Well folks, we are now off the Great Lakes and they have contributed significantly to the memories we will carry forward with us from this adventure. We have learned there are three fundamentally different types of cruising days when on big water: 1) great days, 2) adequate days, and 3) bad days… on this run down Lake Michigan, we got generally an equal number of each of the above.
“Great cruising days” are when the weather, wind and water surface conditions all align favourably relative to our intended direction of travel, enabling us to put on the auto pilot and just go for miles with little intervention. On days like these Alison and I will read and chit chat for hours. Given that every third day was a “great cruising day”, we would put in a long day on the water in order to make progress > 8 – 10 hours.
“Bad days” are when you “stay in port” because the weather is a complete no go (often sunny but too windy or water surface conditions too bad). Bad days are when we relax, wander around town, ride our bikes, explore what we might do if readily accessible (golf). Often I will take on a boat project that is on my to-do list and Alison will bake us a treat or prepare a great meal if we have power/use of the oven.
“Adequate days”…aw yes, adequate days are when the weather, wind and water surface conditions do not completely align or are not complimentary to our intended direction of travel, but are otherwise adequate and safe. Typically the weather forecast reads well, but once you get out there, the wind and the swells are moving in different directions or the wind sneaks up an extra 10 knots over the forecast. It would be common for us to adopt a sailing protocol of “tacking” in order to make progress on an adequate day and they are inevitably challenging days. Alison describes it as feeling like you are being tossed in a salad bowl. Adequate days are when you must have contingency options available and typically at some point during an adequate days we would opt for Plan B.
So what is it like on this adventure of ours, while on the big water, you might ask… “great cruising days” and “stay in port days” are relaxing and fun. Adequate days are challenging. We put up with them until we have had enough and/or achieved sufficient progress to call it a day. The up side to an adequate day is that we typically come off the water earlier than expected, arrive at a contingency destination we did not anticipate and have more time to explore and relax than planned!
Beau met some new friends on an unplanned stop in South Haven, MI.
As we proceed down through the inland waterways for the next couple months, the cruising conditions will be relatively benign. There are no 50 km fetches to whip up the wind and the waves, so it will be a comparative cake walk. Navigating will be dead easy, given it is hard to get lost on a canal or river. Our only real challenges will be staying out of the way of the huge commercial barges plying the waters and the lengthy wait times associated with going thru locks.
Lastly…also wanted to thank our many friends that have been sending us text and emails; thanks for your interest, questions and words of encouragement! As much as you might like reading our blog, we enjoy receiving your emails and answering your questions.
