Oahe Trip Day 9, Monday, May 23

0600-51F/43F, solar 81%. Checked weather and will move before breakfast to minimize the wind factor of increasing winds later in the morning.

0655-Preparing to move. 66F/46F

0930-Arrived at new site. 57F/57F, cool! Heater is on warming up while I make breakfast. Move was timely!

Stiff Wind From SW - Later Would Cause Problems
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1000-Finished breakfast but I'll wait to do dishes. Breeze is up as forecast now out of southwest. Will let outside temps rise some before trying to the rinse dishes in lake water on the aft deck.  Just too cold on the hands! 73F/61F, solar 88%.

1240-70F/63F.  Took a hike up the hill to check the harbor out from above. Wind has come up to at least 20 mph, with gusts higher. Nice walk with plenty of firewood again.

Overlook From A Hike Up The Hill
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On return I got worried about the kayak pounding on the corner of the boat so I let it slide ashore after removing the tow rig.

Then I observed waves splashing against the stern and water coming over the transom and into the bilge, not good!  Mostly just wet now and not much accumulation. I will set a one hour timer to check on it later. I don't want to move if I don't have to. Unfortunately this wind is now kicking up white caps in fairly restricted fetch off the stern. No way did I think it would be a problem in this sheltered harbor, but it is! I made a note to myself yesterday but I completely underestimated how much wave action you can get in such a small harbor like this one.

Wind has increased even more. Temp did not rise significantly so I went ahead and washed the dishes anyway. Listening to music now and trying to relax. Pandora looked like it was not going to open the app on my phone, but it finally did.  Not sure what is going on with that again?

Weather was nice early this morning but now it is cloudy, windy, and dreary. There will not be much outside activity until the wind moderates. So, more reading, audio books, and music!

Note: Used up Osmo Action SD card. Need to purchase spares. 

Note: Even small anchorages can kick up waves that can be hazardous! Look for all around protection, particularly for the stern.

Adjusted the stern lines to keep the boat from being pushed up onto the shore potentially stranding me.

Took down the forward Bimini & aft Bimini windshield to reduce sail area and associated forces pushing me further onto shore.

Further repositioned the boat with the stern guys to try to get a better angle so waves are deflected rather than taking them perpendicular to the transom. With the stern at a steeper angle the waves are no longer splashing over the transom. 

YouTube Video-Early Morning Start

(Click to Play)

1430-After the first hour watch on the bilge, I pumped out a lot of water, but the second hour I had none. Maybe the problem is licked. 

I was considering taking a nap but that isn't going to happen, it is just too nerve racking to nap with all this wind and the hazards it presents.

1530-Third hour of bilge watch I had more water in the bilge again, but not too much, maybe a gallon or two. 

I've been reading but it's hard to concentrate and relax with the wind and wave action causing such a tense situation. Wind is still unchanged and it is still cloudy. I stoked the heater to take the chill off. Even with my fleece vest I became chilled.

1645-Finished a chili dinner with salad, roll, and a beer while listening to music. Wind remains unchanged. But the last bilge check there was nothing, a good sign! 

Based on today's weather I will set an alarm for tomorrow morning and depart after sunrise. It should be okay first thing in the morning, hopefully. Lots of cloudy and windy days on this trip! I'm self-contained enough not to be too much bother but it does limit what I can do at each site.

Chili Dinner With Salad, Hot Roll, & Cold Beer
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1700-Wind is backing more to the south, a more favorable angle for waves hitting the stern. May not have to worry about the bilge filling up anymore.

1730-Wind is still strong but waves are no longer threatening the stern, though now there is more side pressure on the hull from starboard. I checked the starboard anchor and it appears to be holding okay. Hopefully the wind will drop later on.

1820-No water in the bilge. Wind is now down and out of the south so no splashing over the stern. A little sun peaking through. 72F/64F

Will go to bed early to be rested for the early start tomorrow.