Goderich

Karen and city planted flower triangle sitting in the middle of a Goderich residential street.

 Our last night in Bayfield, we not only discussed how far we would go the following day, but would we leave at all. Yesterday was predicted to be sunny with moderate NW winds. The problem was wave height - 1 to 1 1/2 metres. We paused to convert that into feet - kinda high! We resolved to start out for Goderich, about 10 miles north, and if the conditions were more favourable than predicted (better wind direction, smaller waves), we would keep going the 40 miles to our preferred destination, Kincardine.

When we started out, it immediately became clear that the ride was too uncomfortable to continue for 40 miles - Goderich it would be. Bob called the Goodyears on the VHF and asked them whether or not they thought we should continue to Kindardine. "We want to stop at Goderich," said Warren. Bob had a smile a mile wide on his face when he asked Warren, "Did you say that you want to keep going?" "No," said Warren - now in a definite very articulated voice "We do not want to keep going". "Oh," Bob went on, "I'm kind of tempted to go on. You get used to the wave action - it kind of lulls you to sleep."  There was no reply to that. Then it was back to channel 16 for both. (For the non boaters, channel 16 is the calling channel. Conversations are conducted on other channels.) A few minutes later, we heard Karen calling us. Bob switched up one to 17 as requested and the conversation continued,  "We don't want to hold you back," said Karen, "It's OK with us if you keep going but we won't be going on."  "No," said Bob, reverting to one of his favourite lines when teasing, "we'll be going to Goderich too, but Carole, she's kind of tempted to keep going."

As pretty as Bayfield is, we're glad to be in Goderich. We've cut 2 hours off the "jump" to Kincardine and there's lots to do here - a town centre within walking distance where there's a farmer's market on Saturday, a great used book store, a good meat shop and a place for Bob and Warren to get their hair cut. Maitland Valley marina, where we're staying, is a well protected oasis of calm. The sailors and cruisers on the dock have been exceptionally welcoming and friendly and are a great source of information about the lake and the North Channel. Yesterday afternoon we borrowed the 2007 Suburban truck available for visitors. If no one else is using it, they give you the keys and off you go. Warren and Karen took the Suburban this morning to attend the Sunday Fireman's Breakfast. This afternoon we're to going to the Sunday flea market and then, following a tour pamphlet, we'll go walk around to see historic homes and buildings. Goderich is an attractively designed and vibrant town.

We came up the river on the right to get to the marina; the Sifto Salt Plant is on the left.

About now - what we've learned about Lake Huron: the prevailing winds are from the NW. How did we not know this? Waves are at their highest on the east side of the lake (where we are): they build as the west winds move across the lake. Since we're going north, frequent north winds are not advantageous, to say the least, but more significantly, winds out of the west have translated into lumpy seas. When we were sitting at picnic tables lined up for dinner last night and visiting with resident boaters, one of them told us that on Lake Huron, we wouldn't see the calm seas with the fair winds that we sometimes experience on Lake Ontario.  (Oh ---- well, that puts a different light on things and will have to be factored into our decisions hence forth!)

Tomorrow we set out again - to Kincardine - I think.  ;-)