THE BOATING SEASON IS OVER

In the past when we put the boat away for the winter season, it would be, put it in the hangar and we lock it up and walk away, to be back to work on it at our leisure. 

 

This year, because we are storing outdoors, I can't leave anything on board that might freeze.  So I have gone through the boat and checked every cupboard, looking for any liquids or cans etc., that was Wednesday and Thursday.  

 

 

It rained Friday and Saturday and some of the helpers didn't show up on Sunday.  So Now it's Monday and we are finally pulling the boat.  As you can see, they not only needed and extra truck to help pull the old girl up the ramp, but they had to add two extra trucks. 

 

 

With that extra engine power they got her up the ramp. 

 Dan also has extra chores in that the boat has to be winterized.  Not only the engine, but the plumbing and water system.  Then it has to be tarped down to protect it from the weather.    But that's later, we're just glad she is out of the water and "on the hard" as they say. 

 

THE REST WILL BE DONE AT OUR LEISURE

 

 

 

SORTING AND STORING

Ever since we got the boat to RMYC, I have been emptying cabinets and bringing stuff home then combining it with stuff at home.  No simple chore. 

 

You end up having to add a half bottle of sun screen, with another half bottle of sun screen.  Or worse yet, you end up with too much and you can't combine them and have to find room for two of some things.  But it's amazing how much stuff I found that I didn't realize I still had. Didn't really need and was able to just chuck out.  A forced clean-out like this is really good some times, but a lot of work. 

We are still waiting to hear when our pull out date is to be.  Maybe we will be lucky with the date and the weather and be able to go for a cruise through the city before it happens. 

ITS A GAME OF HURRY UP AND WAIT

ROYAL MANITOBA YACHT CLUB

 

This is the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club.  On the northern edge of the City of Winnipeg. 

 

  It was established in West Kildonan in 1955 by Gilbert Eaton and a group of like minded boating friends and was incorporated in 1956. 

 

 

It was given the "Royal" designation in 1981 for the Queen's  diamond Jubilee. 

 

We used to be frequent visitors to this club when we had our first boat  "LINDAN". 

 

 

Now this is where we have brought "Thunderbird" for winter storage. 

 

We have unloaded most of the non freezable stuff off of the boat and it's piled in the condo.  Now we are busy trying to find a place for everything. 

 

IT"S A REAL CHALLENGE 

 

 

 

 

BOUNDARY CREEK MARINA TO ROYAL MANITOBA YATCH CLUB (CRUISE)

Dan and I and our friend Ellie Gowie headed out of the beach harbour about 7:30 am this morning.  The cruise across the lake to the mouth was a little choppy, but uneventful. 

 

 

We were soon entering the mouth and out of the small waves and into the sunshine. 

 

 

 

With the sun out we decided to take some pictures.  This was going to be fun. 

 

 

 

 

That is until we got into the channel.  Manoeuvring past the first green marker buoy by about 6 feet, we were heading for the next cluster of buoys and discussing the fact that we need the dredge back here when we came to a sudden stop.  We were all shocked and immediately double checked to make sure we hadn't missed a marker or something, but no we were right in the channel.  Dan tried, to reverse straight back, then forward and reverse again, but all that did was stir up a bunch of mud.  Nothing he tried would make her budge.  So, here we were at 9:00 am, an hour and a half into our journey and we were stuck in the mud.   So, we put a call in to the Coast Guard, after all that's what they are there for.   And if they don't get enough calls the Federal Government will decide that we don't need them on Lake
Winnipeg.  

I had brought along some big Cinnamon Buns to cook once we were in the river, so now that the Coast Guard was on the way, we might as well have breakfast.  So, we made a new pot of Coffee and I buttered and fried those buns up and we sat back and enjoyed our breakfast.  We discussed the fact that a week of strong south winds not only lowered the water levels in the harbour, but must have also lowered the levels here in the mouth. 

