Seabbatical Adventures: Day 12 July 4h

Day 12 July 4^th – a day of birthdays

July 4^th is Ross’s 21^st birthday and is the day that we chose to celebrate Diana’s birthday which is how the title got selected.

Ross is celebrating his birthday in Kazan Russia where he will be running the 1500 m in the World University Games. It has been a couple of years since we have been able to celebrate Ross birthday in person with his running, last year he was in Mexico. We did get a reply to our happy birthday wishes we sent to him. His birthday started promptly at 7 am when he was woken for a random drug test, part of the benefits of being an elite runner.

Back in the North Channel we decided to leave Covered Portage of a new anchorage, Thomas Bay. Thomas is a lovely small cove about 5 miles south east of Killarney we have spent a number of wonderful days there in the past. It is also the place where our friends first saw Jazzabelle and got Glenn’s contact info which ultimately lead to our purchase of her. We decide to take the long route to Thomas Bay to allow us to sail. We have an excellent sail down the Lansdowne in light winds and then head up into the wind for a 1.5 hour motor over to Thomas, a small price to pay for the 3 hours of peaceful sailing.

It is just after 3 when we arrive at Thomas to see 2 other boats at anchor. We drop the hook, spend some time to make sure we are secure and then it is into the water. Due to Thomas shallow nature it is noticeable warmer then Covered Portage. Paul figures it is about the temperature they keep their pool back in Port Credit.

As we are to celebrate Diana’s 50^th birthday Julie has decided that she will bake Diana a cake. Julie however opts for cupcakes so twelve cupcakes are mixed and baked in the galley, the first of much baking to take place. While the baking is taking place Dawson hooks up our Sirrus Radio (satellite radio) so that we can now enjoy the Coffee House and CBC radio on our trip south. The radio was a present from Kevin and Ross for father day.

During one of our swims the boat is over flown by 2 Sandhill Crane one busy clacking for their mate. They are large bird to see flying above your head. Dawson quickly looks at his bird guide but already has the Sandhill crane ticked off. Paul also sees a Great Blue Heron and a look at the guide shows this still available for checking but Dawson does not see it so it is left for another day. Dawson plans on keeping track of his bird sightings along the voyage in a copy of Roger Tory Peterson – Eastern Birds guide book

Once the baking is done we sit down to another excellent meal in paradise complete with candles in the cupcakes and bubbly.

Once the meal is over it is clean up time another swim and nice relaxing evening before bed.

Cheers

Dawson and Julie