Tuesday, July 11, 2023 Heywood Island

I guess I should thank my lucky stars relating to Annie this year. I just finished posting yesterday's blog about John Robertson troubles when I received a text from Peter detailing trouble Voyager is having with keeping its batteries charged. He plans to go to Killarney today to plug in to get a full charge and perhaps some professional analysis. We wish them both well. 

Despite the high wind warning from Environment Canada and a 15-25 knot wind forecast from the Weather Channel, about half of the boats had left the anchorage by 10:30. So much for it not being a travel day. The forecasted rain never did come. I could see building whitecaps out in the channel so I was quite happy we were staying in place today. 

Kerry decided that today was a good day to treat the interior teak on Annie. So we did the salon and half the pilot house with a 50/50 mixture of teak and lemon oil. The teak can get very dry looking. From time to time I think about putting satin varnish on it, but then I think that once I started it I might wish I had not. 

Just when I thought that the weather services were wrong about the wind this afternoon, it picked up to the 15-25 level. We were fine where we were anchored, but we did swing around a fair amount, about 40 degrees, as did all the other boats. We could have picked a better spot as it turns out, but it's not nearly bad enough to think about moving.

I took down my flags to save them from being beat to death and to lower the noise level. Still, I was able to sit outside on our rear deck to read, while enjoying the sun and a greatly reduced level of wind. Kerry read in the V-berth, but had to close the overhead hatch. A most pleasant way to spend a windy afternoon in the North Channel. Annie does not have an anemometer so I can't cite any impressive numbers.

As boats came in they seemed to want to go to the little cove that I had envisioned Annie anchored in. Maybe it was good that we were not there. It was getting crowded. 

Little did I know when I got up this morning that I would be having fried chicken for dinner! Kerry defrosted the last of my Port Huron chicken. I even climbed into the engine room to dig out my air fryer to warm it to perfection. So delicious!

Marianna made docking reservations and haircut appointments for Peter and me in Little Current. Voyager may go there tomorrow, Annie will arrive on Thursday morning. We'll spend at least two nights there. Highlights in Little Current will be the Orro's anniversary party, laundry, haircuts and of course the grocery and  hardware stores.  

John Robertson said he pulled into Gore Bay yesterday because of the seas and headwinds. The forecast for Wednesday is much better as he heads down Lake Huron.