This Years HnB run started out with a canoe trip on the Rifle
River in northern Michigan with a bunch of crazies I've known
for years. The weather was great and the water was wet. A drunken
time was had by all and I hope to make it on next years annual
trip.
After a few days of prep I sailed out of Port Huron with my old
friend JW and we rattled around Port Sanilac for a few days waiting
for a weather window to open.
He ran out of time before that happened and I continued alone
another 100 miles over the next couple of days to join up with
Terry in East Tawas Hitting the worst Thunderstorm I've ever sailed
through before it was done. The boat suffered some minor damage
and my gray hair count went up but I survived (note to self- drop
the sails BEFORE the 30 knot winds hit when sailing alone) Terry
and I again waited out a weather window that ate up the rest of
the week. We made good use of our time at the bars and restaurants
causing a ruckus everywhere we went.
The next and 3rd week my Dad and Gerson jumped on coming all
the way from Massachusetts to sail the fresh water seas. The weather
demons were smiling on us and we sailed south to Port Austin and
then Harbor Beach for a couple of days of anchoring and partying.
Harbor Beach is the largest fresh water harbor in the world and
is one of my favorite anchorage. Here Gerson saw both the satellites
and the Northern Lights for the first time. He had a blast as
the newest crew member (giving him the title of Gilligan until
he moves up the seniority list). By the end of the week we had
worked our way back to East Tawas stopping 4 miles off shore in
120 ft of water for a final swim on the last day on the water.
That weekend Jan and Tony came up. Being old time crew members
they fit right in and we tore the town up for a few days before
they went home and I took my annual week solo to relax and visit
the friends in E.Tawas I've made over the years. The gang at Barnacles
Bill's Lounge were as friendly as always and made me feel right
at home.
The last week left me single handed as my crew (Jeff) pulled
a no show/no call for the second year in a row forcing me to horse
the boat home alone except for the last day. Some stormy weather
slowed me down but I was able to visit friends along the way and
had a good time.
The last day of the cruise was an adventure in it's self as Vickie
and Traci joined me. We sailed down the Lake to Port Huron where
we sailed back and forth for hours enjoying the day of Bloody
Marys and sunshine Before surrendering to the sunset and bringing
her in and officially putting a cork on the HnB04 trip in high
fashion.
It was a great trip even though I only covered a little over
400 miles total sailing. I'm already thinking ahead to next years
run.....