A nice hum is Willie’s Tug’s generator giving power to run the electric coffee maker while on a mooring buoy, enough power to operate the water maker to replenish our supply of fresh water, and enough power to top off the boat’s house batteries.
Although the sun is peering over the tall evergreens on the hillside of Shaw Island, the ambient temperature is 50-ish. I watch the thermometer expectantly to see if it will climb to yesterday's 80s for our walk today.
With a somewhat shallow draft, Willie's Tug swings often, and when we hear a much louder bump we look out to see if we have swung into a floating log. That is when Herb sees a mooring buoy afloat nearby and a horrible thought is that the strong winds may have broken the boat loose from it. But he is quickly reassured when he remembers that the Marine Park buoys have a blue strip around them. Yay, this lost buoy is totally white, and probably broke from the private land at the south end of the bay.
As the tide recedes, we watch the buoy being revealed lodged among some drying rocks. In the photo below, it is the tiny white dot near the left edge.
The winds do not let up and the billows are higher than we are comfortable for cruising the dinghy, so we stay on the boat. All day long we watch the buoy, to see when the tide will float it again. Finally at 4P the winds die down, but it is too late for a ride to shore. It is a good thing we got lotsa fresh produce yesterday.
The lost buoy begins to rock at 5:51P as the rising tide washes up to it. It tilts first one way, then the other.
Now it is nowhere to be seen.
A few minutes later we see it floating far from us, almost to the other shore behind Willie’s Tug, evidence that the wind is pretty strong again.
The tide swing brings it back and Herb is able to grab it with the boat hook. We are curious to see what its problem is.
The chain in the center has rusted loose from its anchor.
Herb pulls the chain totally out of the buoy. After we take a look, he replaces it and allows the poor buoy to continue its journey.
Wise campers on the island walk down to move their yellow kayak to a higher level. We were concerned that if it were not tied off, it may float away as well, leaving the guys stranded.
The biggest surprise of the evening is seeing the private yacht Alliance from Cap Sante come in to anchor. She is 133 ft. long, with a beam of 25.98 ft. A couple of people come out to get in their tender and cruise about, waving as they pass.
The nicest sound of the evening is hearing the song of an eagle for the first time in the three days we have been in Blind Bay. I think he is announcing some good news for someone.
Find the eagle's nest...I never did, but I hear his sweet music.
and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
Monday, June 26, 2017
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