Monday, July 30, 2012

At 8:15 AM we weighed anchor and left Covered Portage Cove.  En route Ralph called Harbour Vue Marina in Little Current – about 20 miles away – and was very happy to learn that they had the shifter rod we need in stock.  Hooray!   We picked up the part, then waited for the swing bridge into the Port of Little Current.  It only opens on the hour and we were glad to be through at noon. 

We picked up a slip at the Port of Little Current City Dock which is very clean and has beautiful new docks with electricity, water, wifi and is right in the heart of town and convenient to banks, the post office, grocery stores, gift shops, a laundromat, restaurants, and last but certainly not least in our book:  an ice cream bar. 

While Captain Wonderful replaced the fly bridge shift rod, I was left to my own devices and decided to go to the laundromat a few blocks away and wash a load of towels and to check out the grocery stores, Valu-Mart and G.G.’s Foodland – across the street from each other.  I went to Valu-Mart because I was on their side of the street and found the produce to be fresh and reasonably priced, the bakery had a nice assortment and, as usual, the dairy products are ridiculously high, as is the meat. Nevertheless, I bought a few things on my list.  I may try G.G.’s Foodland for milk tomorrow.  

By the time I was finished with my stuff, the shift rod was replaced and both helms were working in sync. A fellow Looper we didn't know came by to introduce himself, then offered a hand to help "fish" the rod through which was awfully thoughtful of him when you need an extra pair of hands.   I'm grateful Mr. W. knows how to do myriad things – it’s very helpful in my world.  Broken things make me crazy.  And it is very, very good not to have any broken things on a boat.

I made dinner and then we walked up to the Dock Ice Cream Bar that just so happens to be at the end of our dock.  They sell the creamiest most delicious ice cream on earth, Farquhar’s, made right here on Manitoulin Island.  We each had butterscotch sundaes – no hot fudge – can you believe it??  But the butterscotch sundaes were delicious.  So good in fact, that I didn’t even have a chance to take a photo before we ate every wonderful bite.  The 3 Cows and a Cone Dairy Bar by the bridge also sells Farquhar’s ice cream...maybe we will try that tomorrow.  We met some sailboaters there and after chatting a while, invited them back to take a look at Say Good-Bye and told them that when they grow up, like all other sailors, they’ll probably get a trawler, too.

The forecast is for strong winds, possible thunderstorms and even hail overnight so we are staying here another day.  Ralph has connected with Roy Eaton, who has a morning radio program all about cruising in this area and he offers assistance to any boater for any purpose.   Ralph would like a ride back to Harbour Vue Marina tomorrow to pick up another shift rod to keep on-board as a spare.  And to our friend, Charles Culotta, who advised the Captain to buy a spare before we started this adventure, we say...hindsight is 20/20 and we thank you!!

Downtown Little Current

The local newspaper office

Steering from lower helm

Approaching Port of Little Current

The Port of Little Current Swing Bridge

Shift rod replaced and both helms in sync

Lower helm apart

The broken pieces

Approaching Harbour Vue Marina -- they had the part we needed in stock.  :)