A New Journey Begins for OverEasy - 2020/2022

[Jimmyt]

Hoping and praying she will be ok.

[Russ]

Prayers

[OverEasy]

Thank you
Still in hospital for observations and tests….

[kmclemore]

I’m sorry to hear about your friend... sounds very serious. I hope she gets excellent medical treatment and is rapidly on the mend.

We are leaving the lake house and heading south, through NJ, and back to a Phila today. If you’re anywhere near Routes 87, 287 or 202, you could call us and we can meet for a bit on the way. I think I sent you our phone #.

[Be Free]

Prayers

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for my Admiral’s friend. She remains in the hospital tonight. Tests today were indicative but not conclusive. More tests tomorrow….

At our friends insistence we continued our trip north with significant reluctance…..

So we travelled slowly and texted back and forth multiple times during the day… half anticipating a course reversal… but things haven’t gotten any worse and she is stable and improving… still very stressful… even the puppy and kitty know somethings amiss and seem to be sticking extra close to the Admiral today..… smarter than they look.

Hi Kmclemore

Sorry, just read your post. We must have passed each other on 87 going in opposite directions. We were the white Dodge Caravan towing the big white Mac26X headed north! Sorry I missed the opportunity to meet today.

Under some duress we continued our journey north making it to Manchester NH for a distance of about 300 miles. Although not far from our home here in NH we chose to stay at another very nice campground tonight. The Calef Lake Campground in Auburn NH just East of Manchester.

Really nice pretty campground on a small beautiful lake. Nice sites with full hook ups available. Nice people with the office open till 7 PM and late check ins permitted with paid reservation. Reasonable rates too!

Great Gyros from Souvlaki on Bridge Street in Manchester for supper after decoupling from the boat. Best we’ve ever had!

Daily temps have been in the mid to low 90s F throughout the day, We kept a sharp eye on the coolant temp gauge as it several times attempted to climb …. Especially on the long inclines But So Far, So Good.

Tomorrow is Mallets Bay on lake Champlain!

Best Regards to all!
Over Easy


The journey continues……

[TheLandlady]

Hey I assume you’re taking I-89 up to Burly from Manch... I’m at exit 2 in Sharon VT. Sharon Trading Post is a great midway spot in case you need to refuel, get a sandwich or pizza, and spend a few minutes showing off your boat! Not sure of your timing but I’ll be here until about 3pm and would be into checking it out, maybe with an admiral and 1st mate of my own.

The Landlady is still on the Cape; I came home for a few days this week, but am heading back down this afternoon.

We are planning to launch a maiden voyage on either the Outer Cape or maybe Lake Winni the week after Labor Day, but Champlain is definitely on the list for foliage season before everything starts to freeze.

Cheers!
Jeff

PS praying the best for your friend

[OverEasy]

Hi TheLandLady!

Sorry to have missed you!
Have a GREAT Maiden Voyage after the Labor Day weekend!

Our chores in Manchester area took longer than expected…. Murphy Rules… Everything takes longer than you expect…

We finally got back on the road out of town around sunset


We made it as far as the Vermont Rest Area north of Exit 7. Figured as we really didn’t want to do a night launch and night navigation after a long day we decided to avoid the possible “YouTuber Moments” and get a good night’s rest. The launch ramp is about an hour or less from here.

Admiral’s friend update: Fortunately/Unfortunately all the tests came out negative. Fortunate that there is nothing definitively wrong… Unfortunate in that there is nothing definitive to treat to avoid recurrence… Personnally I’ve always hated the “wait and see if it happens again” game but sometimes that’s all one gets to play with.

The Admiral’s friend was released from the hospital this afternoon and was able to go home.

Best Regards to All
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Apologies for not posting on our arrival at Lake Champlain Mallets Bay Saturday morning!

We prepped and launched at the Vermont DNR Boat Ramp on Malletts Bay right next to the Champlain Marina where we have rented a slip for about the next month.

While getting prepped lo-and-behold ANOTHER Mac26 pulls along side from Utah! Norm is up here for the month to take some specialized wood working classes! A really sharp guy!

About the same time ANOTHER MacGregor owner pulled in to say “Hi!”. Neil lives here on Lake Champlain near the marina we are staying at. He and his wife own a very nice Mac19 that they regularly sail here!

