003 Do You Like Snakes?
Great Loop Prologue May 30, 2016
Great Loop Prologue Memorial Day Weekend May 30, 2016, Cedar Point Marina
I'm sitting outside the Famous Dave’s Restaurant at the marina fuel dock at Cedar Point Marina. The only place I can get an internet connection for the moment. This is my third night sleeping on the boat. Earlier I had to go home and wash some clothes, pick up supplies, and visit West Marine for a boat hook. The storm on Saturday swept my hook overboard while it was holding up my sail cover slash makeshift bimini.
I invited my friends Bob and Brenda to spend the weekend and on Saturday went for a delightful sail on Sandusky Bay. We coasted the Sea Marie into Sandusky Harbor Marina where both Bob and I had our sailboats docked there some twenty years prior. Not much has changed dock-wise but Bob reports the bathrooms are really clean and well-maintained.
Do you like snakes?
Well, we didn’t know at the time but soon found out Brenda doesn’t like snakes. Even the lovely non-venomous Lake Erie water snake which, by the way, has been making a remarkable comeback after being on the endangered list. But to Brenda, a snake is a snake and must be avoided at all costs.
For some particular reason, these water snakes thoroughly enjoyed lying about the boat docks at Sandusky Harbor Marina and it just so happens that the boaters on these docks choose 1-inch dock lines in black which resembled the water snakes. All I had to do was to point to a dock line and Brenda would jump a few feet in the air. That was just too easy.
We returned just before the storm hit us. Looks like I have some leaking issues from the top hatch as the heavy rain was pooling on the deck and worked its way right over Bob who didn't mind getting wet. I offered to get him a bar of soap and a towel to finish his shower. I think I have the problem solved. Was going to have it tested Sunday but the brunt of Sunday's storm missed us at the marina. Just a brief downpour and I had no problem.
The storm passed by and we took a short walk to eat lunch at Famous Dave’s at Cedar Point Marina. Bob and I had the Ultimate Burger and Brenda opted for the pulled pork sandwich. I never had jalapeno bacon before and it was delicious. We stumbled out of the restaurant with our bellies full and lumbered back down to the boat to watch a little TV. Brenda had the V berth, Bob the port quarter and I opted for the starboard cockpit out under the stars for the night.
Later that morning we all drove out to find a Perkins Restaurant but it sure looked and tasted more like Mcdonald's. Bob was sure there was a Perkins around the corner and we spent the good part of the morning looking for it to no avail. Afterward, we returned to the marina and sailed out into the bay again.
After my guests left I fixed some baked beans and a three-bean salad. This evening I ventured to try the Knorr brand Spanish Rice on the alcohol stove and it was easy to make and came out rather good. Still working on a number of boat projects like installing the GPS chart plotter and hooking up the marina cable service to the TV. I have been getting good reception over the air as I replaced my makeshift dipole antenna with a sturdy indoor commercial version. Still got to do a scan to see what is available here in Sandusky but the majority of the Cleveland stations come in. By using a splitter I can get both over-the-air and cable from the marina hook-up. Should get a few projects done and then head home to clean the house and take care of Mickey. Back out here Thursday for another few nights. Although the marina comes with a platinum pass to Cedar Point I haven't been inside the park yet. I got to see all the grandkids this weekend and they have been keeping quite busy both inside and outside the park. Both my son and his family and my daughter and her family have their powerboats docked here. Yes, I pay a little extra but having the family here makes it worthwhile.
Well, that's it for tonight. Busy day for me tomorrow and need to get some sleep. Amazing how quiet it is right now, the holiday visitors have all gone home except for the few of us boat people left behind to enjoy this solitude. Fair winds and gentle seas.
Comments from 2016:
Noel Gingerich, At least you weren't sailing in the storm, haha. I shredded my storm sail and almost lost my main!
Henry Krzemien RN That's a nasty loss. Sorry to hear that but look at the experience you gained. I suspect you were sailing solo. It's unfortunate that that's the best way to test your equipment.
Noel Gingerich No, it wasn't that much of a loss, haha. the sail was 38 yrs old and it gave me the excuse to buy a new one. that is what I did to the last sail. Archangel is a devil girl.
Noel Gingerich ...and that is another advantage of a cutter. I still had 2 sails to sail me home!
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