Our final days of Sea Change vacillated between exciting-and-absorbing, and quiet. Two extremely blustery sails brought us home--the first in waves that frequently reached 8 feet and sent one of us feeding the fish after a hiatus of three weeks from seasickness.
But--it brought us into Silver Bay in time to spend a fantastic morning with the 5th graders from the Silver Bay public school, followed by a period of extremely windy and unstable weather.
The final passage home began at 5 a.m. and could have been the worst of all. Mark and I got us out on the water, with only Isa poking a sleepy head out the hatch and asking, "Am I supposed to do anything?" Change was in the air--great gusts of wind punctuated with no wind at all. A big swell from the SW (head on) and wind-driven waves hitting us from W and NW. Thick clouds, fog, then sun. It was "active steering," as we call it. I did wonder if I should pass the bucket around below. But no--all crew popped their heads out at various times. Breakfasts were scooped out of bowls in the sink without ado, and everyone harnessed up and appeared cheerful well before their watch began. What a crew!
Conditions stabilized throughout the day and by mid-day we were home in Knife River--just in time to head to Two Harbors for the Conference Track Meet. Crew made signs and managed to support the girls without embarrassing them (unlike their parents). Cedar and Lamar ran like champs and we drove back to the boat for a late tuna wiggle dinner.
Thursday's weather (strong NE winds and big waves) brought a surge of cold, and the four teens that joined us for the day from the Grand Rapids Alternative School were disappointed not to be able to get out on the Lake. We spent some fun hours together nevertheless, having worked with them virtually before. Mark pulled out the dinghy and two of the boys trolled out with him, then came in and searched in the net for spiny water flea (found) and microplastics (found).
Friday was our final day with the North Shore Community School--another class we've been working with for months already. Today was fun day. A NE wind that can only be described as freezing was the only hitch. Mark told a mean shipwreck story that absorbed all, which were followed by our rounds of skits and games and finally, the signing of the Clean, Cold, and Clear Challenge and then a frigid picnic lunch.
Longtime friends, recruiters of Isa, and veteran Amicus II sailors, the Holdens, joined us for our final night of feasting, games, and then just sitting in the cockpit and sharing laughter and memories until dark, got us through our final evening.
Now the crew are all over the country, we are back in Two Harbors. We have laundered and resupplied, and Mark is looking hard at the forecast to determine when he can head to Grand Marais for his first Isle Royale Trip with North House, beginning Thursday June 10. I am slowly working my way into my commitments while preparing for another month on Amicus II. Cedar graduates from high school on Friday, and then both girls have just two weeks before they will be off on their own pursuits for the summer. Doesn't time fly!
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