August Yondering could be a pen name, couldn't it? A wonderful time on the lake, July 31 to August 26.
Rob and I had a great stretch of anchoring out for ten nights (!!), in and around the bay and then on to Wolfe Island with a stop in Kerr Bay. Alcyone (Alex and Aldo) was en route with us for the trip, with Freya (Caroline and Dennis) joining in the Bay. Feasting with more friends (Laura, Peter, Mike, Kaarina) at Heron's Run.
This was our first (and second!) time anchoring in Kerr Bay. We opted for there instead of Stella, since Kerr Bay has lots more room. We were still able to dinghy over to Stella for ice and lunch. The Fair Jean anchored with us one night - a beautiful Brigantine. When I looked the boat up later, learned that someone built it in their backyard and used it as their family boat, prior to donating it to a youth charity. Gorgeous ship.
Alex and Nora came up for a few days; unfortunately Parshvi was a it under the weather so couldn't join. This was Nora's first night away from her Mama, but Dada was a comfort. Nora seemed to enjoy her time in the boat, dinghy rides, picking blueberries, and strolling along the lakeside path on Waupoos Island. We also walked over to check out the fireflies in the marina thicket with Griskit following close behind. Not as many on Ausust 15th as there were a month ago in July.
We lent our car to Alex R. with the hopes he could drive into Toronto and return the next day after keeping an appointment, but the brakes started leaking fluid. Yikes! So he set sail back home for the season on the 17th. Aldo left the 16th, and Caroline and Dennis on the 19th. It didn't feel quite the same without their company. Before she left, Caroline gave me a watercolour lesson on Freya.
With brakes repaired, we took an enjoyable County tour. One of the best roast beef sandwiches I've ever had in Milford at a place called Say Bruce. Homemade bread, onion butter, horseradish and potato chips. My mouth is watering thinking about it! And Rob and I split a slice of triple layer pineapple rum cake. So good. Also checked out a couple galleries on the Arts Trail (Mad Dog, Andara, Melt and the Base 31 Collective. I ended up buying a piece at Melt featuring an owl. We'll have to pick it up when we return for the car, I don't want it taking up space in the boat or potentially being damaged in the car. Not sure where I'll place it when we finally get home.
A day trip into Kingston for the extended Kingston Penetentiary tour. The architecture is imposing. We were there on a rainy day, and the grey sky matched the mood of the place. It looked like the inmates had more space in their cells than we do on our boat - table, bunk, storage, t.v., toilet. But then we definitely have the better view. Got the inside scoop about the 1971 prison riot from one of the guards. As violent as it was, no guards lost their lives even though taken hostage. As a result of the uprising and negotiations, conditions did improve.
We spent a couple nights away from our preferred slip because westerlies made it very bouncy, and we were concerned for the cat. I missed our view! The sheep returned to the island from their grazing at solar farms. The nights were getting chillier and the water a bit cooler for swimming. Summer comes to its end and it's time to think of going home.
What I love about our past two summers at Waupoos is a long list! A short motor or sail from our dock to drop an anchor. Being able to jump in for a swim on a whim from off the boat and dock. Yoga and Qigong on the dock and on the boat. Uncluttered views of the sky at sunrise, sunset, and moonrise. Clouds! Rainbows! Simple living. Meals on the boat taste better because you've been outside all day. Appreciation for the rhythms of nature. The quiet. The sound of crickets and tree frogs. The gulls and terns lined up along the tire wall. How the view is never the same, because of the changing wind, light, and weather.
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