Should Be Duck Magnet

This boat is in our marina. The name struck me as funny when I saw all the 'ducky do'..

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New Meaning To "Road The Boat"

Wendy happened by this boat on her way home to London this week

A motorcyclist looks at an eastward facing boat sitting on Hwy. 22 at the Narin Road intersection on Monday, July 27. The 24 foot long pleasure craft slid off it's trailer as owner Chris Wilcox was driving. A crane had to be used to lift the boat off of the road. No one was hurt in the incident.

Port Huron to Mackinac Yacht Race

Winner!

Storming off to the island
Fleet sets sail for Mackinac
Part of an article by JASON ALEXANDER and JESSE DUNSMORE Port Huron Times Herald

In keeping with the rest of the week, rain intruded Saturday on the start of the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race.

But the cloudy sky and showers were no more successful at discouraging revelers than they had been all week.

People watched from vantage points north and south of Port Huron's Black River as boats parading about 9 a.m. to the St. Clair River and made their way to the Lake Huron starting line for the race's 85th running. The shoreline was filled with people throughout the morning and early afternoon as the race got under way.

It's been a tradition now for 85 years. 200 vessels took to the waterways just after 11:00 this Saturday for the Port Huron to Mackinac Yacht race. The OPP's Marine had extra patrol boats on hand. A no-wake zone was being enforced from the Black River to just north of the Bluewater Bridge.

The Pt Edward Optimists Mackinac Festival , including a morning flea market began Friday night at the Bluewater Bridge. The first band to take to the stage at 7 was Rick Steeves, followed by 13th Floor, Off Their Rocker and 3rd Wave. Meantime, there was plenty surrounding the festival. The Sarnia Rotary Club held its annual Mackinac Breakfast until 11:00. Pancakes, sausages, and coffee on the menu. Cost was $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Proceeds support club programs

The first boats are crossing the finish line at the 85th Port Huron to Mackinac Yacht race, in less than two days. Windquest sailed in to port at 12:29 this morning followed by Earth Voyaguer. More than 200 boats departed Southern Lake Huron at mid-day Saturday.

The 11th annual Ribfest continued at Centennial Park all weekend.. The event, put on by the Sarnia Kinsmen, featured seven rib vendors and free concerts. According to the local news, the support from Sarnia has been great.

This weekend also marked the second annual Wake Up Call. The wakeboarding and wakeskating competition featuring 24 professional and amateur riders from across Ontario. They were competing on Sarnia Bay and in an near by on-land pool. The event was stretched to 2 days this year. Admission was free with events beginning at 11 am.

If that’s not enough activity this weekend, there was also Hobbyfest in the same park as Ribfest and Wakeup Call. A dozen or so booths were set up by various hobby oganizations and featured old cars, chess, pottery, medieval jousting, family geneology, photography, and even ‘cloggers’.

Dog Days is Right!

Bags of garden debris await the garbage man as this is ‘garden waste week’.

It's raining again, but the garden looks nice now CLICK PIC TO ENLARGE
Nothing exciting going on here! With the weather hovering around the low 70° F mark, I have not been too motivated towards boating. The ‘Dog Days of Summer’ are officially here, but I’m going to say these days are real dogs. All month it has actually been warmer in Alaska than here. We drove home to London last Saturday and Wendy decided it would be a good time to get some needed yard work done. Our back garden was turning into a jungle with all the rainy weather of late.

Before and after pictures of my trailer conversion project.

Our good cruising friends are meeting up in Orillia on August 1st at John and Cheryl’s condo, so I decided it might be a good idea to take this ‘dog’ week to convert my little box trailer into a boat trailer so I can take the new dinghy with us next week. When I designed and built the utility box some six years ago, I made it so it could be removed quickly and other brackets and assemblies could be added to turn it into a small boat trailer. (although until now I’ve never done the conversion)

Voila - boat trailer nearly ready

It might be fun to explore around on the waters of Lake Couchiching. Wendy has a Doctor appointment today at 3 pm so maybe we’ll head back to the condo this afternoon or tomorrow morning so I can finalize measurements to fit the dinghy to the trailer and load it on for the 200 mile ride to Orillia. My friend David is ‘batching it’ this week since Reenie is going with her sister Barb to Sault Saint Marie so he thought he might trailer his 24 foot Four Winns to Orillia and use it there with us, staying on his boat. Click here to go back to April 2008 and scroll down to see David's boat.

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KISS Friday Goodbye

Fans line up at 3 in the afternoon for the best spot on the lawn.

These young KISS enthusiasts take their concerts seriously.

Back at the Phoenix our neighbor Patty and her friend Debra (her husband Dean is the helicopter pilot doing Bayfest promotional shots) pose for a picture.

Patty's old friend/pet Ricco is 32 years old.

Hi Ricco!

18-thousand fans, young & old, packed Centennial Park for the second night of Bayfest as KISS stormed into town.
In the afternoon Wendy and I took the dinghy over to watch as 8 truckloads of equipment were being unloaded for the night's Bayfest Headliner. The stage was being extended for KISS. Eighteen thousand people were expected to attend tonights show. Tickets were still available. The concert went as planned under cloudy, threatening skies but the rain held off for the entire night. We could hear the performance quite well from the back deck of the Phoenix since we didn't buy tickets and a gentle south wind pushed the sound our way. Pyrotechnics kicked off the two hour show highlighted by Rock 'n Roll All Night. Bayfest continues tonight with Our Lady Peace and Stone Temple Pilots. The opening night drew and estimated 8 thousand concert goers for the Trews and Counting Crows. Sarnia Police say the crowd was generally well behaved. Country artists Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley take the stage next Friday and Saturday.

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Cocktails On The Green – Second Week

This week our improv condo cocktail party was held by the water on the point. The weather was a warm, sunny, 75° F. and we had another good turn-out at 5 PM for our second weekly happy hour. Wendy was in London for Dr. appointments for her and her mother so she missed the party. I brought some excellent Costco, Greek Baklava left from the weekend and it was quite a hit. With all the tasty treats everyone brought, I didn't even need any dinner so I just had a leafy salad tonight. Everyone seemed to agree the event was worth continuing. Lack of shade was an issue, so the gazebo was suggested for next week. Good if it rains too.

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A Pleasant Sunday Evening Party At Gary and Ann’s Condo

Gary talks with Wayne who moved away to Collingwood. (Sorry Gary, I didn't get a front view)

Our friends David, Reenie, Bill and Judy departed this afternoon so what do we do now? Off to another party of course! The weather cooperated and was exceptionally perfect with little more than a breath of wind and temperature in the mid seventies as a group of invited condo neighbors assembled at the beautiful four level condo of Gary and Ann. CLICK A PICTURE TO ENLARGE.

Bill and Ken chill out.

I enjoyed meeting Dave, an old friend of Gary and Ann. That's our Phoenix in the bg

I followed Ann around to get some good shots

Pauline and Ester

Mike, Barb and Brian

Jim and Wayne (Wayne recently moved to Collingwood)

Following Ann, taking pictures

A bird's eye view of our Phoenix and Gary's Tiara named the 'Four Seasons' from the top floor veranda.

Harold's 52 foot Sea Ray (Final Purchase IX)

Vista views of the marina. Calm, not a breath of wind.

Esther, Ann, Barb, Ken and Bill on the upper deck of the large condo.

Oops, Pauline blinked.

Wendy and Esther

Ken enjoys kabitzing with the girls

Harold and Bill.

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