After breakfast, Dan being Mr."A" personality can't stand to sit around and do nothing, so he got out his pike pole and checked the depth all the way around the entire boat.  By doing so, he determined that the shallowest spot was under the port bow and the deepest spot was under the stern to starboard.  He cut the wheel hard over put her in reverse and poured the coals to her.  She started to move ever so slowly backwards, then we really started to move, but just as suddenly stopped with a jolt.  He then pulled her forward a few feet and repeated the whole procedure and just as quickly as we hung up we were floating free.  Easing forward we were making headway through the rest of the channel markers.  Needless to  say we did not cancel our Coast Guard call until we were well though the channel and into the main part of the river, free and clear. 

 

 

 

We made the call to Thunderbay Coast Guard and cancelled our call for assistance.  They asked if we wanted them to keep the call open until we reached our destination and we thanked them and explained we would be on the river for hours yet as we were heading all the way through to RMYC. 

Within a few minutes the Gimli Crew came roaring down the river, checked with us to see if all was well.  They are a bunch of great guys and we got a chance to thank them and take some pictures of them as they circled around and headed back up Netley Creek from whence they came. 

 

 

 

 

 

Once in the river it is a long but interesting trip up stream, especially if you have never done the trip.  Which is why Ellie decided to join us, just for the experience.  She says she definitely wants to go and tour the Selkirk Marine Museum that she didn't even know was there. 

 

 

 

 

 

If you boat up on the lake like Ellie does, it's even a novelty to go under a bridge, especially if it's and old lift bridge like in Selkirk. 

 

 

 

We meandered along passed many sights familiar to us, but new to Ellie.   There is Netley Creek,  "The End of Main", the 2 old churches "St. Peters and St. Andrews", the Maritime Museum in Selkirk, Captain Kennedy House and of course the experience of going through the "The Locks". 

 

 

 

I think the highlight of the trip for Ellie was the experience of locking through at Lockport. 

 

 

Once through the locks it was a short time until we were settled in at the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club. 

 

 

 

So now it's time to empty my fridge, pack up anything that can't be frozen and prep the boat to be put away for the winter. 

 

 

If the weather holds through October like is sometimes does, we may even get a couple of exterior chores done on her. 

 

Other than, that hour and a half hold up at the mouth, 

 

 

IT WAS A GOOD DAYS JOURNEY

 

 

 

WATCHING FOR A WEATHER WINDOW

So, here we sit waiting for a weather window.  We are looking for some low winds and waves to make our way into the mouth of the river.  Once in the river the wind is not much of a concern except for making our way through the locks and also for docking.  Neither of which, do expect to be any problem. 

Saturday would have been a really good day, but we wanted to spend this last weekend at the Marina, so we passed that one by.  And now it is looking like it will be Wednesday, when the wind will die off and it will be a good day to travel.   

Today the forecast is for strong winds and rain, so it looks like this will be a good day to do some cleaning and packing.  I have to go through my cloths and decide what items I'm leaving on the boat and what I'm taking home, and what I have duplicates of and can take to Texas with me. 

Tomorrow looks like a possibility for us to get away early in the morning and across to the mouth.  Once in the river we will slow down and have a relaxing cruise for the rest of the day. 

  

OUR LAST WEEKEND IN BCYC FOR 2013

This is our last weekend in Boundary Creek Yacht Club for 2013.  Sometime next week  (weather permitting) , we will head south up the Red River to the Winnipeg suburb of West Kildonan.  Where at the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club, we will put "Thunderbird" to bed for the winter. 

 

 

 

We will say goodbye to all our marina friends and some local friends we have made.  We'll say "See you next spring".  Just like we do in Paradise Park when we say goodbye to all our winter Texas friends and say "See you next fall". 

 

 

All, that is except Sharon and Casey, who travel to the same area of Texas as we do.  We will see them during the winter. 

I'm sure we'll "Do". Mexico and South Padre Island together this winter as usual.   

And we will "Do" their Boxing Day Party, and they will "Do"our St.Patrick's Day Party. 

