Courage, Chaos, and an Opppsie

Bridges, Brave Hearts & Borrowed Courage

Not So Homeward Bound Day 39

After checking the weather, we slipped out of our safe harbour in Stoney Creek and set our sights on Hamilton. Stoney Creek honestly felt like a light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m so grateful for how welcoming they were during our unexpected stay. Reciprocal rights for the win; another free stop always feels like a little victory.

We passed under two more bridges, and maybe… just maybe… my heart skipped a few less beats this time. Progress counts!

The highlight of the day was having Tom’s sister and brother-in-law join us for an afternoon sail. This is what we brought Agra2 home for. Sharing something we love with the people we love means everything to us. We sailed in a protected inlet, and I took a turn at the helm to get a little more practice stepping into the Captain’s shoes.

Tom’s brother-in-law is similar to me; he’s nervous around water because of a past experience. We were so proud of him for being brave enough to come out with us. When you know that fear personally, you really understand how big that step is.

I don’t fear the boat, and I don’t even really fear water itself… my fear is drowning. When I was maybe 7 or 8, I was swimming in the Trent River when a strong undercurrent caught me and pulled me under. My aunt saw and managed to save me, but that moment stayed with me. So if feeling safe means wearing life jackets; I will happily hand them out and cheer people on for being brave.

And yes… reciprocal rights for another win. Saving money never gets old.

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Crowds, Chaos & A Gentle Bump of Humility

Homeward Bound Day 40

Leaving Hamilton was bittersweet. I wish we’d had just one more visit with Tom’s sister, but the journey must go on.

The wind must have decided to take the day off, so instead of sailing, we motored to Toronto Island and docked at Queen City Yacht Club. Toronto Harbour was… intense. Honestly, it was what I expected Mackinac Island to feel like with ferries, water taxis, kayakers everywhere, and boats buzzing in every direction. Navigating through all of it was not my favourite part of this trip, but we did it.

We almost made it drama-free… until we didn’t. We misread the markers and suddenly found ourselves… going nowhere fast. Yep. We hit bottom and officially joined the “sailors who run aground” club.

They say:

“There are two types of sailors: those who run aground, and those who lie about it.”

Thankfully, we were able to reverse and Agra2 did her magic, getting us safely back into deeper water and properly into the channel this time.

The heat wave decided to crank things up again, and I’m not ashamed to admit I closed the hatches, closed the companionway, and turned on the air conditioning. Forget wandering the gorgeous island park right behind us. I was perfectly happy being cool and planning our next move.

But wow… it’s beautiful here. Toronto Island is definitely on the “we have to come back someday” list. But maybe when it's a bit cooler.

Reaching Toronto hit me more emotionally than I expected. I recognize the shoreline. I know that by car, home is only hours away. Memories of places we’ve visited pop up as we pass them. We’re not home yet, there are still several days ahead, but being here feels like the beginning of coming home.

And that feels pretty special. ⚓💙

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July 25, 2024

Stoney Creek  ➜ Hamilton

Royal Hamilton Yacht Club

11 Nautical Miles

1,220.5 Total NM

6.5 Nautical Miles

1,228 Total NM *Out with the fam

July 26, 2024

Hamilton ➜ Toronto City

Queen City Yacht Club

31.8 Nautical Miles

1,259.8 Total NM