Summer Snow Done Reached

Summer Snow is safe in her cradle in Siskiwit Bay Marina, Cornucopia Wisconsin. I am very happy to be home in Hayward with family and friends. The trip has been a wonderful adventure with very few unexpected problems. Would I do it again? Sure, but only if Bev could come too.

Ten months is a long time to be away from home and family but I knew that going in. A sailing adventure like this is a life experience that you must do when the opportunity is there. If you hesitate you may miss the adventure completely. I could not have gone on this trip without the encouragement, the help and support I received from Bev and the rest of my family and friends and I thank all (especially Bev) for helping make this trip possible.

Lessons Learned:

1. I don't want to live on a boat. There is a lot to be said for living in a house and living on the boat for a few weeks is OK but after a few months it's good to get back home again.

2. There are wonderful, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, friendly people everywhere. The best part of this adventure was meeting all the wonderful people. I think that boating people and Bahamian people are particularly nice.

3. There are so many beautiful and interesting places to live and the best place is where I already live. I am not very comfortable in very warm climates and I truly love snowy Minnesota. Sail magazine rates the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior as "in the top 10" places to sail but I would go further and rate them as number 1.

4. Your sail plan should always include a plan A, B, and C with plan B and C in case things don't go good in Plan A. Before raising the anchor I reviewed the charts and cruising guides for the days' sailing and carefully noted problem areas. Many shoals and tidal currents are noted on the Internet on Active Captain along with recommended ports and marinas.

5. Sail the boat you got! If you wait until you have the perfect boat with all the technical bells and whistles you may never leave. Cast off your lines because you really don't need all that fancy stuff. All you really need is the support of your family and a good basic sailboat. Some skill and knowledge is helpful but a lack there of is not a deal breaker.

Thank you for reading my blog. I will begin posting again next June as sailing season gets underway on beautiful Lake Superior.

Plan B

We completed our Lake Erie crossing by sailing to Middle Bass Island and after being held there with poor weather, sailing to the Detroit River, through Detroit, and into Lake St. Clair. Patrick and I are moving in "delivery" mode, that is, we are not stopping to see the sights or visit historical places. This is not real fun, in fact, it is more like work.

I have decided to have Summer Snow transported from Detroit to Siskiwit Bay via Michigan Boat Cartage. My long range plans have been to be Home about August 15th and that date remains my ideal target. It has been a long time on the boat and I am anxious to be home with Bev, family, and friends. I talked with Bev and Patrick and told them that I am ready to have the boat shipped home rather than sail Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Those are lakes that I have sailed on previous adventures and I have many people to see and things to do at home.


Having made that decision we can enjoy our last few days in Detroit because, after hauling Summer Snow out of the water, we can stay at Norm and Betty's home (Jessica's aunt and uncle) until we hitch a ride with Norm back to Minnesota. Norm has business to take care of in Minneapolis so this will work out great for us.

Once Summer Snow is home in Cornucopia I will go up to winterize and make some minor repairs so it will be ready for the next sailing season on beautiful Lake Superior.