"I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long..."
-Foreigner
The Dock closes for the season on October 31.
November 1, the waiting starts.
November 1, We start to count down the days until we can get back in the water,
back on the Dock.
When the winter is long, deep, dark and cold, that count is
important- it reminds us that winter is not never-ending, no matter how
permanent the ice and snow feel.
November 1, we start to focus on April 15- Opening Day.
This was one seriously long-ass winter, but by the end of March there was some hope.
The Marina parking lot was (mostly) free of snow...
... even if the Dock was still (mostly) iced in, what with the temperatures remaining stubbornly sub-freezing, sub-seasonal and just generally submarining my mood.
By the end of last week things were looking up. The air temp had increased rapidly, causing mist to rise from the thawing Lake on a rare (at least, this season) string of two warm sunny days, making Lake Erie look decidedly, er, eerie:
Turns out, the Marina did not escape winter unscathed. With a relatively shallow depth, limited room for ice to move, and a harbour mouth open to the prevailing winds, the ice froze thick, froze hard, and fought everything it came up against. Like the docks:
The repairs were under way, but...
According to a note taped to the cash register at Bridge Yachts ...
Okay, so for all intents and purposes, it looks like Opening Day will not be Opening Day, but that is okay because it is getting warmer and finally starting to feel like spring, and it's all good, I tell myself...
... and then I wake up this morning to this:
SNOW.
ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME?!!?
Sooner or later, we're gonna get in the water.
Right?
While we all wait for spring to damn well finally get here all permanent-like, please continue to "Talk the Dock!"
I know they are going to refund us for the two weeks of no access. I think this winter will be over the moment it is over and not a moment before. I have had to self medicate slightly to get over the disappointment. What say this year we stay until November 15th? Ok it was just an idea.
ReplyDeleteMove to Texas. Problem sorted.
ReplyDeleteIs the Marina itself open? If I drive down there will I be able to get in the gate?
ReplyDeleteDude, I feel your pain. The only proper place for ice after April 1 is in a tumbler.
ReplyDeleteWe launch this Saturday. I'm driving the crash boat in the Western Gap, which is TOTALLY a foulies gig. There was ice in the basin until April 12. The docks and moorings are barely in place.
Sheesh!
Wow.. now that is a winter... we are in Sicily this year and we were complaining when the temperature went down to 12 degrees.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will swap you.