Lake Nipigon 2023 - Day 15, Tuesday, July 11 (Layover)

0515-57F/55F. Solar 84%

0730-Study, prayer, and reading done. Verse for the day: "Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."  (Psalms 57:1)

Time for breakfast. 67F/55F. Solar 80%. Cloudy, spitting some rain on occasion. Some waves causing roll in the anchorage. Strong west to southwest wind persists. Up to 20 mph. October weather in early July!

0745-Breakfast was great. Wheat Chex with strawberries and wheat toast with PB.

The weather is very depressing now with four days of wind, rain, and squalls. Cool days with few weather windows for moving on. Not the type of weather I would expect in early July.  I had a good first week to ten days.  This latter half of the trip is a challenge every day with too many layovers due to wind.

I may have a short window to move today between 1700 and 1900, but we'll have to see?  Right now they forecast increasing wind to 20 mph by 0900. No forecast rain but it is all around me!

The Promise - Hope In The Midst Of Discouragement

Debating resetting the stern anchor to reduce the occasional roll when the bow swings too far and becomes broadside to the waves.

NOTE: I discovered I left 10' more on the bow's rode then I should have. Once I tightened the bow rode all was well and the boat quieted down despite 20 mph winds. 

It is rough out on the lake. I can see waves breaking outside the harbor to the south about 3 miles.

0930-Washed dishes and plotted and schemed over my next move which is not clear at all. I was a bit down with all the waiting and the inability to do anything. I can't kayak, can't go ashore, and I'm tired of reading or listening to audiobooks all day.

1100-I made coffee cake as a treat and to lift my spirits. It gives a great smell throughout the cabin.

Waiting For Weather To Change

I continue to check weather hourly trying to determine what to do. No option is good, including staying here because the wind is going to back to the south and begin to feed directly into this harbor, or the next harbor option (Harbor Is.).

1340-I've been listening to "Heaven's Keep" and thinking about what to do next, it is constantly on my mind.

1720-Made the executive decision to stay put since the south wind tonight make this a better harbor than Harbor Island. I plan to make the much longer leg to Shakespeare Island tomorrow if the forecast holds.

Grilled a burger for dinner with toasted bun, chips, and a frozen mug of beer. Excellent fare!. Sun is out again. It warmed up and is now relatively calm with a light breeze. I will sit on the aft deck and listen to my audiobook while I wait for strawberries to thaw out for ice-cream topping.

1820-The wind came back up again, sooner than forecast.  A good think I did not move!  It would have been a slog for the last miles to Harbor Island. This anchorage will not be good but still better than the alternative. White caps coming into the anchorage now.

White Caps & Winds Blowing Into Harbor

The Worst Wind Direction I could Have!

Islands To South Help Break Up Waves To Some Extent

1930-Sat on the aft deck for a while in my down vest sipping red wine. Quite chilly with the breeze and waves coming into the harbor. Sleep will not come easy tonight.

Had a bowl of strawberries and ice-cream. Tasted great as always but may not be the best choice of desserts with the outside temp of 61F!

2105-Wind has dropped to about 6 or 7 mph. No more whitecaps in the harbor. I hope that holds through the night so I can sleep.

They still forecast winds to 13 mph from the south tonight so we'll see if that holds up. They have also increased the morning's forecast wind to 7 mph. Still okay, but I hoped for less.

Will listen to my audiobook and hit the sack.

YouTube Video

(Click To Play)

Lake Nipigon 2023 - Day 14, Monday, July 10

0330-61F/57F. Solar 82%. Up early, not sure why?

0515-Study routine complete and it is beginning to get light out in the east. Cloudy 68F/56F.

Verse of the day from my study time: "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." (Psalms 16:7)

Time to make breakfast.

NOTE: House battery continues to lose ground, I'm down to 11.8 volts. It seems weak.

