Friday July 20 the 22nd day of our trip.
We left Port Huron at 8:53 am after getting fuel, water and a pump out. As usual the staff at River Side marina were on their toes and helped us make the 9am 7th Street Bridge opening. Yep those bridges that gave us fits coming in now we had to do the reverse and timing is everything. First bridge was going us as we approached, motored on through next one was going up and we did not have to jockey in the river for long. We did not share the space with a behemoth motor boat this time.
We entered the St. Clair River and good breeze blowing in the right direction so mail sail went up, motor shut off - we were sailing at 4kts and with the current COG was 6kts. I have to say there was a lot to look at along the shore. Some of the houses, boat house, signs, churches were interesting. We also had to keep out a close watch for other boats and ships.
Ships - they are huge compared to us - you can look all around, frequently and not see them until - pooff they are behind you and a low growl starts building in the air. I was amazed when they pass us from behind - there is minimal wake- power go fast boats create more- however coming towards us - oh my gosh rock and roll.
We did have one small bit of excitement. When you travel down the river there are different paths you can take around islands, to get to the lake. When you approach these sometimes the wind switches. The wind was also getting puffy, going from 8kts to 16kts +. We were almost through- approaching the last channel and we knew we needed to jib. Tom when to ease the preventer on the boom and it would not release, the sail inverted with wind, the block on the preventer broke the boom was release suddenly - the wind gusted to 20kts - a fitting on the traveler broke - we rocked and rolled in the water - caught our breaths and thank goodness for our furling sail we got it down and assessed the damage.
long and short of the story is we will stay at Jefferson Beach marina until we get some parts. Its the weekend and we don't know if we can find them locally. We do know there are parts in California (so close) and they can send them on Monday.
Keep your fingers crossed - Up dates to follow
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| From slip 61 |
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| 7th Street bridge |
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The bowling alley serves a world famous Zebra
Burger- nope didn't try them just thought it was interesting |
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| Market street bridge |
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| docked freighter delivering coal to a power plant USA |
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| you can see the coal leaving the chute |
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| our track down the river |
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| Marine City Light |
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| Church in Marine City |
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| this was the sneaky boat that just suddenly was there behind us |
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| the trees look like bushy gnomes |
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I loved this roof - it is a deep cranberry color - all the angles
I think it was a complex of stores |
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| Canadian channel marker |
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| the copper on this roof glistened - another neat house |
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| cute looking boat that passed |
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| one lonely tree at the end of point |
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| we were visited by dragon flies again |
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