Port #4: Ladies of the Lakes...

Great Loop II Date: 8/6/2014

Day #7 (Wednesday):  44 miles (197 total miles)

Port #4:  Port Sanilac Marina (private sailboat marina south of the state docks)

Today opened up with beautiful sun, reported early morning fog (that we never saw) and 10 minutes to make the bridge opening at 8:30AM.  We moved around quickly and had OB in front of the bridge when the sirens sounded and the spans opened up to let us out into a busy St. Clair River.

We passed many downbound ‘Ladies of the Lakes’ (and Oceans).  They come in all different shapes and sizes.  Some have their wheelhouse on the bow; some have the wheelhouse on the stern.  All of the freighters we saw today were of size that could make the locks.

Couldn't tell if these guys were working or playing poker as their freighter passed us going downbound.

It always seems odd to me to see barges and tows here.  More expect them on the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee River systems.

It was surprising to pass the Pearl Mist, a new cruise ship from the Pearl Seas Cruiselines.  She has 6 decks, 108 cabins and ‘pampers’ 210 passengers.  Her website, as well as the report in the USA Today article, list The Pearl Seas as a ‘luxury’ cruiseliner.  Depending on the destination, the prices range from the mid-$3000s to $11,000 per person.  She is 335 feet long, has a 56 foot beam and draws 12 feet which still makes OB look like a puppy!

Going under the Bluewater Bridge that spans from Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON, CA is always interesting.  The waters in the St. Clair River and Lake Huron are such a beautiful blue, you’d swear it isn’t real.  But when you hit the turbulence before and under the bridge, you know it is moving with force DOWN to Lake Erie.

Once we escaped into Lake Huron, we had 2 foot rollers for the rest of our trip to Port Sanilac.  We had a shorter day, docked at a private marina instead of the state docks and had a most scrumptious appetizer dinner.  Since there was an ice cream shop onsite, we had some good hand dipped ice cream before turning in for the night.

Because of OB’s size, the dockmaster had us put our navigation lights on during the night.  He feared the local fishermen that frequent the marina would run into us in the dark.  Apparently they don’t often look where they are going.  It did make me consider doing the same once we get OB to her dock in Cape Coral.  I’ve thought about doing something to make her obvious in our canal during the night…until the locals get used to her being there.

After leaving the St. Clair River, freighters became ghosts on the horizon.

Charlie picked his spot in the breeze coming in the door.

This is what we typically see as we approach our marina for the night's stay.

OB sitting at the end of the dock.

Port Sanilac Marina is a private marina with mostly sailboats.  They were super friendly, very clean facility and a quiet night.

We had appetizers at Uri's and they were D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

Uri's has a nice dining room that overlooks the marina.  We loved this little bar and chose to relax here.