Back to Horseshoe Valley

For a number of years both Trish and I and the children and my sisters had ski cabins in Horseshoe Valley. It is situated about an hour and a half north of Toronto. In the early 90's when I went back to school to become a high school teacher we sold our cabin. My sisters had a much grander place and continued to go until 5years ago when our mother could no longer benefit from a trip north.

Last year our mother died, this facilitated the return. They have made several trips up to get everything ready. This was the weekend to see if everything was fit and it was. The six of us had a great time and a couple of fine dinners. This morning we braved the snow/freezing rain/ rain and came back to the city.

Annual Trip to the Boat Show

For years my wife and I have gone to the Toronto Boat Show. In the beginning while being members go The Yacht Club we neither owned a boat nor did we sail. We would look and dream of the future when we would actually own a yacht.
This year having just bought not only the  most beautiful but best equipped yacht in the world we had little to buy, but went anyway to see our friends. I did stop by the Dubarry booth and bought a pair of shoes from Terry McLaughlin who represents Dubarry in Canada. As most of you know Terry is one of if not the best sailor in Canada. I suppose to make me jealous he told me that by Sunday (yesterday) he would be in Keywest. John Hele has his New York 42 there starting to get ready for the New York Yacht Club Invitational this September. There will be lots more on the NYYC Invitational as it gets closer. I will let you know that Trish and I and my sisters already have rooms booked in Newport.
The show is presented in the Direct Energy Centre which includes The Ricoh Center where The Toronto Maple Leaf's farm team The Marlies play. Each year the boat show take the ice out and install a lake. This year Duma the wakeboarding dog was performing.

Immediately following the "Trip to the Spa" we all proceed to Bennett Custom Canvas on Horner in Etobicoke. I had used Michael on our current boat and was very pleased with his work. My sisters decided to see him concerning Pipe Dream. At this point in time the major decision is should the color be Oyster or Flag Blue.

We will all be going out next week so as Michael can measure. Hopefully we will be able to show more progress then.

January 14, 2013 Trip to the Spa

My sisters having decided not to buy a new boat did make the decision to take Pipe Dream to "The Spa". In the fall it was sailed to Port Credit, well not sailed so much as motored. The mast was removed at the club. She then traveled along The Lakeshore to Royal Windsor and Bruckman Yachts.

The yacht was designed by George Cuthbertson in the late 50's and built by Mark Bruckman's father in 1961. She is a 32 foot motor sailor made of wood. This winter she is being totally refitted. The following pictures show the progress.

St George otherwise known as "The City Club"

Following my Ukulele session I went to our city club to play doubles squash. Our Yacht club is very fortunate to have a city club suitable for winter use. There are dinning facilities, meeting rooms, squash and badminton courts, swimming pool and a large exercise facility.

I played squash discussed the problems of the world, past and present over a beer then took the subway home.

Down by the old mill stream

Today I went to see a good friend Dr. D Caldwell. We had lunch and then played our Ukuleles. Doug has been playing for some time while I have only just started. I am no good at all, but I am getting better. We also discussed the relative merits between sailing on Lake Erie for the summer or sailing to The Saguenay Fjord. I think the Fjord won out.

I have been inspired to start the blog again

Having been inspired by Bob Comeau I have decided to continue the blog.

This Fall my wife Trish and I bought a new boat in Annapolis MD. It is a 46 foot Tartan which had been called Kika.

I looked for pictures on the net of Kika and found a number taken by a friend of the previous owner Bob Comeau and sitting on his blog. I have been following his blog since October.

The picture above is of Irish Mist III on the hard at Shumway Marina in Rochester NY. We will put her in the water in April and sail her home during the first week of May.

Stay tuned for more. Next week I am going with my sisters to inspect their boat Pipe Dream which is under going a refit at Bruckman's. I will get some pictures.

If you wished to look at my inspiration the blog is called Comocean.