Around here, summer is somewhat mythical in nature.

Posted By: Victoria's Secret
Date: 10/30/09 7:39a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Hmmm... it's 82 degrees here right now (Jim B., Out and About)

High 60s, low 70s describes this last summer. Many times Lake Michigan is warmer than the air (when the wind is from the SW -- that blows all the warmer top water toward us from Chicago). Very, very windy summer though. Some days I'd go to the dock and get disappointed bec. it would've been pure folly to engage the boat. Once I'm out there in big wind, I'm okay. But getting away from, or into, the dock in big wind is my greatest challenge. Wind was so fierce sometimes the red warning flags were frequently flying at the beaches. Rip currents are our favorite challenge here. Seven drownings this summer. That's a high number for this area. If I go for a romp in the waves I still wear a lifejacket. Six-footers. The other day when I brought the boat from its slip to the municipal launch across the lake (to put it to bed), the wind was crazily gusting up to 35mph, and naturally, while aiming for the first dock's lee side on the left, I ended up bumping head-on into the third dock down. Bent the bow roller. Everything, but everything (well, except the centerboard pendant) has been fixed (or banged) into tiptop shape. Next Tuesday, I take to the boat to Crosswinds Marina for a centerboard fix. I just can't do the crawling around necessary under the boat, etc., that this would take. Let the pros do it and gouge me price-wise.