0545-Departed the anchorage, sun is still not up. Angry looking sky. Rain showers in the SW. Rain is not forecast!  Forgot to turn on the navigation tracking so I missed the first part of today's track.

Unfriendly Sky!

Darkness & Light

0725-Arrived at Selwyn Island. Leg 12 was 6.1 miles. Wind is NE and is supposed to be NW! Swell is still coming out of the south from the winds yesterday.

Day 14, Leg 12 - 6.1 Miles

Google Earth - Selwyn Island Destination

At Anchor - Selwyn Island

0845-Dishes are done. Heat is on to warm the cabin up. 63F/56F. Solar 71%.

Coming To Beg!

Turned off the heat after it was warm in the cabin and listened to my new audio book "Heaven's Keep" by William Kent Krueger. Later I moved to the aft deck but was chased in by a passing rain squall.

Squall Moving Through

1230-Had a snack with white wine and listened to more of my audio book. Flew the drone. Another rain squall brought that idea to a quick close! I ruled out making another move today.  Winds are too sketchy and rain squalls continue to plague.

Flying Drone From Foredeck

YouTube Video

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1730-I grilled chicken for dinner accompanied by potatoes, salad, roll, and white wine.  While having dinner another squall blew through taking my backup solar panel right off the foredeck. It was hanging by it's connecting wire and I grabbed it before it sank. I hope the dunking doesn't do any damage.

Sandy Beach In Cove

Looks like I'm stuck here for two days given the current forecast!

1840-Sat on the aft deck listening to my audio book but it got so cold I went back into the cabin.

1910-Almost full cloud cover, wind is brisk out of the WSW. Boat is riding okay.

1925-Another squall is coming through. This weather reminds me of late fall not early July! 68F/56F. Solar 100%. My left Achilles heel tendon is stretched and very sore, not sure how I did that.  Likely it was the attempt to rescue my solar panel that went overboard.

Ominous Skies! - Cove Opening To South

I'm going to bed early.

Lake Nipigon 2023 - Day 13, Sunday, July 9 (Layover)

0700-61F/60F. Solar 79%.

Slept in due to winds not allowing a move to a new location.

0930-Finnished coffee, cookies, and my morning study routine. Verse of the day:  “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me." (Hosea 6:6, The Living Bible)

I'm well protected from the wind but I'm experiencing wave reflection off the north side of the harbor.  It will get worse as wind strengthens.  I may need to move further into the harbor.

1050-Had cereal and toast for breakfast. Did the dishes. I'm observing the wave reflection to see if I should move or stay. So far I'm undecided.

1205-Reading my e-book, "House Divided".  It appears it's best to just stay where I'm at in the harbor since west winds early tomorrow morning would leave me exposed should I move deeper into the harbor. If roll develops I could use the stern anchor to hold the bow to the wave action.

Skies are clouding up and it is supposed to rain later. 72F/70F but the temps are deceiving since any breeze over the cool water is like turning on air conditioning.

Only Wildlife Sighting All Day!

1600-Cloud cover is now complete and there are occasional spits of rain.

I set up the stern anchor to keep the bow to the waves reflecting off the north shore of the harbor.  The boat is now quiet.

Read more in my e-book and began dinner prep of spaghetti, salad, rolls, and red wine.

Post dinner cleanup is complete.  No serious rain yet but the last weather report indicates winds of 21 mph peaking by 6 pm. Barely affecting me at all in my well protected corner of this harbor.

1820-Winds are up to 30 mph and waves are blowing into the harbor entrance breaking wildly on the rocky shore on the north side of the harbor.  The stern anchor is holding the boat alignment with the bow into the reflective swell. Now the peak winds will be 30 mph at 8 pm and should begin to drop off after that.

1945-The winds are at their max and waves are breaking heavily on the north shore of the harbor entrance.

Morning winds are a complete mystery. They go down one hour, up the next, then down the next. Kind of schizophrenic forecasting I would say!  It makes no sense. I'll hit the sack early, set the alarm for 5 am and sort it out then.

