We had stayed an extra night in Windsor to watch the fireworks. The buses were free after 6pm as the local Zehrs paid for the service. We went by bus to downtown Windsor to the Tunnel BBQ. We got in-between the big rushes so we had about a 15 minute wait. After we got on the list, people were lined up outside. I was not that hungry when I got there but was famished after several plates of ribs went by while we were waiting. When our order finally arrived: spectacular.
BTW: that's a plate for 2, although I ate more than Belinda.
After dinner, we went down to the waterfront and waited. I was offered a peach from a woman standing beside us. I picked a clear spot looking over at the RenCen over in Detroit.
The fireworks were launched from 3 barges tied up in the Detroit river. The river was blocked off to vessel traffic and the tunnel was closed. Most of downtown Windsor was blocked off to traffic. The number of people on the Windsor side was astounding. Can only imagine the Detroit side. There are rumours circulating that this will be the last year for the fireworks as Detroit cannot afford the police and security for the event.
After the fireworks, we ventured over to the Casino, (now CaesarsWindsor Casino) and had a drink. Surprisingly less expensive than the ACC. I had been to the ATM recently and it gave out new $50.00 bills, which are kind of hard to use in smaller stores. The casino had a machine that would break bills. So I put the money in and it gave back $20's and $5's. Very cool, more fun than the slot machines.
We planned on getting a taxi from the casino but since the casino is in the traffic restricted zone, no taxis were able to get in. We walked out to the edge of the traffic zone and waited for a taxi. Just as we were about to give up and get in the humongous lineup for the bus, we were able to flag a taxi down. Best $20.00 that I have ever spent. The bus would have been a couple more hours before we would have got back the club.
In the morning we left for Sarnia. I did a quick calculation and figured that it would be 8 to 10 hours to get up river, so we left early (by our standards). We got across Lake St. Clair before the winds picked up. We could have motor-sailed but it was only 10 miles and then we would have to take it down again before motoring up the river. In the river, the wind was pretty much on the nose.
The current in the river was pretty strong. Most of the time, it was 1 1/2 kts but up near Sarnia it got up to 3 kts. At some points, we were doing 4.5 kts on the GPS at almost full throttle. We arrived at the Sarnia Yacht Club at about 6:30pm. That's a long day for us, especially since we have to keep close watch to keep track of the buoy numbers to stay on the Canadian side of the river and not venture into US waters.
Taking the Canadian side takes you by a couple of small islands that are fully covered by cottages. some pretty big houses along both sides of the river.
When we arrive, we are assigned a slip. We had a choice of either a slip long enough or wide enough but not both. I chose wide enough. Sticking out a bit is better than trying to fit between 2 pilings that are not wide enough. We wanted to spend 2 nights so I asked if we would be OK. The dock person said that we were good because that slip is always empty. Anyways, just as we are preparing to eat a woman stops and asks if we are leaving because her husband is getting back from racing a double handed race and we are in their well. Long story short, he ties up at the fuel dock and we spend the night and move in the morning. Very quiet place here except for the fog horns of the freighters entering or leaving the river.
We stopped at the office and met Chelsea's mother. Chelsea is QCYC's new dock master and her mother works in the office here at SYC. Chelsea used to work here.
We have now booked our next couple of stops. We are off to Bayfield ON for a night and then Goderich at the trailer park/marina for the long weekend. Brian and Sandi are meeting us there to stay the weekend.
Great pictures of the fireworks!
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