This is Fun?

We woke up to cloudy skies Sunday morning. It wasn't raining and for that we were grateful. After another hot breakfast it was time to put up the sails and pull the anchor.

First things first. Sails must go up. Because we had Lee, a folk singer, on board the sails were raised every morning while we sang "Haul Away Joe". The song is a traditional Irish tack and sheet, short haul shantey.




Way haul away, we'll haul for better weather.
Away haul away, we'll haul away Joe.

We hauled every morning but never seemed to see better weather. Maybe today would be different. Or maybe not.

Some people were born for watching




and some were born for hauling.




We had dropped anchor the previous day so that meant we had to pull that anchor back up. A 500 pound anchor. That is a four person job with people rotating in and out. Dave is getting his instructions before he takes his turn.




Push, Dave, push!




I have to give Brendan and Cara credit. They didn't get to rotate out. They were in for the duration.

Dave did rotate out and decided he would go back to the stern and help Captain Dave out. This sailing business is hard work.




Are the Daves expecting rain because they both are wearing their rain pants? I don't like the direction this could be going.

Now that the anchor is at the water line it is time to winch it up to the side of the boat so it can be tied down. It looks like Brendan is ready.




Look who is back. Cara is pulling and Dave is in charge of the line. Don't let go, Dave! I don't think Cara wants to do this twice.




Good job. He didn't let go. A final tie down and another job is done.




I don't want you to think I didn't do anything but watch. Some mornings I did help pull the big sails up. This morning I was in charge of one of the jib sails. I got it up but wasn't strong enough to tighten it. I tried but Brendan had to take over.




Dave still wasn't done. It was time to tighten up the large sails. He was one busy boy this morning.




It wasn't all work. There was a lot of mud on the anchor and chain when it was hauled up and some of the crew couldn't resist having a little bit of fun with it. Youth.




All of the sails and anchor were up. We had a nice breeze and it was time to make out way out of the harbor of Beaver Island and into Lake Michigan. Look who's been promoted from deck hand to captain.




We made our way out to Lake Michigan and this is what we found in front of us. There would be no avoiding that. It was full steam ahead. What lay ahead for our journey across the lake? Only time would tell.




Hang on, Cheyenne! This boat is really starting to roll.




to be continued...