Land Travels

Having made the trip around under the Mackinac Bridge -- and endured the waves of Lake Michigan -- we are securely tied to the dock at Irish Boat in Charlevoix. It's turned cool -- or cold depending on your reference point (below 40 at night) -- so nothing will do but Susan, Sophie and I are taking land tours.

Thursday and Friday we drove up to see the Sault Ste Marie Locks in action -- and actually saw an American flagged ship (Honorable Oberstar) pass thru the locks upbound (that means heading into Lake Superior). But, it was too cold with strong winds funnelling down thru the narrows to stay outside and watch for long. Later in the afternoon, we visited the Valley Camp (a retired ship that has been turned into a fascinating maritime museum) then had a fish dinner with Susan's sister and brother-in-law who have a cottage on one of the near by US islands. Next morning we drove to Whitefish Bay and the lighthouse at the Point -- the graveyard of so many vessels including at some distance the Edmund Fitzgerald. According to the museum at Whitefish Point, many of the tragedies occurred when ships upbound and downbound rammed one another. Less of that now of course, but it does make you wonder about travelling in the narrow waters leaving the Sault in rough waves and fog!

Yesterday, we went over to visit with Susan's childhood friend, Barney, who lives on Lake Walloon. Watched football and grilled out in the bright sunshine of a really delightful day.

Next few days will be spend visiting with my sailing friends who are in the area, then next week I will begin the fun chore of packing up for the winter. Sad to see the end of the summer, but looking forward to seeing friends in the DC area before I head on down to Sarasota and wait for the new home to be completed.