The Last days of Spring

June 17th & 18th.

Got up to the boat Friday evening. Nat was already there. Mary was working. William was in Detroit for a bike race. The weather was beautiful – sunny and a nice temperature. Got the boat all washed down and enjoyed the evening. Will got to the boat about 11:00pm.

Saturday the weather was as good or better than Friday’s – just perfect. Since we had an engagement Sunday, we had my Fathers Day breakfast Saturday – sadly without Mary. We took the boat round to Sarnia Bay and took a transient slip for a couple of hours to visit the restaurant there. George and Jen came around with Iron Jenny. We tied up at the end of Y dock – stern to stern with a Post sport fisher. Thankfully, despite the lack of practice this season I managed a clean, near perfect docking much to the relief of the owner of the Post who stood protectively on his swim platform. After breakfast we enjoyed the pool there and just relaxed. Finally we cast off about 1:30 PM and ran down to Stag Island, looped around the island and back to Bridgeview. We had a full throttle run – hit a solid 30 knots so Plan B seems to be running strong.

Sunday June 19th

June 19th we attended the memorial for my younger cousin, Stephen Lawrence, who passed away May 31st after a courageous battle with cancer at age 47. Steve found out about a year before that he has the insidious disease that had already taken our grandfather and his dad. He lived that last year large – hella-skiing, visiting the British open in Scotland, Mayan ruins etc. He always had a zest for life but his courage, and optimism as he dealt with this disease is inspiring. He has left us far too soon.

Taken early April this year - Steven is in black shirt and jeans.



The memorial was fitting and touching and as up-beat as a loss like this can be. Kim, his lovely wife was strong and courageous throughout the event. I am sure he is up there now enjoying awesome rounds of golf and deep powder snow-mobiling.

We are told his favorite song was Born Free by Kid Rock. Well, something like this can't help but make you think about living for the day - there is no promise of a tomorrow. So I have below the words of one of my favorite songs by Nickleback – “If today was your last day”

"If Today Was Your Last Day"

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

Link below is to the song / video on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCZCfOygt_w

Stephen, you will be truly missed and the huge gathering at you memorial is proof of that………………………..

Raining Black Soot and some Project Pictures

A couple of weeks ago we had an issue with a big laker that was tied up by the marina entrance for a refit – it was there all winter. Apparently part of this refit was new diesel engine(s). Anyway, a week or so prior to leaving they had the engine running and every hour or so a huge puff of black smoke belched from the stack and drifted over the marina with the SW wind. Now, the smoke in itself was not a big issue, but the sooty ash and particulate it rained down certainly was. It covered the boats, the water, us, everything with this ash. And it was so fine it got into the cockpit, all over the white seating, the dash, into the engine room – everywhere. If you tried to just wipe it up it left an oily sooty black smear. It really took some cleaning up once the ship left and I still have some marks on the swim platform that have not shifted yet despite a lot of heavy scrubbing. Were we ever glad to see the back of that ship – what a mess. It was so bad that it was in the grass and when the dog went to do her business she came back with black paws (on a white dog). It really makes you wonder why we have to have emissions tests on our cars every year when these guys can spew this kind of crap into the air..............

View from our boat looking south at the freighter - I think the black haze is pretty clear to see. I took this about 10 seconds after it belched out before the wind brought it over us....again.

This is some of the sooty oily ash sitting on the upper dash by the cabin door. It went everywhere!

This is actually a picture of the water behind our boat with the dock reflecting. You can see the crap floating on the water,

On to nicer things.

Well – a lot of rain so far this season and wild temperature swings. Last Wednesday it was 33ºC and Friday it was 13º! We have only managed to get the boat out for a quick 20 min run down the river – seemed to running really nice.

However, this year schedule with Mary’s work and Will’s road race schedule is getting challenging to say the least and we have not had many proper week-ends at the boat – in fact none so far in June. I get there Friday night, clean the boat Saturday and get some work done and then head home to deal with the non-boat stuff Sunday………I am hoping it gets better soon.


Below are some interior pictures showing the main salon so far and our master cabin with the bed completed. Still to do are the some new blinds and a new TV for our cabin with the necessary woodwork to finish that off properly.

Main Salon Before picture

Main salon after with the new wood panel and the mirror replacing the tacky picture.

I don't have a great shot of our cabin before but I think you get an idea from this what it was like.

A couple of shots showing the cabin with the new bolster pads and the newly completed bead spread - thanks Nat for the great sewing job on that!



And below a few more before and after shots. It is really difficult to photograph this cabin but I think these show the new wood colour, refinished switch plates etc. As I said, the TV still has to be replaced this season yet.