The Adventures of Blue Ayes

Life on the High Seas

2010-08-05T07:43:00.018-05:00

So our vacation didn't go quite as planned. Huh. Imagine that. We left three days late, and came back two days early, but we managed to pack in some amazing experiences. Quality not quantity, right?

Red sky at night, sailor's delight.....the quiet yet spectacular display over York Island proved an accurate catalyst for the events that lie in store. I'm not sure it gets much more beautiful than this, homemade by Mother Nature herself:

We headed for Superior/Duluth to see Brittany who had just moved back a few days prior. Trips to the canal park area provided plenty of fun and entertainment. A visit to the Great Lakes Aquarium offered a chance to learn more about the lake we so love, and the opportunity to get up close and personal with stingrays and sturgeon! "Mysteries of the Great Lakes" was playing at the Omnimax. Although we'd seen the show before, we watched again with interest, knowing that many of the aeiral shots were taken from a Cessna flown by Matt's flight instructor, Jeff Melau. Too cool! We wrapped up with some shopping, ice cream, and people watching.

Prefering the unrestricted company of her sister, Brooke stayed behind in Superior while Matt and I ventured back to the Apostles. As we approached Superior Entry to greet the Big Lake, we were met with a rare treat - an up close and personal look at a 1000 foot laker. The Burns Harbor was coming into port as we were attempting to leave. Five short blasts from her horn signaled that we should move from our present position to make way, so we drove along side this tremendous hulking steel figure. She came close to a full stop for us. I'm not sure this kind of opportunity will ever present itself again....once in a lifetime, no doubt.

The BURNS HARBOR

Built in 1980

1000 feet LOA

Our expectations for unusual experiences was not high after a meet and greet with the Burns Harbor, but we were treated to an array of tall ships staging for an afternoon parade near the Duluth Entry. So, off we went! The cutter Sundew (to the left) lead the parade into the harbor, followed by eight tall ships entering in three flights. I'm sure the folks lined up in Canal Park were treated to an awesome display!

The day prior, we had been offered a ride on the Sundew for the next day, but we declined given our plans to head back to the Apostles. Had we known we would have been part of the tall ship parade, our answer would have certainly changed! Of course, we would have missed our chance meeting with the Burns Harbor. Everything worked out just fine. Here's the tall ship S/V Bounty, sails billowing in the wind, ready to greet the city of Duluth:

We may consider ways to rendezvous with with these beauties next summer! Wouldn't it be fun to be a part of their staging process?!!!

Stay tuned.....more adventures to be posted soon!

And so begins The Season

2010-05-21T20:47:00.003-05:00

Our first night on the boat for the season is marked by calm winds and stunning display of color as the sun sets on another beautiful Superior day. Ah, to be back!!

As always, it's a typical busy start to the season. Bedding, towels, and upholstery have been washed. He hull has been cleaned and waxed. In addition to cleaning the inside, all interior teak has been massaged to rich vibrant tones with a fresh application of oil. Both staterooms now boast new memory foam mattresses. Cradled in comfort, rocked by the gentle waves....we look forward to a season of rest and rejuvenation.

Tomorrow brings the yacht club fishing contest and while we typically participate (and sometimes win!), it's likely we will instead continue bringing Blue Ayes back to ship-shape condition. We'll engage in the afternoon festivities of cocktails, dinner, and membership meeting with good friends that have spent the last several months scattered to their respective corners of the upper Midwest. It's good to be together again.

Watching Buttons, it seems like she never left the boat. No doubt she is anxious for a trip to the islands where she'll be treated to "dinghy rides" and romps on the beach. Can you blame her?

The next few months have a myriad of suprises in store. What might they be?? Will the fish be plentiful? The dive sites clear? Will island secrets reveal themselves? Are there new friends to be made?

And so begins more Adventures of Blue Ayes....

It's Official!

2010-03-24T14:31:00.004-05:00

The ice is......OUT!

Each spring we anticipate the date in which the ice is officially gone from the Chequamegon Bay area, marking the dawn of another boating season on the greatest of the Great Lakes.

The Bayfield Harbor surely presents an enticing summer-like image, even though the calendar reminds us that spring has only just officially emerged. No matter....the time has definitely come to peruse the West Marine catalog one last time and start planning for a new round of adventures, Blue Ayes style.

