It's always about the weather

UPDATE 08/03/09: We plan to head out in the morning as the weather is toning down enough to leave. It won't be the peaceful last day we had hoped for but we really want to get back. Here's what the lake looked like this morning (note: the object on the right side of the picture is a dredge not a boat).

UPDATE 08/02/09: It's Saturday morning and the wind is really howling and the current weather forecast may not let us out of here until Tuesday. If it is Tuesday and the conditions are acceptable we will head all the way back to Saugatuck versus a stop in Holland.

We arrived in Ludington today for a nice restful weekend before winding up our cruise early next week. We have TV, fast Wi-Fi, and a pool and hot tub at our disposal. Unfortunately the weather is not looking too favorable for our lengthy leg to Holland on Monday. It's three days away and as you know the weather in the Midwest can change rather quickly so I don't put much stock in forecast until the day before.

It's all downhill from here

We had a short but nice stay in Leland including a great meal at The Cove retaurant. The last time I was in Leland was 2002 and it was a marginal marina at best. They have just completed a total replacement of their docks and are nearing completion of new marina office and boater's facility. Unfortnately they have no bathroom or shower facilities but only charge $23 for the night because of that situation. We departed at 9:30 this morning expecting another bumpy day based on the forecast but were instead treated to a nice, easy ride down to Frankfort. It rained a bit but was at least fairly calm. We will head out tomorrow for Ludington where we will stay three nights and take care of some admin on the boat and a welcomed rest before the final push to Holland for a night and then end our journey back in Saugatuck on Tuesday. Attached are some shots and video I took in Leland.

Back in Lake Michigan

We left St. Ignace at 8AM this morning because we had a long leg ahead of us for our next stop in Leland, MI. It was a rough and uncomfortable day with non-stop waves and wind. Along the way we discovered many new leaks caused by waves breaking over the bow and soaking the fore deck. After 77 rocky miles we pulled into the newly remodeled harbor at Leland about 4:30 and had a drink with a couple on a Grand Banks who we had met before and who had taken the picture of our boat that is featured at the top of this blog. There's not much new to report but I will add some shots I took in Leland tomorrow.

Our next stop will either be Frankfort or a long weekend in Ludington. The unfavorable weather is not supposed to abate for several days.

Return to the Mac!!

We decided to head out of Drummond Island and head to St. Ignace and the Mackinaw area before returning to Lake Michigan. The weather also looks favorable on Lake Michigan for the next few days so we should be able to make it to a port mid way down the coast by the weekend.

Back in the USA (Drummond Island)

Due to challenging weather we elected to bypass scenic Bruce Mines and make our way directly to Drummond Island which is our rentry point to the US. They have real live CBP agents (versus a phone) so clearing customs is a snap provided your papers are in order. On our way here from Gore Bay we stopped for one last North Channel anchorage at Longpoint Cove. This was a new spot for us and it was really beautiful albeit a bit windy with a slight westerly exposure. After two sleepness nights due to the "band" at Gore Bay we spent another restless night on the hook with a light chop slapping the hull all night. We are shielded from the wind and safely tied to a dock tonight so we should be able to get a good night's sleep.

The anchorage at Longpoint Cove provided a great place to dingy and explore so I have attached a few pictures of the area. Our 54 mile trip back to Drummond started out pretty rough but settled down about half way and turned out to be quite pleasant the last few hours. We will probably move on out in the morning for St. Ignace and get ready for the run back down Lake Michigan starting this weekend.

Gore Bay to Bruce Mines (maybe) to Drummond

We will depart Gore Bay a day later due to crummy weather once again. We had a windy and rainy night and only after a rock band on shore at a festival quit playing at 1AM. Our itinerary might change on this leg based on time and weather.

During our second day in Gore Bay we relaxed and watched the wind blow. It's calm now but the band is still playing and will do so until 1AM again. For dinner we dined at the annual Rotary Club fish fry held at the local hockey rink. The food was great and the company at our table was enjoyable. For desert they had ice cream served just in front of the parked Zamboni. Attached are some pictures of the event as well as a panorama of Gore Bay. At the end is a short video showing the captain driving his other boat and the sounds of CCR at the Gore Bay Summer Fest.

Little Current to Gore Bay

We left Little Current on Tuesday for the last time on a beautiful, sunny morning with light winds and headed a short distance to the Benjamin Island group for some more time on the hook. We stern tied at Croker Island and settled back for some relaxing days in this beautiful anchorage. We took the time to go ashore and explore the rocky hills that surround the bay and to take a dip in the crystal clear water. It was nice until day three when it started raining. We entertained ourselves watching some movies we had onboard. Below you will find some shots we took on our dingy excursions. Note the unique rock formation we call "the finger". You will also see a picture of a snake that was just about to go for a swim. It was about 3.5 feet long and is a common sight in these parts. There is also a short video showing a potential anchorage in the future.

We are now in Gore Bay at the town marina for a night and will head out tomorrow for another night at anchor before making a long passage west to the last stop in Canada at the town of Bruce Mines. We’ve never been there before but were told it has some nice places to eat. After that we will head back into US waters with a stop at Drummond Island, Michigan.