 

BUT THAT"S LATER IN TEXAS 

 

 

A NIP IN THE AIR EACH MORNING

Fall is fast approaching.  Each morning when we wake, there is a real nip in the air.  There have been frost warnings all around us, but of course the lake moderates the temperatures here on the creek. 

 

 

In the spring it makes it much cooler around the water, it takes a long time for the sun to warm that water up.  But, then in the fall it makes it a little warmer and stops the frost from taking hold when you are on the water. 
 Ahhh, the "Lake Effect". 

 

 

 

We will spend this last weekend in the marina, then head south.   

We are looking for a weather window to head across to the mouth of the Red River then on up river to the RMYC.  We are hoping to get there next week, then move the rest of our stuff there the following week. 

 

WE ARE WATCHING THE WEATHER FORECAST VERY CLOSELY

 

THE FLOCKS ARE STARTING TO GET BIGGER

The Canada Geese are starting to gather in larger than family units.  At first they hiss at each other then they get to the point they start to tolerate each other as the group gets larger. 

 

 

 

We also have a lone female Mallard hanging around which is very unusual, unless she lost her mate.  Well this is the 21st century, maybe she's just a spinster. 

 

 

 

 

I hope she is not the late mother I saw a couple of weeks ago. I'd hate to think that one lost all her babies. 

 

 

The flocks of Geese are growing and growing every day.

 

 

They are usually practicing all day, building their strength and choosing their strongest fliers to follow.  It's quite the sight. 

 

 

This was a strong wind day, so they are sitting it out on the beach. 

 

 

We even had a Snow Goose visit the harbour this morning. 

 

 

 

 

THEY ARE ALL GETTING READY TO HEAD SOUTH. 

 

JUST LIKE US.

 

 

 

HIGH SOUTH WINDS AND LOW LOW WATER

Because of its long, narrow shape, Lake Winnipeg exhibits a variety of interesting wind and wave effects, including temporary water level rises of up to one metre in height at its southern shore, a process called seiche. This occurs when prevailing northerly winds blow along the length of Lake Winnipeg, exerting a horizontal stress on its surface. Surface waters move in the direction of the wind and pile up along the leeward south shores.  The old times called these "Wind Tides". 

 

Well the last couple of days we have had the opposite effect.  The wind has been blowing hard and consistently from the south leaving Boundary Creek and it's boats high and dry. 

 

 

 

"R Tyme" is sitting on the mud.  And listing badly to port. 

 

 

 

Keith's he said he had to walk up hill on his boat to get to the back door and get off of it, when he left yesterday. 

 

 

"Sommerset's" bow is really high on the mud.

 

 

  

It would be impossible to walk around inside her. 

 

 

 

Sommerset is tipped so high up at the nose that it is forceing her swim platform under the water. 

 

 

 

The outer harbour seems to be fairing a lot better.  Although the water is down, the boats all seem to still be floating. 

 

I'm sure the wind will change back to it's usual North/West and the harbour will fill back up very quickly. 

 

 

 

ANOTHER INTERESTING DAY AT THE MARINA

 

 

 

 

 

 

SORTING OUT STUFF

What to keep and what to trash? Today we went to the hangars to sort out all the stuff we have accumulated over that last 10 years of working on the boat. 

 

Over the years we have accumulated left over supplies from already completed jobs, specialized tools for specific jobs that are already completed.  We have to decide what we no longer have to have on hand, and get rid of all that pertains to jobs already completed. 

We will have limited storage space at the yacht club, so we have to pare down , but most of our major refit is complete so that will greatly influence our decision making.  It's time we did this anyways.  It's going to take a few days and a few trips but we'll get it done. 

HOW STUFF DOES ACCUMULATE

A FALL CRUISE INTO THE CITY

I was hoping for a fall cruise into the city and now it looks like I'm going to get one. 

We are changing the location for Thunderbird's winter storage.  We are going to cruise on into the city and store our boat at The Royal Manitoba Yacht Club. 

