Waupoos

We're here at Waupoos - made quite good time considering that we didn't leave the club until just after noon on Monday. We stopped at Whitby Yacht club for the night and barbecued our dinner there along with people from 2 other boats also on their way to the Cruising Squadron rendezvous.

On Tuesday we were feeling quite proud of ourselves as started out early, by-passed Cobourg (the usual next stop) and went straight to anchor at Presqu'ile for the night. This meant that, weather permitting, we were well positioned to sail around "the outside" and arrive at Waupoos on Wednesday afternoon. There was a time when I would never have considered putting in such long traveling days on the boat - but here we were - fast tracking it to the beautiful places just like everyone else.

We had a lovely evening cooking on our little kettle barbecue, and watching the sky - but the next morning was a trial. Reports of possible storms convinced us to go "inside" via the Murray canal. We began pulling anchor about 7 a.m. and we were still at it almost an hour later. There was tons of sea weed wrapped around the anchor chain that had to be laboriously pulled off with the boat hook. Finally, Bob was done (we talk of switching roles soon :) ) and I began to pull the boat around to head out to the channel - but wait - no water coming out of the exhaust! The intake is plugged! - "Stop the engine!" - so there we remained drifting (just a little - thankfully - no wind) while Bob cleaned out the strainer, and with a small hand pump, tried alternately forcing and sucking air through the intake hose to clear it. No luck - so eventually he disconnected the hose entirely and removed a big clump of seaweed. Once everything was back together we were on our way - but not so fast... I went down to get the bowls of cereal waiting below and found the strainer still in the sink - Bob had forgotten to put it back in - so engine off again! Basket replaced, we started off and kept going until we were passing by Belleville (about 11:20 a.m.) when the sky lit up and we heard rumbles of thunder - so in we went to the Bay of Quinte yacht club. A short sailing day!

Yesterday was bright and sunny with good wind so we had a fast sail and we were anchored beside Waupoos Island by 4:00. There were some club boats already anchored and several others arrived about the time we did.

We had a perfect anchored-out night - swam off of the boat, ate well, and then went to bed - only to be woken up in the middle of the night by the anchor alarm. The wind had shifted and the alarm had been set for a relatively short distance. Bob got up and rushed toward the companionway - but didn't zig when he should have and walked right into a wall. It was several minutes before he replied when I asked if he was all right. He was and the boat was where it should be - and then I began to laugh. Even now, thinking about Bob heading straight for the wall cracks me up.

This afternoon, boats will begin pulling anchor and moving in to the docks at the marina. Since tomorrow is the annual "around the island" race, there will be other boats coming in as well and tomorrow night there will be a big outdoor barbecue for everyone. Apparently we are participating in the race - it's just "for fun", I'm told. Hmm, I wonder....

We have still to do our usual biking up to the fruit and vegetable market - and then there's our annual dinner at the Waupoos Winery - we'll take our dinghy and tie up at the dock out front. It's so lovely to sit on their terrace, eat dinner and look out over the vineyards and lake.

Anchored or sitting at the dock at Waupoos is life at it's best. The trials of anchors and seaweed are forgotten. The unwinding has begun!