Days 10, 11, 12 - Harrisville

The cell phone rang as I was making coffee. It was Bob. “You’ve got to see this!” he chuckled. “A flock of about 20 Canadian geese has separated a female swan from her mate and is keeping the male swan from coming to her rescue despite several attempts on his part. When he attempts to approach, several of the geese assume aggressive postures and hiss chasing the male swan away.” I ran up the pier to where Bob sat on a park bench and we watched. The geese had surrounded the swan and marched her back and forth on the shore like a gaggle of divorce attorneys keeping her away from her estranged mate. As they marched away male fluffed up his feathers and arched his wings to look beautiful—Was it to motivate her to escape or to attract a new mate? I guess we’ll never know.

Port Austin is one of the few places where you can sit on the bridge with a glass of wine, cheese and crackers and watch a spectacular, fiery orange sunset; then arise in the morning and watch the sun pop up like a yellow beach ball over the opposite horizon as you're casting off the lines to get underway.

I have learned that a broiling pan is very versatile. It can be used to broil juicy barbecue ribs, of course, but it is also handy for baking cakes and cookies, using as a tray to carry lunch to the helmsman, and it makes a great laptop desk .

Thursday morning, we had a sunny and smooth sail across Saginaw Bay. For awhile we owned the world—no visible shore or boats in any direction.

We came to the pretty little town of Harrisville where—alas—I found an optometrist to fix the glasses I somehow managed to mangle while watching the fireworks in Lexington. Unfortunately, the glasses were beyond repair. (Note to all: Take 2 pair!) We consoled ourselves with huge ice cream cones served by the friendliest of ten-year-old boys at a shop in town.