Shanty Sanctuary 2021

Trip Day - Monday, October 4 0400-Alarm went off.  57F/50F. Definitely feeling like October, a lot colder! Packed up bedding and moved bags from the fridge bunk to gain access. Making coffee.   Chubby woke me twice knocking stuff off galley shelves at one point, so sleep was fitful. Since I had set a trap for him the night before, he set one for me!  I woke up and turned the light on ready to jump on the floor but looked down and saw this huge water bug about 3 1/2" long, a nasty looking beast!  I stopped almost in mid-air and stared at it.  I then picked up a boot to throw at it, but it just bounced into the air, it was already dead, and had been for some while.  Chubby had dragged the ugly beast out of the bilge and placed it right in the middle of the floor where I step down out of the bunk.  I could almost hear him chuckling in the bilge!  Got ya!  I had seen one of these carcasses under the fridge a few days back and wondered where ...

Trip Day - Sunday, October 3 0700-Slept in due to Chubby disturbances all night long! After several unsuccessful throws of my hiking boots in an attempt to reduce him to mush, I setup a water trap using my 6 gallon shower pail with six inches of water in the bottom, and a wooden spoon with a glob of PB on the end.  It worked, but was too tender. Chubby sensed it was tipping and leaped to safety escaping by the skin of his teeth!  He must be really starving, since he is into everything all of a sudden, even though no food is exposed!   I heard him licking my hanging measuring cups and otherwise clunking around in the galley knocking things over off and on all night.  He is a terror and driving my crazy! I need a good trap!  68F/59F.  Solar 20%, a new low!  I'm very tired getting almost no sleep.  Up all night defending against the Chubby siege! Misty rain coming down outside.  Cooler this morning compared to the last couple of days and th...

Trip Day - Saturday, October 2    0330-Woke up when I felt a small body crawling up the outside of my bed covers toward my head!  I suddenly threw the covers off and heard a distinct thump of a small body (Chubby?) hitting the wall! Needless to say I was now wide awake!  I tried to get back to sleep but couldn't, my nerves were fried!  Now I was on a mission to kill the little intruder, no matter what it takes! No mouse traps aboard, so I will have to think of alternatives. 0428-Had coffee while I completed my morning routine. Solar is down to 39%. Getting low! 0622-68F/63F. Time for breakfast of bacon & cheese omelet, toast and jelly, with OJ. 0732-Calm, but no serious fog for the crossing of Saginaw Bay. 70F/63F.  Prepared the tablet for navigation, field glasses for spotting buoys, and Osmo Action camera for video underway. Ready for departure! Area of Operations - Day 10, Leg 8 (Click to Enlarge) 1017-I took the planned short cut along the NW part o...

Trip Day - Friday, October 1 0548-Solar 62%. 67F/66F. Warmest night yet! no heat this morning. Rain coming down! No sign of chubby? I prayed he would escape before I had to kill him.  I left the door open a couple of times but never saw him jump ship, but no sign of him since either? 0753-69F/63F. Solar 57%. Finished my morning routine.  Time to make a quick breakfast, pull anchor, and get underway. 1030-Arrived at Kempton Entrance North (R36). Traveled 8.8nm, 1:34 in time, 5.6 knot average speed.  There is a cloudy overcast with very light wind. Observed no boats of any kind along the track. But as I was tying up at the new boat site, two fishing boats passed by in the channel at high speed. I checked out the other side of the island and observed another fishing boat by the day marker trying to catch a fish.   Kempton Entrance North (R36) - 5 out 5 Rating (Click to Enlarge) I checked a narrow channel west of the island (short cut) and I think I can pass through...

Trip Day - Thursday, September 30 0600-60F/57F.  Moon and stars are still out. I stayed fairly warm last night but still used heat to be more comfortable during my study time. Solar is 65%. 0800-Finished my morning study routine. Will make breakfast of Peanut Butter Chex, strawberries, and PB toast. 0821-68F/61F. Getting ready to depart this boat site. Area of Operations - Day 8, Leg 6 (Click to Enlarge) Nav Chart - 5.2 nm, 4.2 knots Average Speed (Click to Enlarge) Google Earth Chart - Day 8, Leg 6 (Click to Enlarge) Avenza Map - Day 8, Leg 6 (Click to Enlarge) 1015-Anchored near Ryan Lake trail head.  Leg 6 was 5.2 nm at an average of 4.2 knots. However, I ran out of gas and drifted while I switched tanks, so the average is not accurate.  64F/68F. Solar is 60% (charging at 53w). Got the kayak ready to go ashore. Loaded my backpack and mounted the Osmo Action on the kayak to do some video on the way to the trail head. Added snacks and water for the hike and headed out. R...