness.

Alan: The oil in the sump of the engine seems to be going up. I generally check the oil every trip. Finally, I decided it has gone up. I talked to an engine mechanic and he suggested that it was diesel dilution. There is so little compression that all the diesel fuel is not getting burned. The oil on the dipstick seems to be very fluid. It dripped readily off the dip stick. I thought it best to change the oil and keep an eye on it. 

We had a wonderful dinner of stir-fried vegetables. rice and spare ribs. Sipping hot chocolate for dessert. The stars are coming out and tomorrow looks to be a sunnier day.