I had hoped to get up at 6 AM so that I could go to where the boat is stored to check the trailer tire grease and load up the boating gear like floaties and life jackets. For some reason I didn’t fall asleep until around 2 AM so snoozing for an extra hour it was.
The grease looked fine but one of the tires looked a lot more cracked and worn than I had first noticed, so I was going to have to stop for one before I got back home. It also didn’t take long to throw the boating supplies into the van and get on the road.
On the way back, I filled up the car, boat, and a 20L jug with gas, and then popped into Canadian Tire for, well, a tire.
While the ladies loaded the van and cartop carrier, I changed the tire. I have a hydraulic jack at home so that made the job quick and easy. It took around an hour to get everything loaded, and to get the cover secure on the boat for its first long haul ride.
It was around noon when we hit the road. Although I check the mirrors every so many minutes, the trailer handled well and caused no issues the entire trip. We stopped for snacks at an ONRoute, and the nearest town to the cottage for groceries, and each time I did a perimeter check with no issues recorded.
It likely took us another hour when we arrived, to empty everything so that we could launch the boat in the water. Tara and Finnegan always come with me. Finn, for the first boat ride with daddy, and Tara to drive the van and trailer back to our site.
The marina owner’s son had to help me get the boat started as I forgot the safety clip had to be installed, but after that it started fine and soon we were off. Well, I thought we were. We stalled 50 yards from shore. For some reason, every time I pushed the throttle forward, the boat stalled. I tried everything, but thankfully a young couple spotted us and pulled us over to our dock; the first tow of the season.
There was a campfire and some music under a beautiful star-filled sky, but it wasn’t a late night. I was exhausted the entire drive. I had to sneak a nap in the van while the girls grabbed groceries.
It’s great to be back. It’s always a long year waiting for this annual tradition.