Niece Week 2016

Last weekend I was still in Erie, Penn, and Mark was at my place with my 2 nieces as were Simon, Daniele and Fiona. Dan kindly drove all the way to Erie and picked me up so I didn't miss "Niece Week". She also made all the beds. I owe her!
The Lake was dramatically different from one day to the next, providing lots of fun.

There was a windy day of big, churning waves.

Heather, Cami (Sarah's "exchange twin" visiting from France for 2 months), Fiona and Sarah

The life jackets helped with buoyancy and safety in the undertow that develops here when the waves are big.

They should have been exhausted

but, instead, they were invigorated.

Ruby, Si, Dan and Fiona's young lab also found the beach to her liking. She proved to be a water dog and was the only dog I have ever seen who digs in the sand while lying on her side.

Covering herself with sand proved to be a pretty effective way of drying herself off.

She loved chasing her ball into the water. "Ruby takes flight" photo by Mark Joynes.

Mark's Digital SLR took some fabulous pictures, much better than my "point and shoot". Photo by Mark Joynes.

Photo by Mark Joynes.

Another day the lake was as still as a mill pond. Heather and Fiona took out the kayak and the paddle board.

A peaceful way to just "hang out"

It was a perfect day to try out paddle boarding.

Though when you get tired of struggling to keep your balance, the board can still be used like a kayak. That's Heather's head in the foreground as it was also a lovely day for swimming.

Of course there were also trips to Udderlies to play in the arcade and eat ice cream. Not wanting to play favorites, ice cream was also purchased from Twins (in Port Rowan) and Stubs. A brief sail on Kestrel (the wind was building so they cut it short), walks and runs on the beach, colouring in Christines books, games of pool in the basement, and

games of Settlers and Monopoly (no the girls were not drinking wine, that bottle was left there from dinner the night before)

Chris and Jason were here for a couple of days and Mum and Dad visited for a day. It wasn't actually a week, the Ottawa contingent were only here for 4 days. It was crammed with activity but didn't feel long enough. Luckily I will see them again at Chris and Jason's wedding, end of September.

Flight

Cruising on Zatarra 1, 2016 - Ashtabula and sail (?) to Erie

With another day of storms forecast I explored Ashtabula. The rain and the heat had meant I have spent too much time sitting on the boat or in the open air clubhouse, so in spite of the forecast, I walked up to the Marine Museum (closed because it was Monday)

Between the lake and the lift bridge it is industrial; piles of coal and gravel, railroad tracks and heavy machinery.

The Basque Bridge uses a huge concrete counter weight (the same system as a medieval drawbridge).

Up the Ashtabula river, beyond the bridge, is the domain of the Ashtabula Yacht Club and various marinas. We are one of those masts around the bend in the river.

I had walked this area last year when I was here so planned to look for the second museum I had read about and the town beach, where I was told I could get a different view of the lighthouse.

I had seen these last year and was glad to see they were still being made.

The lady who makes them was home and explained that they are just a hobby but she's made hundreds of them. She showed me her portfolio. Each one is individual and most have a story. This one is Commodore Perry.

Fortunately this one was just sold as I might have been tempted.

The Hubbard House museum was also closed. It had been a safe house for hundreds of escaping slaves, fleeing to Canada.

I think he was looking for the town beach too. Its called Walnut Beach.

Don't think he would have been welcome there.

There are a lot of "no"s for

this small strip of gravelly sand (thats a Long Point snob speaking)

but there was a different view of the lighthouse and breakwall.

Back down the hill, past some lovely homes,

to the harbour district, the tourist downtown, with its

old brick and wood painted facades and

its abundant flowers lining the street of bars, restaurants, gift shops and ice cream store, all within easy walking distance of the boats. In a different part of town there is a Walmart and the usual strip malls.

We finally got a weather window with no storms in the forecast and headed back to Erie. We had enjoyed Ashtabula but a week in this small town was long enough. I was glad I had bought knitting and rug hooking with me.

The local wildlife stopped by to see us off at the pump out dock.

It was a day of motoring on a still lake. That line of clouds is on the Canadian side.

The friends from Ashtabula had sailed from Port Dover and we all met in Erie for an evening of catching up and

then, the next day, the storm clouds rolled in again.

Cruising on Zatarra 1, 2016 - Cleveland West End Market

Over the weekend there was a regatta involving the Ashtabula Yacht Club. Boats from Erie raced down on Friday and Saturday, had a corn and steak roast on Saturday night and raced back on Sunday. The weather was less than cooperative (squalls and thunderstorms). Boats dropped out or didn't finish. One boat broke a spreader and another shredded a sail but the party appeared to be a success.

Even with fewer boats than expected, boats had to be rafted in the river.

There were boats I know from their involvement in the Interclub; Lanata, Outlaw, Dreamer, and Magic rafted off Zatarra 1.
We had planned to sail down to Cleveland on Monday but thunderstorms again kept us in Ashtabula so we borrowed Kyle's car and headed to the West End Market in Cleveland, by road.

Such an abundance of produce,

cheese,

fish and meat,

and goodies.

Lots and lots

of goodies.

We had an excellent lunch in the restaurant attached to the market as we thought it better not to shop while hungry. Even so, we bought sourdough bread, lots of fruit, tequila lime chicken sausages and 9 cannoli.

Cruising on Zatarra 1, 2016 - Bridges of Ashtabula County

Yesterday was a day of intense heat, humidity and unsettled weather. Kyle had said we could use his car while he and Lorraine are away (in Port Dover) so we were able to drive (in air conditioning, Sharon wanted to sleep in the car rather than on the boat) to the grocery store. The rest of the day was spent in quiet pursuits trying not to exert any energy as sweat ensued immediately.

Skies like this, interspersed with blue and intense sun.

The resident bald eagle was still around as were the kingfishers,

joined by a heron, all on the opposite bank of the river and in clear view from the cockpit.

This bought thunder and lightning and a tiny misting of rain but the rainbow lasted for about half an hour afterwards.

That storm did bring a slight decrease in the temperature and humidity and we had a relatively comfortable evening and night.
We had seen a map of the county, in the ice cream store, that showed covered bridges, so today decided to explore the area a little and search them out. There are 18 covered bridges in Ashtabula County and 67 barn quilts.

The longest covered bridge in the United States, 4th longest in the world. This was our first stop. Dedicated in 2008. Although a covered bridge had crossed the Ashtabula river here years ago, this is  a new one.

Next was this single lane bridge

still in use.

A couple of them had this kind of construction with the huge arches and lattice work. They also had, what looked like, smoke detectors.

We stopped at Barnes Apple Orchard for apple donuts and an apple cider slushy.

The resident dog, lying on the cool cement and gently acknowledging each pat on the head. Loyally followed anyone who fed him a bit of apple donut. He was in amazing shape for a dog with that many treats.

We had noticed damage to the wood at the top of one of the entrances but this covered bridge was well protected with a metal pipe ahead of the entrance and plenty of signage.

This one was relocated and had a barn quilt too.

Another with a barn quilt. You could still drive through this one but the road had been rerouted over a new metal bridge.

We had seen about half of them but decided, after this one, that that was enough.