The Cousins

August 25, 2012 Here we are with two of my Minneapolis cousins: Sarah (now living in Bozeman, Montana) with husband Gary, and Julie (now living in Portland, Oregon) with husband Jim. We're all dressed up about to attend the wedding of Chris's daughter Nicole.

Between Trips

August 25, 2012 Home from Canada/Minneapolis/Detroit for 10 days and about to fly to Turkey on Wednesday! I have to admit I'm a little apprehensive about this trip; in fact, I'm wondering if I'm in my right mind. We (about 50 members of our sailing club) will be chartering boats for two weeks and sailing out of Turgutreis, near Bodrum. I'm sure it will be great fun, but also challenging and somewhat grueling at least for a 71-year-old. So why am I doing this I have to ask myself. Son Mike reminds me that I asked myself the same question when I climbed Masada in Israel. Afterwards I was glad I had done it, but it was taking a risk in a way. If I had become dehydrated or had other physical problems, it would have impacted the trip not only for myself but for others. I sort of feel the same way about this trip. However, I'm going! And I'm even beginning to get excited about it!

8 states, 5 lakes and 1 province

Phew! We're headed home now after a three-week odyssey around the great lakes. What a fabulous trip! We have visited eight states and one province: Maryland (of course), Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We've seen all five of the great lakes, swum in one (Huron) and waded in another (Superior). The water is uncharacteristically warm this year due to the unusually warm weather we have all been experiencing. In contrast, I can remember wading in Lake Superior over 50 years ago when my feet turned numb almost immediately! I love the lakes. They are so majestic, so beautiful and so familiar. You don't think about it when you grow up, but the smell of the water, the cottonwood trees, the distinctive sand (different from the sand of Atlantic beaches, for example) all remind me of my days growing up on Lake Erie. When you swim even the taste of the water is familiar.

Fish 'n Chips

It looks as though we'll have to return to Canada next year. Despite careful research and assiduous sampling, I have yet to discover the perfect fish n' chips. Actually, that's not quite true. The best fish n' chips I ever had was at Swan's Brew Pub in Victoria, British Columbia about 20 years ago, and I've never forgotten it. The fish was tender, moist, and sweet; the crust was, well, crusty, and flavorful; the fries awesomely crisp. Ah yes, and the draft beer hoppy and cold, just the way I like it. Since then, I've tried, believe me. I've eaten fish n' chips all over Canada and sometimes even in the states. Mostly, the fish is too dry, the crust too soggy, and the fries just ordinary. The WORST I've ever had was in Southampton, Ontario, on the night before we left. Apparently, we should have headed to the Lord Elgin in the neighboring town of Port Elgin, but we knew they didn't serve beer and who wants fish n' chips with a diet Coke? So I tried, against my better judgment, the local fare and it was plain awful. The fish was dry as shoe leather, the crust like cardboard, and the sweet potato fries were burned. Should have ordered the chicken fricassee, I found out later. So, it's back to Canada next year, for my continuing research.

The General Hunter

Southampton, Ontario -- Erie Girl has a real Erie find today! Yesterday we visited the Bruce County Museum and saw a replica of the General Hunter, a British warship that was captured by the Americans during the War of 1812. After the war the ship was sold to John Dickson of PRESQUE ISLE and used to transport goods between Lakes Huron and Erie. On one of these trips southward in August of 1816, a huge gale caused the ship to founder and be abandoned. The crew took safely to small boats, but the ship itself got buried in the sandy beaches of Southampton where it remained for almost 200 years before being discovered. The discoverers were our friends the family McCallum. Apparently there is some lingering dispute among family members about just which of them, exactly, first recognized the parallel timbers sticking out of the sand behind their home to be something more than unusual driftwood. Indeed, they were part of the hull of the General Hunter. Archeologists then gathered to examine the find. They dug out most of the sand, took measurements and photographs. They also collected paraphernalia such as cannon balls, uniform buttons and the like, which are now on display at the museum. Finally, they covered it all back up in order to preserve it. At the museum one can board the replica and hear a demonstration on the firing of cannons, complete with flashing lights and sound. The boat on the distant horizon is none other than the NIAGARA, which, of course, takes a direct hit! On another interesting note, the original flag flown by the General Hunter, which was taken in naval tradition as part of the “spoils of war,” has lived in Annapolis for 200 years, but is currently on loan to the museum here.