Nostalgia and Outsailing a Storm

Memories in the Wake

Homeward Bound Day 41

Leaving beautiful Toronto Island, we pointed Agra2 toward Whitby Yacht Club, grateful once again for reciprocal rights. As the shoreline slipped by, I found myself watching it differently… not just as scenery, but as chapters of my life.

We passed Pickering Power Plant, and suddenly I was back in high school. I can’t tell you how many days Mom and I “played hooky”, me skipping school, her skipping work, so we could drive Dad in for his shift, then sneak off to Toronto for a day of shopping before picking him up again. Seeing it from the water pulled all those memories to the surface in the sweetest way.

We’re only days from home now. I can feel us picking up emotional speed, if not literal speed. I can’t wait to hug my girls, to be Mom again in person, not just by phone. My mama heart is ready to be back with my oldest as she deals with her injured foot.

Meanwhile, we’re watching the weather closely and moving day by day. There’s a storm system brewing, and sailing at this stage is part planning, part strategy, and honestly… part finger-crossing and hoping the weather behaves.

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Nostalgia from a New Angle

Homeward Bound Day 42

Presqu’ile holds so much of our story. When Tom and I were teenagers, this was our place; swimming, camping, fishing, wandering the boardwalk like we had all the time in the world. Later, when our girls were young, we brought them here too. Walking the same ground as parents felt like passing on somewhere special.

Seeing Presqu’ile from the water felt strange and comforting all at once. The same place, but from a completely different perspective… kind of like life, really.

For weeks we’d been hearing reports from boaters about shallow water and thick seaweed. Some even damaged rudders and props badly enough to need a tow. But Tom handled the narrow channel like a pro, threading us through safely.

We tied up at the wall at Murray Canal for the night—quiet, snug, and grateful.

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Storms, Sacrifices & Sailboat Toll Booths

Homeward Bound Day 43

Murray Canal… we survived you! We honestly had no clue what we were doing going in, but we did just fine and it wasn't really that bad. There was plenty of seaweed to contend with, so we kept a sharp eye on our systems, making sure Agra2 didn’t get bogged down.

And then came a sailing first for us: a toll bridge! Who knew sailboats paid tolls? As we eased near the wall, the bridge staff held out a long pole with a little net at the end to collect the exact change. It was honestly worth the $5.25 for entertainment value alone. I was at the helm, so I couldn’t grab a picture… which I’m still a little sad about!

We made it to Trenton, but after days of trying to contact the yacht club with no success and with a storm chasing us, we made the difficult decision to push onward. My heart hurt. Trenton is home. We had planned dinner with my step-brother and his wife, and we were dreaming of grabbing pizza from our favourite place. I wanted that time. I wanted those hugs. But my heart also desperately wanted to get home.

Sometimes sailing isn’t about romance and sunsets… sometimes it’s about making the hard, practical call and swallowing the emotion that comes with it.

The sail from Trenton to Picton, though… that was pure magic. The wind filled our sails, the water carried us softly, and for a while, everything just felt right. This… this is sailing.

In Picton, my cousin and her daughter met us, and she absolutely saved the day. Knowing we were sad about missing dinner and pizza, she brought pizza to us and then took us for ice cream. We got to see her new plac; her little “Tree House”, and my heart felt lighter.

We are truly on the home stretch now. Home is one day away. I always said we were going to be fair-weather sailors… but I guess trying to outrun storms counts as “fair weather” if you squint hard enough, right?

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July 27, 2024

Toronto City  ➜ Whitby

Whitby Yacht Club

26.3 Nautical Miles

1,286.1 Total NM

July 28, 2024

Whitby ➜ Presqu'il

Wall for Murray Canal

56.9 Nautical Miles

1,343 Total NM

July 29, 2024

Presqu'il ➜ Trenton ➜ Picton

Wall for Murray Canal

40.9 Nautical Miles

1,383.9 Total NM