Nostalgia

July first, this is the date that Roy begins the Cruiser’s Net in the North Channel of Lake Huron. The North Channel is one of the world’s best cruising grounds for small boats. For those of you who do not know the geography, it is located in southern Canada in an area of Lake Huron protected by the largest fresh water island, Manitoulin Island.

This is an archipelago of billion year old rocks with little manmade impact. There are many protected coves with good muddy bottoms for anchors to dig into. There is also a plethora of knowledgeable diehard cruisers wandering its waters.

Roy, the former Manitoulin Island High School principle, was cruising in the Virgin Islands and noted that each morning boats checked in on the radio. The boats stated their name and location or if in transit, their destination. In this way, they kept in touch and stayed safe in a watery world that cannot be counted on to be forgiving.

So, when he returned home he began the North Channel Little Current Cruiser’s Net. It began over ten years ago and at 9:00 AM from July thru August, the call goes out on channel 71 for boats to announce themselves. Of course, over the years it has become more sophisticated. We watched the video feed this morning. More than ninety boats called in and among them were our friends on Dolly, Trifed, and Sir Tugely Blue.

Carrie Rose’s first venture into the North Channel was with these folks. They were our companions and our mentors. We had many noteworthy experiences: some quiet and peaceful, others probably a little more adventurous then we would have liked. But this morning while listening to the boats report to Roy, memories came flooding back. I could feel Carrie Rose moving under me as we negotiated the many intricate passages that lead into one anchorage or another.

They say that as we age present memories mean less than past ones. Nostalgia will rule the day and what better memories than gliding through a land of ancient rocks, swinging on a well dug in anchor and listening to utter silence in company with like minded souls.

Erratum: I now think the above video was from 2014, so our friends did not call in but the sentiment of Nostalgia is the same no matter what the year and what the circumstances.