Lake Nipigon 2023 - Day 12, Saturday, July 8

0500-Alarm went off. 59F/54F, Solar 88%.

0725-Morning study and breakfast routine finished. 

Two verses for today:  

"Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

Early for my planned departure but the wind forecast has shifted to later so I will hold off a bit and let it drop more. Bald eagle circling the bay.  Washed dishes to kill time and let wind and waves dissipate. I'm concerned about left over swell.

0845-Departed the anchorage and once in the open it did not look good, there appeared to be white caps in the NE, which meant adverse wave action. Even going mostly downwind that will not be good!

It turned out okay, but there was a fair amount of yawing of the boat in waves.

A serious reef showed up in my path which was not well marked on the chart because there were enough surface rocks that looks like islands on the chart.  It was low and extensive. In heavy wind and waves it could easily catch someone unawares.  I was certainly surprised by it!

Serious Reef - Extensive, Mostly Underwater

Dangerous Reef In High Wind & Waves - Very Low, Hard To See

1005-Arrived at Weber's Harbor on Murchison Island and tucked into a small cove in the SW corner of the larger harbor. Anchored in 4'-5' of water with a mud bottom.  Leg 11 was 6.5 miles.

Day 12, Leg 11 - 6.5 Miles

Destination - Weber's Harbor

Since the forecast says S to SW winds up to 23 mph tomorrow, and likely higher in gusts, I will probably not move tomorrow.

Weber's Harbor - Murchison Island

Cove In SW Corner Of Weber's Harbor

Entrance To Weber's Harbor

1110-I made a cup of hot chocolate to have with some chocolate covered almonds to hold me till dinner. Still cool at 61F outside temp.

YouTube Video

(Click To Play)

1320-Made chicken salad sandwiches with chips and white wine for lunch. The early wakeup and cooler temps have given me an appetite.  Wind is switching to the west and will eventually go SW, then south, and strengthen.

Why Forest Fires Start
If Lighting Hit This Tree It Would Burst Into Flame Like A Torch

1425-Flew the drone for two flights and now I'm recharging batteries. Got some high wind warnings when I climbed up to altitude for area shots.

1630-I'm baking pizza now.

1730-Had pizza, salad, and a  beer. A beautiful day!  Overall pleasant temps with a light breeze.

Evening Calm

2100-Sat on the aft deck listening to music then read my e-Book "House Divided" by Jack Mars after finishing my 2nd audiobook "Red Knife" by William Kent Krueger. Beautiful evening with a touch of coolness to the air. I will hit the sack soon.

End Of A Fine Day On Lake Nipigon

Lake Nipigon 2023 - Day 11, Friday, July 7

0500-62F/58F. Solar 82%.

Dawning Of A New Day!

I had hoped for calm winds, but it is not to be!  I walked the hill to get a better take on the wind velocity and it is about 6 mph inside the Channel, but I would expect more outside and with the fetch to the south it would be a direct side roll.  So I cancelled my plan and may be stuck here for another day, and the current forecast does not look favorable.

0630-Study verse for the day is "... the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land." (Hosea 4:1)

0730-Study, prayer, and reading from "New Evidence..." is complete. Breakfast is next.  Mostly cloudy. 69F/62F. Solar 78%.

0810-Finished Breakfast. Heavier cloud cover is moving in and the breeze increased. It was probably a good decision to not have ventured out this morning. It looks like a possible window of weather in the morning, I pray that it comes.

0915-Dishes are done, house is in order, now what?  Mostly sunny now 70F/66F. Solar 75%.  Too much wind to enjoy kayaking. I could fish some more, though I felt bad about the northern I put back but did not survive.  He was too seriously damaged in the gills.  The hook was caught up in the gills, very difficult to remove, and he was also out of the water too long while I tried to find tools to remove the lure. In the end I disconnected the lure and pulled it out the back side of the gills.  He tried to recover but I think his gills were just too badly damaged.  He became gull food, though he fought them off for a while. He was just too far gone.  I need better tools for release of lures.  Even with a barbless hook it was difficult to remove from the gills.

