August 26
South Benjamin Island to Meldrum Bay
We left South Benjamin Island this morning around 8 am. With 40 miles ahead of us, we knew we were in for a breezy day. The weather forecast calls for rain and lots of wind in the 20’s plus. We set our goal for Meldrum Bay Marina. By the time we arrived, winds were exceeding 30 knots. Fortunately, the seas weren’t as dicey as we have seen, being only 1-2 feet. Days like this, we really enjoy the stabilizers on our boat that are quite effective “flattening” out rough water. Arriving at the dock was a handful, fighting the wind and backing into a slip.
The winds were almost a match for the engine when docking. See gauge. 
We made it to safe harbor.
There was plenty of room in the marina since the weekend was over, and the season is drawing to a close for this part of the country. Soon, this whole area will be one solid block of ice, they tell us. This Southern boy will gladly miss all that. We settled in, met Jim and Cindy from Cheboygan, Wisconsin, who are spending a few weeks exploring some of the North Channel waters we have just enjoyed. Jim was a refreshing reminder of how steep the learning curve is on the boat. Dale and I were telling them stories and places to go, as if we have been doing this for years. For example, today was their first time to go “stern in” into a marina. That seems so routine now, but just 4 months ago, stern in was like asking me to step into a viper pit. How I empathize with their anxiety. Soon they will be looking forward to things that today they dread. It’s amazing, after now logging a few hundred hours, how the boat seems to anticipate what I am trying to do, when just a few weeks ago, I would literally lay awake at night, mentally practicing maneuvers, hoping I wouldn’t crash my boat or someone else’s. I still pray a lot before docking.
We decided to pay for 2 nights at the marina and see what happens in the forecast for Wednesday. Tuesday will be ugly. Though the girls are more vocal about being off the water when the forecast is dismal, we guys are glad to have a day off from the stress of plotting the trip, dodging the rocks, and keeping plenty of water under the keel. Tuesday will allow me to get the blog updated with all the pictures I’ve been taking. In closing today’s thoughts, we reached our Northernmost point today. Though most of the day was Westbound, we did start the descent Southerly. The North Channel will soon be in our rear view mirror, along with the country of Canada. In some ways, it felt like we would always be headed away from home, but today’s milestone is a reminder that heading toward home sounds like a pretty good idea. We continue to love every minute (maybe not EVERY minute) of the adventure, and look forward to many more sites and new friendships.
August 27
Tuesday morning: blog and laundry. The day started pretty windy, as was most of last night. We slept fine, but the boat moved almost constantly, with 4 lines tied to the finger dock. I did much of the routine maintenance in the engine room while Amanda sewed, making netting to fit over the hatches. The nets will allow us to have the hatches open and keep the mosquitoes out. But at the rate the temperatures keep dropping around here, the nets may not see action before next Spring. The marina was nice, and we were grateful to have a place to tuck in, but when there’s a $5.00 charge for a shower, I give the place 1 star. The general store was pretty lacking and the laundry overpriced, so it was not our greatest experience.
Tuesday evening we had dinner at the Meldrum Inn. With our new friends and our old friends, we gathered around the table and shared an evening of good food and getting acquainted.
The restaurant and inn owners (she, the hostess and waitress, and he, the chef) treated us with kindness and hospitality. Of Iranian descent, she shared a “potion” for Amanda to use on her foot. She gave us turmeric to mix with ground chick peas and egg yolk. She also prescribed that Amanda drink plenty of bone broth. I’m glad my bones are not broken. She took our picture so we could all remember this experience.
Tomorrow, the weather looks promising, so we are West bound to Drummond Island.