41°58′59″ N 82°55′56″ W

Sept 16 – Colchester Marina

I arrived at the marina in Colchester at 3:30 this afternoon. It was a great day on the water – except for the flies.

After getting secured on the dock, paying my fees, etc. I felt that it was the right time for a tall G&T to unwind from my hectic day on the water. The photo below shows my view of the lake from the flybridge.

I just got nicely settled in my chair with my drink when a couple of young bucks went past me on jet skis – headed out on the lake for some fun….

Once they were through the breakwater they each went in separate directions at high speed & then looped around & started heading towards each other. I figured they were going to go zooming past each other when there was a massive BANG! as one jet ski t-boned the other one! Unbelievable! All I could see was one fellow & parts of both jets skis flying through the air.

I yelled over to the marina staff to call for help & a couple of other boaters at the fuel dock who already had their boat running headed out to rescue the two fellas.

Turns out that the guy that got hit has a broken leg & a broken arm  with multiple fractures in each. Apparently he had just bought the jet ski a few weeks ago & had not been out on it very much. The other guy (who went flying through the air) was shaken up but no cuts or broken bones. Talk about lucky… I’m amazed that neither of them were really seriously hurt (or killed).

Anyway, after all that excitement I needed another G&T. That went down well – along with the sunset.

So, once again I can confirm that poking along at 6 1/2 knots ain’t so bad after all.

Cheers & be safe!

I spent last night at Erieau Marina.

42°15′25″ N 81°54′29″ W

This is a large marina with great amenities that include a well stocked chandlery & an LCBO outlet right beside the marina office. Talk about convenience!

My first time at this marina was in 2010 when I was en route to Atlantic Canada on my Nauticat, Ananda. I spent last night tied up in the same spot where I was in 2010.

I was up at 5:30am this morning so I could get an early start to my next destination, which will be the municipal marina in Colchester. I pulled away from the dock at 7:00am, just as the sun was rising “above” the lake & the horizon.

The trip today will take me about 9 hours & on the way I will pass between Point Pelee & Pelee Island. The weather is very pleasant & so far there are not too many bugs on the water (fingers remain crossed)!

The chartplotter tells me that I am now about 9 nautical miles from Point Pelee. Visibility is great & I can just make it out on the horizon.

Cheers!