Century Club: Suzanne Fryberger

42 degrees, NW 5-10 with gusts to 20, sunny

In reviewing the hunting schedule, I noticed that there's a break in waterfowl hunting between 11/27 and 12/15.  We could safely and serenely go birdwatching in Furnace Bay, our favorite spot to do so.  Despite seeing tundra swans, geese, a ruddy duck, buffleheads, mergansers, herons, eagles, and more, I don't have a single good photo to share.  It takes me sufficiently long to remove my overgloves and insulated gloves and reach through my life preserver and into my jacket pocket for the camera, that the wary birds are flying away long before I frame a shot.  That's okay - their flight is their protection, and their beauty is in my memory.  You'll just have to visit Furnace Bay and see for yourself!

42 degrees, Gale Warning, dry

Dobbs and I launched our kayaks at Elk River Landing and paddled north on the Elk River.  It's an amazingly beautiful area, with cattail marsh lit up golden by the sun, a stand of cypress, and a shoreline dotted sparsely with homes and the remains of industry long gone.  We paddled north past the old Trojan plant and mused at how the basin has shoaled to less than a foot deep.  Trojan Yachts moved here with the town of Elkton's promise that they'd keep the channel dredged, but they never made good and Trojan took their leave years ago.  Approaching Little Elk Creek, we turned south into the gut that flows through the marsh down to White Hall Point.  From White Hall Point, we crossed the Elk and headed north, back to the ramp.

51 degrees, wind west-southwest at 15-25 knots, sunny & dry

Dobbs and I invited Bev and Brad, our neighbors from across the street, to join us for an afternoon sail.  There was just enough wind (east at 5-10 knots) to keep it interesting as we sailed north, rounded Red 16 (which may now be Red 14...channel re-numbering...), and wafted south past Charlestown.

Bev and Brad were great company and we all had fun talking while working the boat together.  We returned to the dock at 4pm, bid our friends adieu, and began breaking Grace down for haul-out.  We pulled off the headsail and put Coquille on the dinghy rack.