Johnny-on-the-Spot … by Joh Foster …

Back to Pelee Island for about a week.

The largest island in Lake Erie gave us one of the best weather weeks we’ve ever had.

It was just perfect for sitting in one of the 4 Windsor chairs on the deck in front of the beach facing west.

A warm cup of coffee in the morning and observing the world waking up is quite relaxing.

I took a “Lake Erie bath” with my floaing Ivory soap on the first morning we had on the island but I gave it up because the footing in the water was “sketchy”.

No more than 3 feet off shore, the water was already waist-high and the sand was deep and hard to keep your footing in.

However, the water temperature was pleasant.

There had been rain the day before we arrived and I could tell because the west side dock was virtually “white splotch-free” from the terns that choose to rest there.

There had been rain the day before we arrived and I could tell because the west side dock was virtually “white splotch-free” from the terns that choose to rest there.

It’s the reason oui family lovingly refers to them as “s…hawks”.

My bride and I arrived in the auto ferry about 2 hours before our daughter and her family landed.

We had Lake Erie perch dinners at the Westview Tavern and Neav even had a sip of my bottled Labatt’s beer.

We took the “old” Pelee Islander from Sandusky, Ohio and we get to view Cedar Point as we head north to the island.

I think we counted 8 vehicles and about 20 people on our excursion.

With the cost of fuel and the crew needed to man the boat, I always wonder how long that service will remain afloat.

Neav and I aren’t sure the size of the bed we shared but it was definitely smaller than out king-sized at home.

One of the standards we keep is to grill numerous hot dogs and burgers.

We never come any where close to eating it all that first night so the leftovers get assigned to the “Bag of Meat” Ziplock container.

By the time Saturday morning arrived, I think there was just one “dog” and one burgers that didn’t get re-heated and consumed.

Our favorite fishing spot, the pier at Scudder Bay was undergoing a repair project and a truick blocked us from getting to the better fishing areas.

All the hassle I went through on-line and on-the-phone to get a license was for naught because I didn’t wet a line.

Bugs at night were “numerous” so if you’re a bat in Canada, the place is a smorgasboard.

Evenings after supper were “game nights” and while we didn’t play a single hand of Continental Rummy, we did get granddaughter Lucy to play Euchre a few times.

We stopped at a farmer produce stand on the island’s westside and got some sweet corn.

Judging by the dryness of the husks, it was obvious the corn had been picked a few days earlier.

But is cooked up well and reinforced my belief that there is not better vehicle to transport salt and butter to your lips than an ear of sweet corn.

Even with rain just before we arrived, the limestone roads wound up producing sufficient dust to change the color of every vehicle.

We got just enough rain one evening to spot up up our car.

It was a week of firsts for my wife.

She made here first trip to the island landfill and went home on the Pelee Islander II.

Our original ferry ride was cancelled so instead of returning to Sandusky, Ohio, we went to Kingsville, Ontario before turning west to the Detroit-Windsor area.

We re-entered America via the new Gordie Howe bridge and as we awaited our turn to pass through U-S Customs, we observed a traveler being lead away with hands handcuffed behind his back.

All-in-all, it was a pretty uneventful week which is what makes Pelee Island visits special.

I’ve never checked by blood pressure when I’m there but I’ll bet its’ something like 3 over 1.

That’s what a week of eating when you’re hungry and sleeping when you’re tired will do.

Combined with nightly watching of sunsets on the lake and you have an idea of the relaxing excitement we experience.

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