We set sail for Florida Pool. The winds were a consistent 10-15 knot out of the SSE. "I'm hungry," Suz said as we entered Florida Pool. I scurried below, opened a cold Riesling, made a quick salad, sliced an apple and found a packet of Ritz crackers....a typical lunch while we sail.
A couple of glasses of wine and a little sun is all Suz needs for an afternoon nap. I sailed to the 107 bridge, tacked and sailed back across Florida Pool and back to Shaffer's Ford before Suz woke. Several sailboats were sailing across Spalding Pool. MAC II was among them! Dennis and Lois aboard MAC II spent 6 weeks driving to Alaska this summer. This was the first time we saw them at the lake since they returned. We sailed together and headed back to Florida with several other boat....Valhalla, Kokomo, MAC II and others.
It was 5 o'clock when we headed to Ski Cove and the evening raft-up. Myron and Terri aboard Endeavor had already anchored and was ready for us. We had a great evening cooking dinner and catching up with Dennis and Lois and Myron and Terri's adventures.
The moon was just rising over the eastern shore when Sandy and Tom sailed into the raft-up. Tom had spent the day reviewing an old boat in southern Iowa for Good Old Boat magazine. He reported a great sail with 15-20 knot winds.
We talked and laughed under the bright moon before finally heading to bed to dream of fair winds tomorrow.
Sunday morning broke bright and clear with a light breeze. We relaxed over breakfast and took a quick swim before weighing anchor and heading for a sail.
The winds did not disappoint us with a steady 10-12 with gusts to 22 knots. We made a quick pass across Spalding before heading to Florida Pool. In less than 3 hours we had sailed the 8 miles to the 107 bridge and back. Our only tack was to turn around at the bridge.
Good winds and good friends made it a weekend we will not soon forget.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Perfect Sailing Weekend
We had one of those weekends that's about a perfect as you can have.
It started a little late on Friday night. I had a 5:00 p.m. retirement reception for Al Black, a colleague for many years. The reception was in Blue Springs, near Kansas City...and about 3 hours west of Mark Twain Lake.
When Suz heard I would be going to the reception, she started looking for a ride to the lake. She was not surprised to learn that Tom and Sandy were headed up after work on Friday. They were happy to let Suz ride along.
Suz reported that they arrived a the lake at about 6:00, unpacked and stowed the supplies, and headed for Hannibal for dinner. Melissa, who owns Rustic Oak Restaurant at the lake, purchased another restaurant in Hannibal right on the Mississippi River. It's a great location with good food at a good price.
I celebrated Al's retirement and headed back to Columbia with my suburban full of passengers. It was right at 10:00 when I left my last passenger out at her car and headed for Mark Twain Lake. I gave Suz a quick call and learned they were on their way back to the marina after a great evening with Sandy and Tom. She would be ready to set sail when I arrived.
True to her word, Suz had most of the cobwebs cleared from Dragonfly when I arrived. I stowed my bags and changed into shorts and t-shirt before dropping the dock lines, unfurling the Genoa and sailing out of the slip to the light of a recently full moon. It's hard to beat a night sail with 5 knot winds, a bright moon and Suz snuggled up beside me.
We dropped anchor in Ski Cove at 1:30.
Clear skies and cool breeze awoke us the next morning.
Suz cooked pancakes while I planned the day. Surveying the cockpit and cabin top verified that a good scrubing was high on the list. Suz finished breakfast dishes as I grabbed a brush, deck cleaner and began the task. Two hours later we had a clean boat . We were both hot so took a quick dip in the lake to cool off and a quick shower on the stern swim platform to wash our hair. We were ready for the day.
I had just finished toweling off when a small John boat came around the point. As they passed about 50 ft away, the young lady on the bow flashed a big smiled and pulled down her top. I gave her a double tumbs up as they passed by.
The day was off to a good start.
It started a little late on Friday night. I had a 5:00 p.m. retirement reception for Al Black, a colleague for many years. The reception was in Blue Springs, near Kansas City...and about 3 hours west of Mark Twain Lake.
