Ohh, Hey-Hey!

So much for updates.
Since leaving Erie last month (that long, really?!) a lot has happened, in case you couldn’t guess that already.
I’ll attempt to remember and sum it all up, since there’s a good deal of noteworthy things to make mention of that I should have done sooner.
On the way to Deluth we had to motor across Lake Superior into a headwind, but as a consolation prize for not sailing we got to stop by Isle Royale, a pristine wilderness island system that has some incredibly interesting things on it. For one, it’s gorgeous, and to someone who’s been away from her beloved wilderness the smell of dirt, trees and woodsy goodness was intoxicating. Also, there’s some super-cool flora and fauna, some of the plants on the islands are only seen there and in arctic regions, as I understand. That’s kind of cool. Also, there’s a study on the wolf and moose population (!) that’s been going on for 50-some years (!!).
But I’m getting ahead of myself, we were able to go there because we’d just had our hull scrubbed in Algonac, MI. It was another fun stop, after the divers were done with their work we all had a picnic and then a baseball game with the crew of the Lynx which was also in town at the time. It was great fun, and I’m still proud that when I was up to bat I only missed four balls all night. (Yes, I remember the exact number. It’s called gloating.)
So then Wes suggested we try to go to Isle Royale, which we were all, obviously, in support of. We got there and gave tours to some interested locals and tourists who were visiting the island and then the park rangers (the islands are a national park) invited us to spend the night on the island where they all live while working there! Obviously, we took them up on it immediately.
That night we had crew fun ashore, since there wasn’t a town to scatter into. We had a campfire and the Boatswain’s Court was held, where we were all pulled up to answer for our various offenses (and most were found guilt,y, of course). I was brought in on the charge of “corrupting the youth” by teaching Neil to play the fiddle last year.....yup, guilty as charged! It was a night of merriment; after we were all found suitably guilty we partied with the park rangers and locals. I ended up playing music with the park superintendent and a gentleman named Frank. The superintendent loved contra and square dances, so we (myself on fiddle and Frank on Guitar) played and she called a few dances, which was great fun, then we retreated to the fire and played for a few more hours. A good time was had and we were all thoroughly exhausted for the next day, which was to be Forced Family Fun in the form of hiking and seeing what the island had to offer. Despite us all being dead on our feet and more than one of us wishing we could just sleep all day, it was, in fact, incredibly enjoyable.
We broke into small groups, as you’re not allowed to hike on the trails there in groups of more than 7, and went to various activities all day. My group hiked and picked wild blueberries (YUM!), went to see a lighthouse and then went to talk to Rolf and his wife, Candy, the people studying the wolves and moose. The hike was beautiful enough to justify it being so hot and tiring. The lighthouse became one of my new favorite places in the universe, especially the very top of the tower. The steps leading up went round and round forever and it was hot and stuffy at the top, but the view in that tiny circular room was so entirely worth it. Pristine woods, at my back, small islands and then water as far as the eye could see. Breathtaking!
We all were sad to leave the islands, but Deluth was calling and we had to answer. The rest of the trop to Deluth went well, and the port of Deluth was a fun one.
I got sent out to do laundry one day, which went passably well, and then later had some time off to explore the town with friends. There are some great shops within walking distance of the waterfront, including a very cool hybrid thrift store and funky clothing shop. A very dangerous place to go into on the whole, we all came out with lighter wallets than when we entered. I got a short fitted dark grey vest that I completely adore and have been wearing every chance I get. Later I got a cool belt that I’m wearing now to hold my knife and marlinspike in the new sheath I made (more on that later).
Other stores proved equally fascinating, including a vintage clothing shop where I fell hopelessly in love with a darling grey 1950’s dress. Alas, it would have gotten mauled in my seabag, so I didn’t even try it on, though it looked as though it may have fit. :’( I’ll just dream about it and if I ever see another I’ll snatch it up.
On Sunday I got to visit with family that came to visit, my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin and some friends of my grandparents whom I hadn’t met since I was a toddler. Thankfully they (the friends) forgave me for not remembering them, though after a little bit of time it seemed like I had known them forever, since they were wonderfully kind and had us over for a delicious meal and delightful visit after church. Then they dropped us back at the hotel where we went swimming in their indoor waterpark/pool area. The waterslides were fun.
When we finally set our sails and left Deluth we had some good sailing, with some stops in small towns along the way, the most memorable being in Manitowoc, WI where there’s the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. The folks there were nice and glad to have us there and let us tour the museum for free which was interesting and enjoyable.
We got into Green Bay on the 12th and I was greeted with a sign saying “Yay Niagara, yay Fern!” which was excitedly pointed out to me by my shipmates who dragged me out of my hammock and on deck to see it.
Total dumb moment; I’d completely forgotten that my parents were coming to visit in this port. I knew it was a possibility, but I couldn’t remember if they were actually coming or not, whoops. But they were here, so the next day I got to spend with them. We pretty much just talked straight for the entire time, which was fabulous.
The other day I had a half day off, so I went to have a delicious and leisurely breakfast at a fun veggie-friendly restaurant (the Urban Frog) that was close by and also had free WiFi and comfy chairs. After that I met up with my shipmate and friend (and fellow woods elf) Bekah and we went to a CD store. Dangerous, dangerous waters. I only got 2 CDs and a new set of headphones (my old ones died a grisly death), but I was sorely tempted by everything I saw and could have easily wreaked devastation on my budget. Alas.
When I got back on watch I was called into Major Galley duty, so I got to help clean and then restock the galley and stores. Whee! We switched cooks again, so it was an overhaul day in the galley. Very interesting, but it was nice to sit down after and just listen to my new music.
We left Green Bay and after a little sailing and then some motoring and housing the main t’gallant mast to fit under a bridge, we stopped in Sturgeon Bay where we’ll spend the night before heading back out tomorrow morning early for another race and then figure out what to do with ourselves in the two weeks that we have to get to Chicago, our next big port.