Incoming...

We started the day with a long walk along a path that follows the river. For the first time in all of our travels we came across a “hospital dock”. That seemed an odd name for a dock until I realized that is exactly what it was. There were even “Emergency” buttons to push to get help. Which makes perfect sense. Many of the homes around here sit on islands. Get sick or injured and the quickest way to medical care is to jump in a boat and head for the Hospital's dock. A bit further along and we ended up in a really nice marina talking to a couple who had just finished their own great loop. This is their home base and thus where they crossed their wake ten and a half months after leaving. We chatted for quite a while but, eventually, had to head back to prep for the incoming weather.

Not long after we got back, the Radar and forecast was looking a bit ugly. The big red splotches were still about 20 miles away when the thunder stared to rumble in the distance. The RADAR returns reported possible circulation in the south west corner of some of the storms, right where one would expect tornadoes to form. One of the returns showed a long tail of heavy weather trailing several miles behind the main body in a classic "hook" echo. That one looked to be heading right for us. We are not anywhere near “tornado ally” but Mother Earth appears to be a bit cross these days. If she can conjure up a Cat 5 hurricane in early July she can spin up a tornado on the US & Canadian border.

The floating dock we are tied to isn't the most substantial looking thing around and is exposed to some pretty good fetch in the direction from which the storms were approaching. So Deb and I went into our normal “prep for the worst mode”. Lines were added to the boat and pulled tight. Anything that looked like it might get blown around in a good gust was secured. Our American flag was tucked away and the VHF antenna was dropped horizontal rather than vertical.  The sky darkened and the rain started to fall. Thunder rumbled ever closer with a few lightning bolts actually stroking the ground a few miles away. Others flashed from cloud to cloud. The air took on that uneasy quiet that suggests the sky might actually be falling. And...you guessed it...that was it. Not a single healthy gust. Just enough rain to force us to close up the windows.

From the looks of the RADAR the worst of the storms flowed around us, both North and South of the river. So, two days of forecast severe weather that kept us stationary were two travel days missed. And we don't care. Our storm prep was overdone by factors of ten. And we don't care. Where we are the weather was a non-event. What was it like 10 or 20 NM East or West? No clue and don't care. Prepare for the worst and hope it doesn't get that bad. Because “the worst” can ruin your day regardless of any amount of preparation. And if “the worst' turns out to be mostly a false alarm? We see that as a very good day. This has been a good stop. We have ice cream, had some good walks, and some even better talks with people who are new friends. 

Tomorrow the plan is to fuel up, pump out, and head for Canada.