Bayfield, Ontario June 27, 2016

Today was the best day of traveling yet. We had warm, sunny weather, a mild breeze and following seas for the trip to Bayfield. We left at 7:10 and arrived 6 hours later at 1:10. We covered the 48.3 NM at an average speed of 7.9 knots. I finally got to sit outside as we motored along, with smooth seas, warm temperatures and a straight course that Annie could steer herself.

Brillig pulling out of Bridgeview Marina

We were near the Blue Water Bridge about 10 minutes after leaving the marina. Once we got into the main current our speed dropped from 8.5 to 3.8. All the water coming into the lower Great Lakes flows through that narrow opening and the current is really robust. 

Annie approaching the Blue Water Bridge

Peter finally got to raise a sail today, the first time on the trip since he left Leamington. I thought I better get a picture of it. Good thing I did so quickly because the light wind kept dropping and soon the sail was gone. 

I received a return call from Fred, the Bayfield Marina manager. He needed to know if we were staying one or two nights because his reservations were filling up. We said two. Then we decided we better be proactive and plan out the rest of the week. This weekend has both Canada Day and the 4th of July in it, a rare occurrence. So, Monday and Tuesday we are in Bayfield, Wednesday and Thursday we are in Kincardine. We had hoped to stay there Friday too for Canada Day, but there is no room unless someone cancels. Peter and Marianna are friends with the manager so our fingers are crossed. Our back up plan is to go on to Tobermory. That is a huge travel leg though, and we hope to be celebrating rather than motoring. We are staying at location "C", below.

Kerry and Marianna biked to the market, while I put our new inflatable kayak together. It started in two little bags, and ended up as you see. I tried it alone and it seemed to work great. I tied it to the dock at end of a long line to be sure I would not be blown down the river, and I was not, the definition of success I guess. 

We decided to have dinner on Annie tonight. Peter and Marianna have not decided what they were doing. Tomorrow is scheduled to be a fun day, bike and kayak riding, and shopping.

Kerry's Comments:

Today I decided to spend some quality time preparing Don a gourmet  breakfast on the way to Bayfield. Cooking under way is something I do not normally do, but today was the day. So I went to my pantry, studied the contents, looked in the refrigerator and voila the inspiration came to me. For all you doubting Thomases, I actually prepared and  served my captain "poulet et des oeufs" served with "tranches d'orange".