Ice, Ice, Baby

2010-03-01T17:52:00.002-06:00

While perusing the latest edition of our marina's newletter, The Washburn Waves, I was immediately drawn to a small paragraph addressing the "state of the lake." While there is still plenty of ice in the Chequamegon Bay and around the Apostle Islands at this time, the rest of the lake is largely open. What this means is that there is a better than average chance that the ice will be "out" earlier than normal. Typically we see ice-free conditions in mid-April....sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Never early enough. But in any case, it seems that Mother Nature may be showing her benevolent side this season.

What this ALSO means is that we best get going on the new interior. First up, a trip to the boat to retrieve the interior saloon cushions and curtains. Next stop, LaCrosse, to make final fabric choices and get this project moving along.

Blue Ayes, it won't be long now!

I miss my boat!!!!

2009-12-11T18:52:00.001-06:00

That's it. There's nothing else to say.

The Edmund Fitzgerald

2009-11-10T12:30:00.005-06:00

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in the icy waters of Lake Superior. Twenty-nine men lost their lives. This youtube.com video pays tribute to the 729 foot ore carrier and her faithful crew.

Where, oh where, has the summertime gone?

2009-10-12T21:18:00.006-05:00

I am a bad blogger. The intent has been noble from the start, but the follow through obviously leaves much to be desired. No excuses, not even an explanation. Just an acknowledgement.

Although Mother Nature seemed a bit off her game this summer, plaguing the northwoods and great lakes with weather patterns reminiscent of November, the Blue Ayes crew nonetheless reveled in the beauty and mysteries of the Great Lake and her terrestrial charges, the Apostle Islands.

Michigan Island held our interest tightly this summer as we explored the terrain for remnants of time gone by and the artifacts born out of necessity, creativity, and what seems to be a little harmless fun. Intrigued? I'd hope. And I'll leave it there....for now.

"Superior, it's said, never gives up her dead," and so goes the song paying homage to the Fitzgerald and other ships before her that met an untimely demise, ravaged by the crippling forces of the lake called Gitchee Gummee. The Lucerne, a 195 foot schooner that was wrecked in 1886 off the coast of Long Island in roughly twenty feet of water, became another repeat site of respite, and we enjoyed several dives on what is an incredibly preserved relic of historic transportation. Much of the hull is present, along with the capstan, anchor chain, and even some of the ships cargo, iron ore, scattered about the sea floor. A couple of large bass were observed enjoying the change in topography offered by her remains.

While we've experienced only a modicum of what Lake Superior can dish out, we did find ourselves awoken early one morning to a fierce switch in the wind, rocking and rolling the boat well past that which lulls even the most wakeful to sleep. A quick look at a chart and we headed out for calmer waters, finding ourselves heading toward Julian Bay on Stockton Island. We watched the sunrise enroute, unsuccessfully scouring the scape for a stray dinghy reported missing by a fellow boater, feeling energized as we made way for safe harbor. Even in the protected bay the winds blew and howled, and a quick walk across the tombolo to an area exposed to the elements revealed a rush of waves assaulting the rock breakwall. To describe the display as impressive is almost insulting. How fortunate for us to be safe, yet witness such an incredible presentation. As one so wisely stated, "the lake is the boss." Best not to forget that.

The end of each season is punctuated by the Apple Fest in Bayfield, a time where we congregate with fellow boating friends for one last hurrah. Gale force winds forced us to stay put at the marina, where we lamented being "stuck" yet managed to make plenty of fun outside the precinct of formal festivities. True to form, the weather laid down mid-day Saturday and we took advantage of the window to wage against the three foot swells, a comfortable journey north. We all had a blast....Matt and me, Brittany, Anthony, Kyle, and Isaac....taking in food, carnival, and vendors to the fullest extent. I trust that all left with their hearts (and tummies) just a little fuller.

So now we prepare to lay Blue Ayes to rest for the winter, knowing that the upcoming season, no matter how it might drag out, will leave us renewed for another set of Adventures. Adventures that I hope to chronicle in their entirety.

Secrets of the Apostles

2009-07-28T20:59:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow we leave for a week long adventure on the Big Lake. The islands hold many secrets, both above and below water, and it is our intent to investigate some of the jewels known only to a few. Perhaps we will discover some new treasures of which we've never heard. We're on the hunt for fault lines, shoes, and boilers, to name a few. Who knows what else lies waiting to be discovered?

