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.