Great Loop Date: 08.28.2010: Move Over Mac, Here We Come…

Day 14: 382.2 miles (today: 68.8 miles in 9 hours at 7.7 mph)

With another fair weather day, Todd and I decided we should continue without a rest day and move on to Mackinaw City, MI. We would have liked another day in Presque Isle to take our bikes and explore this pristine, forested area.

Yesterday afternoon Carl Sommers, a work associate of Todd’s, came by the boat and took us to see his magnificent ‘cabin’. It has been a 4 year project he has enjoyed constructing himself, with little left but the finishing work. Carl has done an amazing job, researching and learning timber construction and leaving very little work for contractors. His land looks east over Lake Huron from the side of a densely wooded hill. The sunrise has to be spectacular, no matter the time of year! It was a joy meeting him and seeing what he has done in his retirement.

Upon returning to Presque Isle Municipal Marina, we visited with our Looper friends for an hour or so. We went to dinner with another couple. The local diner was conveniently located at the end of our dock. We had the most scrumptious crab cakes with Japanese Sea Grass marinated in Sesame sauce of some kind and a side of an awesome dipping sauce. Todd and I elected to have fish sandwiches for our main course. I’d have gladly had a few more crab cakes, they were so darn good!

For dessert, we went across the street for ice cream at the convenience store. I really wanted to look around but Todd saw dollar bills all over the place and scooted me out to the ice cream counter in less than 2 minutes. It was probably a good move since I plan to spend some of those dollars when we visit Mackinaw Island.

Both Todd and I were pretty tired when we got back to the boat. He was in bed before me. I got up before 4:15AM again and Todd followed about 30 minutes later. We wanted to get an early start.

As we prepared to leave, we both decided traveling without extra days in port is just a little too much for us. Today’s trip to Mackinaw City is a long one and we won’t get in until 5PM. We looked at the marine weather forecast and saw we currently have a five day window ahead of us. My cousin, Marilyn, and her husband, Don, are going to drive down from Saulte St. Marie to see us in Mackinaw City. We also want a day on Mackinac Island. So we made an executive decision to take an extra day in Mac City before we move on to Charlevoix.

Good by Presque Isle...even the bell buoy was ringing for us.

One last look at the Haunted Lighthouse.

And finally a good look at the new Presque Isle Lighthouse.

The trip to Mackinaw City started out with comfortable one foot waves on the port bow. The wind continued to increase throughout the day. By the time we made the turn more westerly between Cheboygan, MI and Boise Blanc Island, the winds were out of the west at 16 mph with 25 mph gusts and waves that were 2 to three feet right on our bow. It makes the ride in OB much like riding a bucking bronco…well, not quite that bad but you get the general idea.

POE (Point of Entry) Reef Light in the shipping channel between Boise Blanc Island and Cheboygan.  We were bucking pretty good past this light but it's hard to see the waves in any picture.

Again, we were pretty much by ourselves on Big Blue. We saw a few powerboats fishing as we left Presque Isle. As the day wore on, we saw a couple of sailboats and one freighter. I wasn’t able to see the name of the freighter but it looked like it could have been another Laker.

Charlie hasn’t been a happy dog all day long with all the bouncing. I finally moved him from the forward stateroom in the bow of the boat to the lower hallway where the boat’s movement was less noticeable. He would have been happier if I’d have lay down with him but listening to a loudly panting dog just doesn’t make it. He will be a much happier guy when we get into the calm of the rivers from Chicago on.

Tonight we rest. Tomorrow we hope to go to Mackinac Island on the morning ferry and attend Trinity Episcopal Church. After that, we’ll check out the island we’ve heard so much about and hopefully come back with some fudge…and, of course, some history and pictures for the blog!

Another marina, another town..

Elegante Neighbors...remember the 1963 Whiticar in Pt. Sanilac?

OB in her Mackinaw City slip.

She's a pretty girl, isn't she?

Sea Estate and N II Wishin will probably move on today if the wind and waves are down.  They were 4-6 feet yesterday in L. Michigan.  We're almost done with L. Huron!

Our other neighbor, the USCG ICEBREAKER MACKINAW WAGB-83 "An American Hero Story". "The Queen of the Great Lakes" was built as part of the war effort during World War II to meet the heavy demands of war materials and transportation during the winter months. Decommissioned in 2006, she now resides here in her namesake home of Mackinaw City. She had a 62-year career breaking ice on the Great Lakes and serving as a goodwill ambassador throughout the region.  We hope to tour her when we get back from Mackinac Island Sunday.

This marina is a Green Marina.  They use these wind turbines to supplement the power to their lights and our boats.  They also have a walking path explaining other ways they have used recycled materials and alternate measures to light their facility.  Really pretty cool.  The building in the picture is an abandoned elevator that was used to lift cars to ferry level for transportation to Mackinac Island.  This area is only for windmill use now and is called Windmill Island.

So we walk to dinner across the street and find a Corvette gathering lining up to go in a caravan parade across the Mackinac Bridge.  It made Todd a little homesick for his little green monster.

Not much history for you today.  There will be more Sunday and Monday as we explore our surroundings.  Pop quiz on Tuesday over Chapters 1 through 7!