So much fun, so little time

2009-06-11T09:19:00.006-05:00

Wow, I can hardly believe nearly two months have passed since since my last post. Blue Ayes splashed gently into the water in early May, and we've been enjoying a multitude of excursions over the past several weeks.

While the weather has been too cold for simply lounging in the sun, it has been quite conducive to pulling in some of Lake Superior's finer inhabitants. Memorial Day weekend provided us with fair winds and calm seas, resulting in a catch of one delicious coho salmon and four beautiful lake trout.

We each pulled in a fish that weekend. My beauty, (31 inches, 6 lbs) is right here:

The ice is out!!!

2009-04-17T19:39:00.003-05:00

Finally! Good news! The ice is out in the bay, but....some ice still lingers in the marina area. Generally speaking, May 1 is the earliest the marina will splash boats and it looks like we're going to be scheduled for the second weekend of May. So close, yet so far.

First order of business will be removal of the bright blue shrink wrap. Captain Matt is usually then responsible for the outside cleaning and polishing of the boat (which sometimes includes hiring the polishing out to a third party - it's just easier that way). I get the inside, which means Clorox wipes and loads of teak oil. It sort of results in a glue-sniffing phenomenon (not that I would know what sniffing glue entails), without actually looking like you're doing anything inappropriate. HA!

Oh, to start finally making plans! Apostle Islands, look out....here comes the Blue Ayes Crew!

Missing the boat....

2008-12-07T21:17:00.012-06:00

It's not yet Christmas and the Winter Blahs seem to be taking a strong foothold. This means only one thing - it's gonna be a loooong wait until spring splash (it's quite a site to behold, and maybe I'll post a video in spring....if it ever gets here!!). Oh, I'm feeling squirrely already. Seriously - who would't be missing this view:

As I sit in front of the fireplace, watching the snow accumulate outside my window, I can't help but feel as though it might never be warm again. True to her word, Mother Nature ushers in each season almost on time, and I have no reason to suspect Spring will come much sooner or later than is typical, but the wait is agonizing nonetheless.

There is an "up" side to this, and that is that I appreciate what we have in our boat even more.....like understanding what "happy" is all about only because you've also experienced being "sad." We are incredibly fortunate to have the adventures laying in wait for us, promises of another extraordinary set of experiences on the Big Lake that are enjoyed by so few.

For now, I will reminisce with memories and photos....and the latest copy of the West Marine catalog. For winter is also the time to "gear up" for the next season. You got it - it's shopping time!! I guess it's a reasonable consolation. :-)

Our YouTube Debut!

2008-07-24T13:01:00.003-05:00

For a first hand view of our recent Chigger adventures, be sure to check out this video clip!

Muskie Matt (famed local fishing guide, remember him from my last post?) does a weekly fishing segment for the NBC station out of Rhinelander and picked our Chigger fishing excursion for his latest topic! The lake trout you see on the video is 31.3" in length....what a beauty!

Chigger Fishing 7/18/08

2008-07-21T21:21:00.023-05:00

"Did you ever wanna go and do some fishing? Get away from everything around here......"

And so goes the Chigger's tune, Fishing, and that's exactly what we did!

The good Captain and I spent the day Friday with Sid Chigger, Big Daddy Chigger (along with yorkie Bucky Badger and our pooch Buttons) and famed local Muskie Matt for a beautiful day on the water in hopes of hauling in a respectable catch of lake trout.

Mother Nature graced us with fair winds and a bright sunny day. Sounds great, right? Sure.....if you're water skiing or suntanning. Fishing.....a nice cloudy day with a little chop on the water is what tends to roust the masses out of the water and into a cooler full of ice. For fishermen new to the Big Lake the conditions were ideal though, so we headed off toward a favorite fishing spot. After the fish finder failed to find fish, and our lures weren't producing any better, we pulled lines and headed for yet another popular locale (but they're both secret!!) Sporting a set of new lures (another secret!) recommended by a local sports shop, our second attempt proved to be much more fruitful.....by mid-afternoon we ended our trip with smiles on our faces and fish in the box. The fish were down deep, seemingly unaffected by the weather, although I seriously suspect some other factors were at play, particularly the footware of choice by Muskie Matt (those'd be camoflouge fleece slippers, by the way). Not that I'm superstitious or anything.....but he might be on to something!

Our canine friends gently reminded us that a trip to shore was in order, so we left for Big Bay on Madeline Island. Anchored in 14 feet of water, we dinghied ashore to let Bucky and Buttons take care of business and romp about the beach before setting a bead on the marina.

