What a sail, nice weather, good breeze, 1-3' rollers, and 2 suprise crew. Kayla, who Vince and Karen met just a few days prior, and Steve Frambach who happened to be in town on business. Those Canadian and western fires sure did make for a sweet sunset. You can see Gary Z. sailing off into the distance solo in the sunset shots.

This was a promised cruise to hook up with Brain at Dicks Last Resort (he is management there) get some grub (mudbugs) some drink, and some attractive crew for the single boys. Food, drink were fine, Brain choked on his last assignment. Nice day, light breeze with less than 2' rollers. Rob Rhaimy joined us as well, hooking up with us at the club for a little whistle whetting before we started off to pick up Brain. This was a good 8 hour jaunt, with a rest stop and a swim over the course of the day.

The weather didnt cooperate however. Stiffling heat, 90+ with humidity, no wind to speak of, and a promise from NOAA of building winds. Nope nope nope.

So, we watched our neighbor not drop his outboard overboard, had a bit of fresh pizza I had cooked before coming down, and then motored out for a swim.

We had a streak of compasion and gave the stranded racers a tow in since there was no wind and the poor saps were paddling. Once they were in to their marina, we were off for an afternoon of sun and swimming.

After we came back in, it seemed to possibly be building, nahhhh, wasnt,  just a figment. But we ran into Mr. Zuchowski at the bar, and got to watch Scott suffer from Pina Colada brain freezes.

What a day for a day trip, Scott Birthday, sunny and cool. and an apparent wind that just kept playing with our heads and shifting directions. 

Little did we know that the cocktails would get the best of us, well, Scott actually. 

About an 2 hours into the sail, after the perennial "Am I red yet?" Scott began to make offerings to the lake, and power yodelling the entire time. After the 4th or so time of making this offering, he rolled over on the seat, and took a we bit of a nap, with an occasional repeated offering to the gods. 

We took this as a hint to take it in to harbor. 

Well, once in, Mr. Furman was not cooperating in his extrication from the boat and docks, so we found it necessary to use a dock cart to roll his ass back to land. Of course the diamond plate of the docks rumbling under the wheels meant he was shortly offering up another tribute to the lake gods. 

With a little coaxing, a visit to the diametrically opposing temperatures of the cool floor, and warm air inside the Yatch club yielded yet another offering, passing thru the technological bowels to the Lake gods.

Eventually we garnered up the birthday boy, packed him semi-concious into his own car (passenger seat of course) with a bucket to offer up more presents to the gods in, and your story teller traversed the distances to deliver our hurling hero to his birthday soirée and dinner bash, attended by his closest friends, and occassional acquaintences.

Of course, dinner became a test of the lightest possible non acidic foods to minimize subsequent intestinal sacrifices to the gods (hadnt they had their share of homage?) of our aged and wizened (my ass) hero. But all the same he enjoyed his birthday cruise.

I am sad to report, I had forgotten the camera to document this historic event.

No trip, just cocktails with a few friends and our illustrious sponsor and boat owner, TFR, who was toasting and savoring the years past of voyages on Raven. It was our honor as a group to raise glasses to this vessel, as it was in a series of parting toasts. As times have changed, and priorities have shifted, TFR has decided to hand the tiller and scrambled eggs to another Captain, and Raven will be complimented with a new crew.

However, keep your eyes open, as Raven might still remain within the family so to speak. More to come as the story progresses..

Happy Turkeyday everyone!!!

As a time honored tradition, and idiocy rules on the travelled waters of Lake Erie, we the sailors past and present on the vessel Raven, made a last Turkeyday voyage (numbering in the teens for some in attendance) under its current captain.

Weather permitted, but didnt want to go down without a fight, as it was a balmy 34 degrees, lake temp near 50, and 20-30mph winds building to 45 with gusts, and waves 3-9 feet woohoo.

We hauled ass, and froze ass, on a morning trip to the Crib setting a speed record as far as we are concerned.

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