Lake Agassiz Marine indoor storage in the old aircraft hangars has been a perfect winter storage for us in the last 10 years of working on our boat.  We have spent many hundreds of winter hours in those hangars, out of the weather and able to complete many large boat projects. 

But, now 10 years later we are down to a few lesser projects, most of them exterior jobs (painting etc.) that can be completed outdoors in the spring.  We now also have a dog, that can't be in the hangar or left at home for a weekend. 

In the last 4 years we have also spent 3 of the winter months in Texas and only work on the boat for a short time in the fall and for a month, when we get back in the spring.  Which doesn't justify storage in a heated work facility for the whole winter.  Now this year we are leaving for Texas in November and will be gone even longer. 

We have come to the decision that outdoor storage will suffice for the few things we have to do each spring and RMYC is only 20 minutes from home so we can go home each night and not have to spend the weekend.  So this will work better for us and our dog. 

 

 

 

THIS WILL BE A BIG CHANGE FOR US  


 

 

 

BEACH WALKING TRAIL

I took Sea-Enna on a walk today.  Walking in a different area is a real treat for her, as she keeps her nose to the ground, checking out all the new smells. 

I tried to interest her in the artesian well, but she was not interested. 

From the well, we took the trail that leads to the foot bridge.   . 

This is a little foot bridge that spans the source area of what supplies the water to our Boundary Creek Marina

The bridge is pretty rickety, with a sign that says "Use at your own risk."  ???  Others were using it though and they seemed totally unconcerned, so we ventured forth. 

This is a view, up Boundary Creek towards the source. 

 

 

Once safely across we circled back toward the marina. 

 

 

 

 

THIS IS A VERY NICE NATURE WALK.

DIY: NEW PILOT HOUSE CARPET

Now that all our major projects engine-wise, are completed, I think I can safely put new carpet in the Pilot House.  I have been making do with some old used carpet that I salvaged and installed, on the spur of the moment, late one night on the eve of our launch a few years ago.  It has served us well, and has taken the brunt of the abuse of oil, grease, paint, and varnish spills and damage that any number of tools can do. I have always said I will not put new carpet down until all these major improvements are completed.  We have even installed new lighter aluminium framed engine hatch covers, so I think it's time.

I have something very specific in mind though.  I am looking for the colour that in the late 60s and early 70s they called "Harvest Gold".  It mostly came in Shag Carpet, which I certainly don't want (yuck),  but I do want that colour.  Believe it or not, I think it is coming back around again.  I saw a lovely sculptured wave pattern in this exact colour when I was down South last winter, so I am hoping it will show up here soon.  Or I will buy it there and haul it home.  I have my heart set on this exact pattern and colour and I am not willing to settle for anything else.  Even if I have to order it in. 

So, if anyone sees any real "Harvest Gold" carpet.  Let me know where and I'll run and have a look at it. 

I think I better also make a custom fitted tarp to put down, over the new carpet, around the hatch opening, when the engine hatches get opened " just in case".  That's one more thing to do before I get rid of my commercial sewing machine. 

 

 

ANOTHER SEWING PROJECT

 



THE SUMMER IS WINDING DOWN

I hate to face it, but the summer is coming to a close.  The September long weekend is over, our Marina's Fall Supper was this weekend and so now we have had to face, choosing a pull out date.  

Dan wants to get a head start on a couple of projects he has in mind for Thunderbird, so he would like to have it sooner rather than later, maybe Sept. 15th.  But I don't want the summer to end, so I would like to stay in the water until Sept. 30th.  So, we have compromised and our pull out date is set for Sept. 25th.   I was hoping for a cruise up the Red River and into the city this fall, but I guess that is not to be. 

Even though we are heading to our little Texas home earlier this year (early November) I can't seem to get my mind to go there yet.  It's the arrival of the cold weather that makes me want to be in Texas and that has not arrived yet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I've got a couple more weeks of boating, before our pull out, so let's enjoy it. 

2 1/2 WEEKS AND COUNTING