Gull Island

Hidden on Google Maps, but just barely visible, here it is:


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Boat Lottery

It's that time again and I was fortunate enough to get a place at home port, so to speak.

Boat Show

This was the only picture I took at the Metropolitan Beach Boat Show this past Autumn.

My sense of humor

I bought this thing last year at the drug store because it struck me funny. Still does. My son thinks it's pretty funny too, but he's only 5.

Metropolitan Beach

On Labor Day weekend, I launched at the Metro Beach launch ramp and motored over to the floating docks in the North Marina. We then had a nice little cookout and played putt-putt golf. Unfortunately I didn't take in pictures as I was entirely in the moment (and working my butt off launching and piloting the boat, etc.) So we spent the night at the marina, something we haven't done in a number of years. What I realized is that I REALLY need to get new berth cushions made and that my midshipmen will probably be sleeping on deck in a year or two, so there are a whole bunch of projects to make that happen. Overall we had a great time and the next day we motored around the bay and the canals a bit (it wasn't really windy enough for a good sail). We left the boat in again overnight and on Sunday I took some family for a miserable sail on Lake St. Clair. Not enough wind, too many big powerboats add up to a less than wonderful time, but it's always nice to be on the water in any case.

Second Voyage

Well, the second trip out on the Cat's Pajamas was with my best friend since high school and my midshipman. Here are some shots from that trip.

Shake-Down Cruise

Well, finally, about a month late in my mind we have taken the Cat's Pajamas out for a shake-down cruise. We sailed for about an hour and a half and motored for a bit, taking some time to do some fishing.

The Lottery

Well, last Saturday was the lottery and less than 116 people were wanting spots, so I have a "slip" at the park, this should be a much better sailing year!

New Blog

I've decided to start another blog for non-nautical topics. One that will have pictures and more random topics. So check out A Day In The Life.

Video Test

Well, here is a video test:

Kung Fu Fighting

We enrolled my son in a local karate school. He seems to like it. I hope he can stay with it for years and learn karate, become a blackbelt, etc. Seems like a gift that would last a lifetime. Probably worth more than a High School diploma ultimately.

I had to post a picture of him in his outfit.

Funny thing is, he's going to be a Power Ranger for Halloween, this photo from just the day before:

Harsens Island (in pictures)

Freighter south bound in the South Channel (Sans Souci).












Old Victorian that I stayed at as a kid on Harsens Island. It's changed hands from the people who owned it when I was a kid.










Car Ferry to Harsens Island, always a lot of fun.













At the southern end of the island, a gigantic fleet of boats just hanging out on Labor Day.












A little more to the south, in the distance you can see the Old Channel Lights.

Harsens Island

I made a couple of trips to Harsens Island recently. What prompted these trips were a few things. Firstly, my 11 year old nephew had spent the weekend there with a friend of his. This reminded me of my own childhood when I was around the same age. One of my best friends in my neighborhood took me there for the weekend a couple of his times. His grandparents owned a beautiful, stately Victorian-era home on the South Channel. This information actually prompted a phone call to this fellow, whom I've only seen twice in the last 3 decades. I found his information on the Internet, cold called him and sure enough it was the right guy. He only lives a few miles from me and we spoke for probably 45 minutes, but I don't think he wants to get together anytime soon, but he was polite and we chatted and reminisced for a few minutes which was very nice. The other reason was as a kid my father used to talk about taking our boat across the lake to Harsens Island. We of course never made it by boat. I would have to be an adult to do that on The Cat's Pajamas. When I did that, we actually went to Gull Island, rather than Harsens Island but we were close enough for me at the time. So, I went twice to Harsens Island. The first time I went with my brother and his oldest son who had never been to the island or on a car ferry for that matter. We couldn't stay long because he had to work, but there really isn't that much on the island to keep you. The second time I took my wife and son and we spent a few hours on the island. We played at a public park for a while in two different episodes and we toured the island, going to places I remembered going to as a kid. Over all, I think everyone enjoyed the trip (it was only a couple of hours) and it made me want to get a place on the island. That of course is a huge ambition. Houses on the island go for big $$$ and right now, there is simply no room in the budget for that, but perhaps in the future. Who knows, maybe just renting a place once or twice a season is the ticket.

I'll post some pictures later.

Sombra/Marine City Ferry

We were in Canada yesterday at Story Book Gardens. The Blue Water Bridge was backed up with a TON of traffic so we went down to a little town called Sombra and took the car ferry over to Marine City.

It was very cool.

Other Boating Adventures

Often times I forget that I allow myself to post anything here. So, anything remotely related to boating will due. Looking over my digital camera I discovered a few of nice boating pictures with which I am connected.

Blog Template Whacked!

Somehow my blog template was damaged and because of that, I lost my link list. So it will have to be rebuilt. I think I can remember most of what was there but man am I pissed!

If anyone remembers a link that has vanished, post a comment here and I'll get it back online.

Thanks.

Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

Master and Commander the Far Side Of The World is one of my favorite movies of late. There is a scene later in the movie in the officer's mess where the Sailing Master starts to sing a tune called Don't forget Your Old Shipmates, it's cool, I like it. I need to find out where I can get tunes like these.

Stony Creek

And here is my home base, Stony Creek Lake.

Gull Island

Here is a nice sailing destination on Lake St. Clair called Gull Island.

Refitting

Well, I just replaced the hawse vent on The Cat's Pajamas. What a vast improvement! I replaced it with an OEM vent so it looks the same as always, just clean and functional. It's a vent made by the Sea-Dog company. Here it is.

Update:

Replaced the lightbulb on the port side of the trailer.