Back home to Spring Lake

Day 13 turned out to be relatively calm, so we headed out early for Spring Lake. There were thunder storms predicted and we were careful to watch the wind and weather. We arrived in Spring Lake after a marathon 13 hour cruise to a most beautiful welcoming sunset. It was good to be home and see Elizabeth again.

Welcoming sunset over Spring Lake

Another day in Frankfort

Day 12 brought back the high winds. We stuck our nose out into Lake MI and despite the forecast of 1-3s it was 4-5s, so we quickly came back in. Eventually boaters told us it built to 5-7s!  It rained in the morning but we had a nice afternoon bike around Betsie Lake and ate a great sushi dinner at Fusion.

Frankfort

On day 11 the winds subsided and gave us a window to get going south back home.  We were beginning to get concerned since our time was running short and there was more bad weather on the horizon. So we cancelled Beaver Island, said good by to Win and Susan, and headed out.

We got a morning view of the Mackinac Bridge and an afternoon view of Sleeping Bear Dunes before arriving in Frankfort to stay at Jacobsen's Marina. It was a long 11 hour day but we were just short of half way home.

Mackinac Bridge

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Jacobsen's Marina in Frankfort

Mackinaw City

We woke on Day 10 in Mackinaw City to more high winds and decided we would not risk continuing on to Beaver Island. It was a good day to relax and get rejuvinated. We ate dinner that night at Audie's in the Chippewa Room.

Bois Blanc

On day 9 we crossed Lake Huron to the south and went to Point aux Pins on Bois Blanc Island. Our very good friends Rich and Betty Goodin from Manhattan Beach, CA, have a cottage there with views of the lake and the Straits. Our transportation was in Rich's 1951 Ford pickup which lives on the island. We stopped at the local bar before going on to the cottage for dinner. We had time for a swim and a wonderful time catching up and enjoying our friends. Then it was off to Mackinaw City.

Is this legal?

Rich loves his truck

Win up to no good

The four of us together again

Time to move on...

Drummond Island and DeTour

Richard's Landing was the northern most stop on our trip. Later on Day 8 we continued on around St. Joseph's Island towards Drummond where we went through US Customs before going to Detour for the night. The North Channel is quite an impressive area for boating.

High rock walls

Lighted Point

Win's Sankey Island

On day 8 we planned a side trip up to see Win's Island which is in Canada. It is called Sankey Island and was purchased by his Father when Win was young. On the way, we passed the lighthouse on Boulanger Point.

Boulanger Pt. Lighthouse

Since it is very shallow, we anchored in the bay and took a dinghy onto the island beach. There are sandy coves, high plateaus of rocks, and many trees. The 5 acres are remote, completely natural and Win has no plans to build on the site.

Arriving at the beach

Great Laker and Swift on Anchor

Sankey Island

Win and Susan on the top of Sankey Island

DeTour and Richards Landing

On day 7, we awoke to low winds and started again for the North Channel. The Lex Chenaux Islands are quire picturesque. There are lots of "woodies" and some very unique homes.

Do you think this family likes boating?

Huh?

Detour is the entrance to the North Channel and there is a Coast Guard Station there. We went up the freighter channel that leads to Sault Ste. Marie. The typical freighter is over 700 ft long and 26 ft wide drawing 25 ft of water.

Freighter CSL Taqussac

The day was calm and we sat on the bow going up the x river. Anne got some sun on the bow while I piloted with the remote. 

Enjoying the bow

Piloting with the remote

Swift came along side on the way up to Richard's Landing which is the northern most point of St. Joseph Island and the northern most location on our trip. We enjoyed a dinner at the marina and listened to music provided by a singer who played guitar and harmonica.

Swift with Win and Susan

Another Day in Hessel

Day 6 (our second day in Hessel) turned out to be beautiful and pleasant. The wind died down and we had dinner at the marina's picnic tables with Win cooking thick steaks over charcoal. The sunset was deep orange and lit up the sky into the evening.

Great Laker faced the sea wall where our views south out over the Les Chenaux Islands were spectacular. The second boat in (trawler with the light on) is lived in during the summer by a 90 year old man, although he no longer leaves the dock.

Sunset

Great Lake at rest

High Winds near Hessel...

On day 6, the weather report was 1 -3 in north Lake Huron, so we started for De Tour and ran into 4 to 6 waves on the bow. It would have been a very unpleasant trip for 4 hours, so we came back in and spent another day at Hessel.

Saint Ignace and Hessel

The evening of day 4 we stayed at Saint Ignace which is on the north side of the bridge. It supports many tour boats that visit Mackinac Island. The marina is modern and close to good shopping, restaurants and fudge. We were slipped across from Win and Susan's Tiara  41 named "Swift". We enjoyed refreshments and dinner aboard Swift.

Staint Ignes Marina

Great Laker and Swift

On day 5 we went up to stay at Hessel, which is a very small town north of the Les Cheneaux Islands in Lake Huron. It is famous for the yearly Antique Wooden Boat Show with boats of all kinds coming in from all over America and Canada. The marina is small but well maintained and has a beautiful view out over the lake. The E. J. Mertaugh Boat Works is located there.

Hessel Marina

E. J. Mertaugh Boat Works

Larry

Anne

Win

Susan

Straights of Mackinac

On day 4, we headed north towards the Mackinac Bridge. North of Charlevoux near Grey's Reef you pass an abandoned lighthouse as you turn east towards Mackinac. This lighthouse used to be a critical warning for boats near the reef. 

Abandoned Lighthouse

On the trip up to Saint Ignace, you pass under the Straits of Macinac Bridge. It is the third longest in total suspension in the world, and the longest suspension between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Note the 18-wheeler just to the right of the left tower.

Mackinac Suspension Bridge

Roadway

Suspension Tower

Leland and Charlevoix

In the evening of day 2, we arrived in Leland and docked in the Leland Harbor Marina. Leland has mony old shops and places to eat. We tried without luck to buy some sheets (which we inadvertently left behind) but had no luck.

Leland Historic District

Fishing Boats

Fishtown

Tug Stuff

On day 3 we went up to the Charlevoix Municipal Marina, met our friends Win and Susan, and were fortunate to get a slip across from each other. Win and I rode bikes over to Target and got a great set of 250 count white fitted sheets! Success, and Anne is much happier. Later the four of us rode our bikes over for dinner at the Grey Gables Inn.

Pentwater and Sleeping Bear Dunes

Day 1 of the trip started mid afternoon.  While going north near White Lake about 5 nmi offshore, a baby red-headed woodpecker landed and clung to the boat rail for a while. He looked lost and tired. After an hour he took off again so maybe we provided a brief rescue.

We stopped in Pentwater, ate dinner on board, and anchored out for the night. It was a beautiful sunset and quiet evening sitting on top.

Day 2 we started early for the long cruise up to Leland, passing the Sleeping Bear Dunes (voted as the #1 most beautiful place in America on ABC this year). In Leland, we hope to buy the bed sheets that somehow didn't get put back on the boat after the winter.  (:-(

Baby Woodpecker Rescue

Pentwater Piers at Sunset

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Departing for the North

We are about to depart on our checkout cruise. The day is sunny, dry and very hot, but the big lake is calm and it should be a smooth ride up to our first night's stay. My sister and her family are planning to walk from the cottage out on the pier to wish us well.