When Suz heard I would be going to the reception, she started looking for a ride to the lake. She was not surprised to learn that Tom and Sandy were headed up after work on Friday. They were happy to let Suz ride along.
Suz reported that they arrived a the lake at about 6:00, unpacked and stowed the supplies, and headed for Hannibal for dinner. Melissa, who owns Rustic Oak Restaurant at the lake, purchased another restaurant in Hannibal right on the Mississippi River. It's a great location with good food at a good price.
I celebrated Al's retirement and headed back to Columbia with my suburban full of passengers. It was right at 10:00 when I left my last passenger out at her car and headed for Mark Twain Lake. I gave Suz a quick call and learned they were on their way back to the marina after a great evening with Sandy and Tom. She would be ready to set sail when I arrived.
True to her word, Suz had most of the cobwebs cleared from Dragonfly when I arrived. I stowed my bags and changed into shorts and t-shirt before dropping the dock lines, unfurling the Genoa and sailing out of the slip to the light of a recently full moon. It's hard to beat a night sail with 5 knot winds, a bright moon and Suz snuggled up beside me.
We dropped anchor in Ski Cove at 1:30.
Clear skies and cool breeze awoke us the next morning.
Suz cooked pancakes while I planned the day. Surveying the cockpit and cabin top verified that a good scrubing was high on the list. Suz finished breakfast dishes as I grabbed a brush, deck cleaner and began the task. Two hours later we had a clean boat . We were both hot so took a quick dip in the lake to cool off and a quick shower on the stern swim platform to wash our hair. We were ready for the day.
I had just finished toweling off when a small John boat came around the point. As they passed about 50 ft away, the young lady on the bow flashed a big smiled and pulled down her top. I gave her a double tumbs up as they passed by.
The day was off to a good start.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
5 o'clock on Mark Twain Lake
It's been a busy summer away from the lake. Thursday night we listened to the weather...Saturday high about 88 with 5-10 mph winds. Perfect!
We were packed and on the road by 5 o'clock Friday night.
The spiders and bugs had made a mess of the boat. I turned on the AC to cool her down. Suz grabbed a scrub brush while I put stuff away down below and packed the frig. We finished about the same time so Suz started the diesel as I cast off the line and we motored out of the slip.
Five minutes later we were raising the sails to enjoy at nice evening sail to Ski Cove. There was only one other sailboat on the lake. It was Mucky Duck!!
Mucky Duck sat at the end of F Dock unsailed for almost ten years before being drug out and up to the upper storage lot. She was purchased and restored last year. This was the first time I had seen her on the lake. She looked great.
As we entered Spalding Pool Suz looked at her watch and said, "It's way past 5 o'clock!"That was my clue to get a Marguerite.
We arrived in Ski Cove just a the sun was setting. We enjoyed the last few minutes of sunshine, dropped the anchor and then cooked supper -- salad with garden fresh tomatoes, grilled pork loin, and potato wedges.
The stars were shining brightly as we went to bed. It was good to be back on the lake.
We were packed and on the road by 5 o'clock Friday night.
The spiders and bugs had made a mess of the boat. I turned on the AC to cool her down. Suz grabbed a scrub brush while I put stuff away down below and packed the frig. We finished about the same time so Suz started the diesel as I cast off the line and we motored out of the slip.
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| From August 8 |
Five minutes later we were raising the sails to enjoy at nice evening sail to Ski Cove. There was only one other sailboat on the lake. It was Mucky Duck!!
Mucky Duck sat at the end of F Dock unsailed for almost ten years before being drug out and up to the upper storage lot. She was purchased and restored last year. This was the first time I had seen her on the lake. She looked great.
As we entered Spalding Pool Suz looked at her watch and said, "It's way past 5 o'clock!"That was my clue to get a Marguerite.
We arrived in Ski Cove just a the sun was setting. We enjoyed the last few minutes of sunshine, dropped the anchor and then cooked supper -- salad with garden fresh tomatoes, grilled pork loin, and potato wedges.
The stars were shining brightly as we went to bed. It was good to be back on the lake.
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