Quiet Grind of Making Progress
- Nicole
- Jul 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 8
Hello, Lake Erie…
Homeward Bound Day #31
This morning we finally exhaled, took a breath, and appreciated the simple miracle of not repeating the chaos of the night before. I’m officially declaring this the emotional halfway marker of our journey; three Great Lakes behind us, two to go, and mentally that feels like a milestone worth celebrating.
Once daylight hit, we had a good look around Colchester Marina and… wow. It really was a miracle Agra2 squeezed in there. Even the staff looked a little shocked that we’d managed it without rearranging their docks for them. We took a proud moment to acknowledge our Captain’s serious boat-handling skills. Shallow water, tight quarters, nerves frayed from the night before… and yet, there we were, securely tied up, floating, safe.
Crossing to the U.S. Side
We cast off the docklines and officially committed to Erie. After conquering Lake Michigan earlier in our journey, Lake Erie crossing suddenly didn’t seem quite as intimidating. We set a course for Middle Bass Island, and it turned out to be one of those peaceful passages that quietly stitches your confidence back together.
And Middle Bass? What a gem. Maybe not Charlevoix-level fairy tale, but she definitely earned a place on my favourites list. We walked the island, wandered the trails, soaked in the history, and let the calm settle back into our bones.
A Little Light From Home
We also finally received a hopeful update about my oldest. The tissue and muscle damage isn’t as severe as doctors first feared. She’ll be off for another month to heal, but she’s in less pain, able to move around a little more, and my youngest has stepped in to help with groceries so big sister can rest. My mama heart loosened a few tight knots that day.
The sun, the cooler air, the healing news… it was exactly the day we needed.
When Lake Erie Plays Nice
Homeward Bound Day #32
Leaving Middle Bass Island felt a little bittersweet, but when Erie gifts you a good weather window, you take it. We hoisted sails and settled in for a long 12-hour passage that turned out to be about as kind as a lake can be. Gentle 2–4 ft waves easing down in the afternoon, wind to fill the sails, steady progress, no drama.
By the end of the day I was absolutely wiped, but the good kind. The satisfied, salt-in-the-hair, miles-behind-us kind of tired.
City Views From the Water
I’m not usually a big-city girl, but there’s something magical about seeing a skyline from the water. There’s beauty in approaching a place slowly, hearing the hum before you reach it, watching it glow.
Hello, Cleveland. You were surprisingly lovely from the helm.
Quiet Miles, Steady Hearts
Homeward Bound Day #33
We slipped lines again and headed toward Geneva. The lake was calm. The day was gentle. Not every chapter of a journey has fireworks, some are simply peaceful, purposeful, and needed.
We sailed. We arrived. We tucked into a sweet little harbour for the night and let ourselves rest.
I spent the evening with my charts, Navionics, and Waterway Guide spread out like school homework; mapping routes, building backup plans, checking depths and bridge clearances. Planning felt like comfort. It felt like control. It felt like forward motion toward Port Colborne and the next big milestone waiting ahead.
Presque Isle Charm & A Busy Rescue Radio
Homeward Bound – Day #34
We left Geneva and set a course for Presque Isle, and this one surprised me, it had the warm, storybook charm of Charlevoix, just a little less polished… and honestly, maybe that made me love it.
The radio was buzzing all day with pan-pan calls. Kayakers out too late. Jetskies flipping over and unable to get back on. Boats taking on water. People in trouble. A man overboard who couldn’t swim. Every call made us glance at each other, check the charts, and quietly assess whether we could help if needed. It was a reminder that these lakes are beautiful, but they demand respect.
Flies, Bridges, and Nerves of Steel
Meanwhile, we fought a swarm of determined flies. Thankfully not the dreaded biting Lake Michigan stable flies… just annoyingly persistent ones who seemed determined to join the crew. Our poor fly swatters earned their keep.
We’d also been bracing for the Skyway Bridge a 64 ft of clearance, and our air draught is 63 ft. Math like that keeps you humble. We slowed to a crawl, held our breath, and let Agra2 glide forward.
She fit. Barely. But she fit.
A Meal out on the Town
We treated ourselves to a night off from boat cooking and wandered into town for a pub supper. Food tastes different when you’ve earned it with weather windows, long passages, and a few nerves along the way.
Sailing Onward
One of the best moments of the day though! Meeting another sailing couple who had also started their summer adventure in Racine. They left two weeks after we did, and here we were, arriving at the same place at the same time; proof that every sailor’s journey bends and twists, yet somehow we still cross wakes. They even have a YouTube channel, Sailing Onward, and just like so many others we’ve met along the way, they reminded us how special this community is. Strangers on the dock, instant friends.
Getting Ready For The Big One
With the Welland Canal ahead of us and the final home stretch (Lake Ontario) approaching, we started prepping in earnest. The dinghy came down and deflated, our days of anchoring were pretty much behind us now. From here on out it would mostly be marinas, structure, and making our final push home.
We were tired… But hopeful. And for the first time in a while, Lake Erie didn’t feel like something to fear. She felt like something we were learning to understand. ⚓💙
July 17 2024
Colchester ➜ Middle Bass Island
Lonz Marine Harbor
21.7 Nautical Miles
956.7 Total NM
July 18, 2024
Middle Bass Island ➜ Cleveland OH
East 55th Street Marina
56 Nautical Miles
1,012.7 Total NM
July 19, 2024
Cleveland OH ➜ Geneva, OH
Geneva Marina
38.1 Nautical Miles
1,050.8 Total NM
July 20, 2024
Geneva, OH ➜ Presque Isle, VA
Wolverine Park Marina
49.3 Nautical Miles
1,100.1 Total NM
Comments