Day 19, July, 11, 2025

I woke to Fog outside as the weather predicted.

After getting dressed , I took a walk to go see the boats down the dock. This morning at 7:20 Casper was in the cockpit looking at the birds chirping. We are making progress since he fell off the boat.

9 AM weather

Inside boat temperature low 72.3° high 83.5° currently 75.9° humidity low 67% high 89% currently 88%

After Phil got up and got going, we rode our folding bikes across the bridge in search of an ATM so that we can get some Canadian cash to pay for docking at Port Dover Yacht Club (PDYC). We didn’t see a bank that was close and finally found an ATM down at the gas station. Their fee was $9.50 Canadian, which was pretty steep but I was able to get some Canadian $20’s. Then we rode along the channel path to the shanty building that used to have the sandals that were made there. They don’t do that anymore. I guess they retired after doing this for 50 years. We looked inside to buy Phil a couple pair of shorts, but they don’t have have any and recommended to go to the Surf Shack, which we did. Inside Phil bought two pair of shorts that fit him well but we’re on the high price. His current shorts have a hole(s) in them from when he keeps his wallet. We rode around and looked at all the changes that were there since our last visit. In place of the sidewalk along the channel, they now had a Long building that are condos. There’s a Harbor Museum on the north side of these condos, which we didn’t see. They are still doing some construction and we rode around and then rode back to the boat.

At the boat, we were discussing the weather and deciding which would be the best day to go to Port Stanley. Initially we were thinking about leaving Monday or Tuesday, but the weather has changed and it looks like now that Saturday will be the best day. Going from Port Dover to Port Stanley is about 72 nautical miles or at least a 12 hour day. When you’re leaving the port over you have to go south east to be able to get past the end of Long point then you’re going west for many nautical miles to reach Port Stanley. Often it’s hard to get weather that you could do both directions but tomorrow looks like the best weather to do that even if we might have to motor most of the way.

Why while riding around on our bikes earlier, we noticed the Erie Beach Hotel, which looks the same as it did when we were there at the last time we visited Port Dover. We have eaten there before, so decided to go to the terrace room for supper. We sat next to this big aquarium, which had some tropical fish in it. We enjoyed the air conditioning in the hotel, which is a nice break from the humidity and heat outside.

After lunch, we rode up the long hill on Main Street and found a apothecary we were able to get Phil‘s allergy medicine there rode to the end of the area where they had the shops and stores and turned around coming back on the other side of the street. I passed a pet supply store, hoping to get new filters for the cats water fountain and they didn’t have any, but I did find some cat nail clippers to use on on Casper claws. He hasn’t really been using the scratching pad on the mask and they are getting too long by this time. It was 3 o’clock and we rode down towards the end of the channel and found an ice cream stand there and of course we got ice cream. I got maple nut and Phil got butterscotch swirl.

We went and sat down on some boulders from the break wall and we’re lucky enough to be in the shade and have a nice breeze. Phil walked to the main beach in a restaurant that was there. Well I stayed in the shade getting a little on my project which I always keep in my backpack.

After lunch, we decide to right up the long hill on Main Street and found a pharmacy where we could get more of Phil’s allergy medicine. We rode far enough that we got through all of the stores and buildings and it started to get residential. On the way riding back I saw a pet store and hope to get more of the foam filters for the cats fountain, but didn’t find that. I did find some nail clippers for Casper’s nails. He has not taken to scratch in his nails on the sisal rope that Vicky was kind enough to wrap around the mat for him. Then rode to the sidewalk by the channel and went all the way down to the end and got ice cream at a little kiosk, octagon ice cream stand arriving there at 3 PM. We sat on some big rocks for a break wall in the shade to eat our ice cream and from that vantage point we could see the main beach and also be in the sun and the breeze while we ate our ice cream fill to walk. I had a small scoop of maple walnut and Phil had butterscotch swirl .

After Phil was done eating his ice cream he took a walk over to the main beach as far as the first restaurant. I did a little knitting on my purple and white top that I keep with me. I’m working on weaving in ends. We can’t remember the name but it’s the same one that a cruising friend walked into the glass window thinking it was the door. Phil wished that he had his swim trunks with him so he could go into the water.

We rode the bikes back to the boat. I had a shower right after dinner. It’s hard for me to tolerate being sticky. So we had sandwiches for supper. Lynda the dock master welcomed us and offered us the use of her truck to go shopping at the local grocery store. We accepted, of course, and got our bags together and went up Main Street farther than we had gone on our bikes to the no-frills grocery store. We were able to get another case of water and other things that we needed and then we came back and unloaded. Parking was a little difficultso Phil got out to direct me once I was backing up in the parking lot at the yacht club. After reloaded the groceries and put them away we just kind of relaxed then tried to go to bed a little early as we were waking up at 5 AM the next day to go to Port Stanley, which is about 72 nautical mile trip and we expected that it take 12 or more hours to get there.