We are really fortunate to be able to meet fellow MacGregor owners here! Everyone loves the unique versatility and novelty and capabilities that their MacGregors offer!

Our daughter who is attending UVM for her Masters came over with her puppy (a Rescued Standard Poodle ) and the 6 of us did a first day cruise around the circumference of Malletts Bay. What a beautiful lake and shoreline! Not to understate the obvious but, LAKE CHAMPLAIN is HUGE and BEAUTIFUL!!!

The first landing at our new slip went off without a hitch. Load up of daughter and (monster) puppy went off without a hitch. Slip departure went smoothly. Brief trip around the end of the marina and down the central slipway to the fuel dock was just a little bit off at the last moment due to some wind but ok recovery with the dock hand’s catch of a mooring line. Filled both fuel tanks to 12 gallons each. Departure was interesting with a quick turn around in narrow confines compounded with massive Yatchs on each side and one boring down the slipway midsection! He was an old pro (something I am definitely not) and gracefully moved to one side so we could pass each other.

The cruise around the circumference of Malletts Bay was nice and uneventful until the late afternoon storm kicked up. A quick check of the chart and a bee line was set to return to our slip. Lots of wind driven waves and light to moderate rain. We Really enjoy the motoring option of our MacGregor! Several sail boats were caught out and were struggling to tack up wind so they could return to their moorings.

The return to slip was a bit of a SNAFU but not quite a FUBAR!!! I bolixed the approach and then compounded the error by repeating it!‍!!! Somehow I managed to get Over Easy fully sideways in our slip!!! Fortunately no bumps or contacts were made and eventually it all got sorted out. Definitely not one of my better days.

Dinner was a great take out pizza on board Over Easy. A prolonged adieu to our daughter and her beautiful rescue puppy (monster) and we settled in for the night. Sunday was a very slow start, grocery shopping, a good rainstorm, lunch in Bay Side Park and take-out Chinese from Jin’s in Winooski! A ten minute drive from the marina but worth it! Great food!

Dinner (take out) was at the picnic table at the end of our pier to watch the sun set! What a relaxing day!

The Journey Continues….

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[NiceAft]

Enjoy the area.

We have been vacationing on Lake George (just south of Champlain) for over forty years.

[OverEasy]

Hi NiceAft!

Lake George is a Great Lake!
It must be wonderful to have been able to enjoy it for all that time. We are envious!

We spent the day having Daddy Dog Care for our daughter’s Standard Poodle While she starts the fall term for her Masters Program at UVM. What a fun day we had!

Tomorrow we plan to meet up with BobGlas out at Bluff Point Bay of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain! Really looking forward to this!

Only technical trouble we have had so far is our depth sounder has gone off line for some reason. We will have to find time to troubleshoot it soon as lake Champlain has some really interesting Lake bottom geometry!














Over Easy in her slip and views of Malletts Bay from our marina pier.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[K9Kampers]

For local marine supplies, check out the Ace Hardware store a 1/4 mile down the road from the ramp. They have a marine / fishing selection (at least the years we sailed there). The local West Marine store is a short drive away via Highway 89, Exit 14W, on Williston Road.

If you haven't already, pick up a chart set of the lake. The whole lake is broken down on 3 individual charts, or just get the one for the section you'll be cruising. With chart in hand, navigating Champlain is easy and without need of a depth sounder. Have fun!

[Starscream]

Tomorrow we plan to meet up with BobGlas out at Bluff Point Bay of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain! Really looking forward to this!

The battle of Valcour Island, between the Americans led by Benedict Arnold and the British, is an amazing story, and worth reading up about. I'm writing this from memory: The Americans tucked their ships in behind Valcour Island and waited for the British as they came down Lake Champlain with the intention of taking Fort Ticonderoga. Once the British passed the island, the Americans had "weather gauge" on the British and they were able to engage, and hold their own with an inferior force. The main British warship couldn't make it back upwind to play a big role in that day's battle (although there was talk of cowardice delaying its arrival instead of the wind). They took a beating though, and Benedict Arnold even manned a cannon on board an American ship. As the day closed on the engagement, the British were in a position to wipe out the Americans the next morning, but Arnold was able to sneak his entire little "navy" through the British lines in the dark of night, under oar and perfect silence, as they were close enough to see and hear the British sentries. Imagine the surprise of the British in the morning, as they were expecting to pulverize the remaining....wait...they're gone!!! Arnold's forces fought a delaying action down the lake, and finally had to burn their remaining ships in Arnold's Bay and hike outta there. They delayed the British enough that they weren't able to attack Ticonderoga that year as winter was approaching, and the Americans were able to reinforce it so that the following year Ticonderoga was strong enough to discourage attack and remain under American control. If the British had taken Ticonderoga that year, it's actually very possible that the Americans would not have won their independence.

