Lake Erie has proved to be a long arduous slog. Most days we are motoring at 6 knots with a following wind of about 6 knots so the apparent wind is 0. This combined with 90 degree heat makes for long days. Frequent stops for dips in the lake make it bearable. Our first stop was Put In Bay to check in with customs then as it was the weekend and very crowded there we did a one hour motor over the Kellys Island for the night. The next day was a wild 3 hour sail with a reefed main to Vermilion Ohio where we stayed at the beautiful yacht club and enjoyed their private beach. Next was Cleveland and an quick visit to the Rock and Roll hall of fame and dinner down town. We finally got a reciprocal stay at the quiet Ashtabula Yacht Club where the power and our small window air conditioner proved to be a blessing keeping the boat comfortable in this heat. We are now in Erie PA for 3 nights waiting for good weather to finish our trip. Yesterday we attended a Donald Trump rally to kill some time and get out of the heat. It was quite the experience I must say. Next stop is possibly Dunkirk then a short lake crossing to Port Colborne. See you at home soon.

After short 2 to 3 hour hops from place to place in the North Channel we are now faced with 8 to 10 hour days traveling down Lake Huron. From Tobermory to Port Elgin was a great sail where we did 6.5 to 7.2 knots all day with a perfect beam reach. Port Elgin to Goderich was a motor sail day, nice day but not ideal conditions for sailing. Tomorrow we will travel to Grand Bend then finish off Lake Huron at Sarnia.

After a month in the North Channel sailing from Island to Island and port to port we have started the long journey home. Today we left Kilarney at 5:30 and arrived in Tobermory at 2:00. It was a rolling ride with a following sea but we were able to sail and motor sail the whole way. Our journey home will take us down Lake Huron on the Canadian side, the Detroit river to lake Erie, and Lake Erie to the Welland Canal and then home.

Last night we anchored at Moiles Harbour where I tried fishing again with no luck. Today we took a dock at Kagawong. The highlight was a 2 km hike to Bridal Veil Falls, followed by the farmers market and local museum. The curator took our picture in the Franklin expedition section for the local newspaper. This will be the second time Martha and I will appear in the Little Current Expositor.

We have never been to Spanish either by land or sea so we took the opportunity as we were in the area so to speak. We borrowed bikes to ride into town, got caught up on laundry, and climbed the lookout stairs for the vista overlooking the harbour.

The Benjamins are are probably the most spectacular and hence the most popular group of islands in the north channel. Nothing gives you a feeling of the north channel better then the Benjamins. While exploring the smooth pink granite hills and taking in the vista Martha commented, this is what I came for.


Happy hour on the rocks with Ivor and Chris from Collingwood who we met in the Bustards 11 years ago and have stayed in touch over the years.


There is a small group of islands next to the Benjamins called the Sow and Pigs. Can you see the Sow.