There's nothing like ending a day of fishing enjoying the fruits of hard labor, so Captain Matt grilled some filets to perfection. Mmmmmmm.....nothing like fresh grilled lake trout (well, maybe fresh grilled salmon, but that's another trip!).

Our most respectable guests are certainly welcome back aboard Blue Ayes anytime, and I suspect we've not seen the last of this crew!! Stay tuned!!

Photo: Sid Chigger, Captain Matt, Admiral Becky, Muskie Matt, Big Daddy Chigger
absent: Bucky Badger and Buttons

Better late than never?

2008-07-07T14:10:00.007-05:00

Hmmmm....how time flies, even when you're not necessarily having THAT much fun! Seems a bit of time has passed since my last entry.

After a successful "splash" in mid-May (yep, "splash" is the technical term used to describe a 50 ton travel lift gently picking up a large boat and placing her back home in the water), the start of our boating season was continually stalled by mother nature, followed by a couple of weekend activities including a graduation and two weddings. Seriously, why does anyone get married in the summer?!??? There's absolutely no utility in it whatsoever. The weather is far to unpredictable anyway, so if an outdoor wedding is truly coveted, head to Jamaica or Mexico in February when everyone is itching for a break anyway. Otherwise, leave the summer months alone.....my boating time is too precious! Pick the third or fourth weekend in March. Think about it - you can't ski, snowboard or snowmobile anymore. Ice shacks are no longer legally allowed on the lake. Yet it's too cold and crummy to be doing anything outdoors, including yard work. There's not much on for professional sports that can't be Tevo'd. It's perfect.

In any case, life on the boat picked up quite a bit later into June, and this latest fourth of July celebratory stretch presented the finest weather yet this year in the Apostles. We spent two days on the boat while my husband completed five dives for his Advanced certification. His instructor Mike, brought along his lady friend who turned out to be none other than favorite author Victoria Houston! What an unexpected treat! In addition to the company, the weather was phenomenally cooperative. Rich conversation and a warm sunny atmosphere provided for yet another glorious experience aboard Blue Ayes.

Photo: Mike, Vicky, Becky

A culminating event to the holiday, Matt and I, along with our daughter Brittany and her boyfriend Anthony, enjoyed the fireworks display seated on the bow while at anchor outside of the Bayfield harbor. The clear night quickly gave way to thunderous cracks and booms that lit the sky with vibrant showers of all shapes and colors. (I suspect most of the canines in Bayfield county were going completely bonkers that evening....if only they could enjoy it, too!). Now that July has been appropriately ushered in, let's see if summer follows suit.

The Winter Blues

2008-02-16T18:14:00.004-06:00

The cold and snow keep hanging on and cabin fever is starting to take a strong hold. With a tentative "splash" date of May 1, the wait seems endless, tortourous. The latest edition of the West Marine catalog has been delievered to our house, spurring yet additional cravings for life on the high seas. Time flies, yet drags on....

We have made wonderful plans for the summer, inviting perhaps too many people for a weekend cruise or fishing excursion. There really are only so many weekends available for boating! We do love sharing it with others, and I suspect we will find ample time for ourselves to enjoy the beauty and adventures of Lake Superior sans passengers.

First up this spring: finish the repair work on our bow rails, followed by a good scrubbing and polishing (Captain Matt's job), and interior cleaning along with the ritual "oiling of the teak" (The Admiral's job).

An Introduction.....

2007-12-20T22:14:00.004-06:00

Blue Ayes is a 1989 Bayliner 3888 Motor Yacht. She is slipped in the Washburn Marina in the beautiful Chequamegon Bay. She regularly cruises the Apostle Islands and various other locations throughout Lake Superior.

Blue Ayes has two staterooms, two heads (bathrooms) and a full galley (kitchen) - there's not much I can't cook on board! A large salon/seating area provides a comfortable place to chat, dine, or watch a movie. Believe it or not, there's even a tub and shower. She offers both heat and air conditioning. The heat gets used a lot more than the air conditioning, that's for sure. Lake Superior is the world's largest air conditioner if you didn't know!

We do much of our driving from the fly bridge above, although the lower station offers nice protection if the weather is really bad (and it can happen!).

We have all sorts of adventures and I look forward to sharing them here. Welcome and enjoy!