One of the british tactics in the Battle of Valcour Island was to land their "indigenous forces" (was that politically correct?) on the island and mainland around the bay of Valcour, and fire on the Americans with muskets. The Americans used shielding made of bunches of wooden sticks to filter out those pesky musket balls. You can still find remnants of the battle on the island, but of course it is illegal to remove them.

One of the ships that was in the battle was the Philadelphia, which was recovered and is now in the Smithsonian (I believe). A complete replica was built, and now is at the Champlain Maritime Museum located just beside Basin Harbor (the place I highly recommended for you to spend a day or two). Both Basin Harbor and the museum are fantastic places to visit.

[OverEasy]

Hi K9Kampers!
Wow! That’s really appreciated!
Yes, the Ace is still here and as you suggested we’re very helpful. Thank you!

Hi Starscream!
Who new so much could have happened around such an interesting island in such a unique lake!
Benedict Arnold has been an interesting individual in history and deserves study. I appreciate your having shared the history surrounding the events at the time of conflict. It is very interesting and I think it will be interesting to “role play” the scenario when we have the opportunity. Nothing brings the personal lives of historical individuals to life more for me than treading the same ground (or in this case waters, in person. Aside: I hiked the Jockey Hollow Trail (Washington’s winter encampment 1779-1780) as a kid and it left an indelible impression of the efforts made and privations endured.

Thank you!

Yes, we must get to the Maritime Museum while we are here. The sooner the better!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

With the potential of the remnants of Ida potentially moving into the area our anticipated meet-up with BobGlas was delayed for now . We will try again after things blow through.

Taking advantage of the change in plans we had a very nice brunch on the boat consisting of various cheeses, meats, pate’, fresh baguettes with black figs, huge black raspberries and cappuccinos in our cockpit under the Bimini enjoying a beautiful day. Overhead we saw several chevrons of geese fly by. After a nap an amphibious Coot airplane made an appearance landing in our harbor and taxied up onto the backyard of one of the houses across the way off our stern! Nice!


In a little while we will be casting off for an exploratory wandering around Malletts Bay up to the rail trail cut through.

So far we have spent 4 nights in Over Easy on land when we originally made our first 2020 Southern trip from NH to SC, 4 nights when we made our first 2021 Northern trip from SC to Lake Champlain VT and now 4 nights while on Lake Champlain!

It has been interesting how each day makes us appreciate our choice of a Mac26X and Over Easy in particular. The mods made since she acquired us. Every day is still a learning adventure as to what works best and when. It should be interesting how we all settle in together by the end of September.

The temperature has dropped into the 70’s and is very much appreciated!

The 12 VDC thermonic Coleman cooler is working fine although the power draw is such that we only run it when on shore power when on water and when driving when going over the roadways. (I keep having a recurring dream of Over Easy getting an Alpincool refrigerator/freezer for Christmas…….).

The little single burner induction cooktop top unit works great! Boil a 1/2 gallon of water in less than 8 minutes! Easy to use, easy to store.

The galley is working like a champ! Looks like we will be adding back the two baskets to the top section. We had removed them thinking we needed open space inside this area. As it turns out what we need is more compartmentalizations in there to stay organized. Nice problem to have…too much space on a boat!

The dual batteries, use and charge selector, new electrical control box and wiring have been working out nicely for our purposes. Still have to get the label maker out! Getting tired of remembering what switch does what…

The dual fuel tanks and fuel filter/tank selector/primer is still a nice and appreciated addition.

Still working with our 2001 Tohatsu 50 hp. The new engine is still back ordered but hope still springs eternal that it will come in sooner rather than later.

Our storage solution use of clear sided bins from Lowe’s has been working out reasonably well. Some expected hiccups (now where did I put that?) have been /are being worked though but it gets better with each search…

What a nice day on a beautiful lake! These days make any challenges seem like small potatoes in the scheme of things.

The Journey Continues….

Best Regards,
Over Easy