Observed one of the fishermen with the dogs going ashore to allow the two big labs to relief themselves.  A big fat guy wearing no shirt in 62F and running at speed in the boat along with a stiff breeze blowing.  It is the same macho aura I feel coming from the two boats with ill behaved dogs, oversized flag on the bow, and always running at full throttle no matter what!  I suspect they are two brothers since they have the same bulk and appearance.  There is a third that appears to be the son of the one with the noisy dogs.  I will be glad to be away from them.

Will spend some time reviewing and transferring video from SD cards to my laptop external hard drive.  But before I do that I opened up the cabin since it has warmed up some.  

I was filling the rinse dish pan in the cockpit when I smelled for the second or third time what I thought was rotting fish.  Then it dawned on me that it was the smell of leaking propane.  It appeared to be coming from the main tank valve which had a pressure gauge attached.  I shut off the gas and removed that attachment, which was suspect.  I tested it after the gas smell dissipated and it appeared to go away. I have a gas alarm inside the cabin and it had not activated though the smell was in the cockpit, not the cabin.

1100-I finished my review and transfer of all photos and videos to date to my portable 5TB hard drive and then charged my laptop back up. Fishermen stayed and went south this morning for their fishing.  

The deer flies make it unpleasant to sit up on the hill. I may fish a while, then get a snack, followed by a nap.

1310-I fished and managed to get a terrible backlash, lost my lure, and ultimately had to cut the line.  I finally got the mess cleaned up and went back to fishing with a new silver spoon, but had no luck. I had numerous hits and caught one on the lure I lost which had some orange on it, so I switched to an orange jig of sorts with a small orange spoon attached.  Got two hits almost immediately just as I was pulling the lure from the water, both were nice size northerns, maybe the same one twice?  There were no more strikes and dogs on the boats began their noisy barking despite being locked inside the boat cabin.  Must have woke up and saw me. They continually barked, a real pain!

I was hungry and got tired of the noise so I gave up and went back to the boat to have a snack.  A T-storm was approaching in the NW.  I may have to go back and retrieve my tackle before it gets wet!

1425-Had a snack lunch and checked to confirm the propane leak was fixed and it appears to be.  I may nap while the T-storm moves through.

1630-Had a nice nap as the storm passed and woke up to relative calm. I checked the forecast and the evening is supposed to be very light winds.  I may move.

Still T-storms to the west yet so we'll see what develops. I'll make dinner in the meantime. I'd like to get away from these fishermen and their irritating dogs.

1740-Finished beef stroganoff, salad, rolls, and red wine.

More T-storms coming through and a lot of instability in the air plus the forecast changes every time I take a look.  I may have to wait until morning.

Finally Underway - End Of The Day

1840-Made a spur of the moment decision to go. Conditions seemed right, stable air, and light wind. So, I prepared for departure.

North Side Of Ramsey Island

1945-Arrived and anchored in Ramsey Harbor. Observed a caribou as I was in the process of putting down anchor. Got some hurried photos as it ran full tilt across the end of the harbor.

Woodland Caribou

Hustling!
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Mergansers Scattering!
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YouTube Video

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 Water is shallow, about 4.5-5.0 feet.  Leg 10 was 5.7 miles. Glad I made the move!  At least I have some peace and quiet here.

Day 11, Leg 10 - 5.6 Miles

Ramsey Island Harbor Anchorage

SW Of Anchorage - Caribou Ran Through Woods And Reappeared Here

Peace & Calm Of The Evening

Looking SE - Ramsey Is. Harbor Anchorage

2100-I hit the sack and set the alarm for 0500 to be ready for the calmer winds forecast for 8 am in the morning.  I will continue on.