Back in the good ole US of A

Greetings from Lime Island, Michigan on the St. Mary's River -- on the approach to the Sault Ste Marie Locks. We cleared customs at Drummond Island yesterday mid-day and then motored up here for a couple of nights stay before we start back to Cheboygan tomorrow.

Weather kicked up while we were in Little Current, so I stayed an extra day and even with the added day we ran into some small waves -- less than 3 feet -- and sadly for ms Sophie a lot of rolling as we motored to Gore Bay. We by-passed the Benjamins 'cause the winds were out of the wrong direction for a comfortable anchorage. Shoot, that means I'll just have to go back again!!

From Gore it was a short run to Meldrum Bay -- the last stopping place on Manitoulin Island. Then out into a grey and dreary North Channel for the run to Drummond Island to clear customs.

Pictures are slow to come -- sorry about that, but I'll have time and plenty of air access once I get back to Cheboygan (and I'll have Charlee's pictures to add to the collection)

Sophie thinks this is the BEST place yet, 'cause I am able to let her run free on the hillside below the park cabins. Joy!

Little Current and Heading West

We will leave Little Current later this morning, go to the Benjamins, then plow west to Gore Bay, Meldrum, and finally check into Drummond Island MI on Friday (with weather cooperation).

Just to keep everyone informed. The days have been blustery, but clear -- so far.

Back in Canada -- and swimming!

Well it has stayed unusually warm -- hot is the correct term! Charlee arrived on time, we went to the Cheboygan Yacht Club meeting on Tuesday evening (I just joined this year) and then took off on Wednesday morning to a benign forcaste. Almost changed my mind as thunder and lightning came thru as we motored out of Choboygan, but kept persisting 'cause the radar showed that the storms were really passing behind us. Finally, into bright sunshine and we motored into Thessalon Ontario before 6 p.m., checked into Customs and made ourselves comfortable for two days. Winds from the West were forcast for Thursday and our first destination is not conducive to westerly blows. It really turned out to be not so bad, but a day of rest after nine hours at the helm isn't a bad idea.

Today, we came to Turnbull Island -- set anchor, and after a short walk actually went in swimming off the boat. The water is wonderful and a cool change from the blazing sun. Tomorrow we're off for Oak Bay, and then onto Little Current for a Cruisers' Net party on Sunday afternoon. If the course sounds familiar, it is -- I wanted Charlee to see this part of the North Channel, and we will probably have to begin working our way back west no later than Tuesday morning.

Oh, Sophie got to go swimming -- much to her dismay -- off the beach. She likes the water, just wants to be able to touch ground.

That's all for now. Pictures after we get to Little Current where signals are stronger!

Hot, muggy and downright miserable

As many boating fans will have heard, there were two deaths last night associated with the sinking of a boat in the Chicago to Mackinac Race where winds were clocked above 50 knots and the thunder and lightning were horrific -- six crew members were saved, thankfully.

Well, that same storm roared -- and I mean roared thru the marina at Duncan Bay in Cheboygan last night beginning a little after midnight and not stopping until almost 2:30 a.m. I have never been so tossed about in a boat at a dock in my life -- thankfully, there was little significant damage to the marina, but I did learn of a few leaks that had never shown up before. I also learned that ms Sophie is one smart dog, she just hunkered down in her bed and got sympathetic head scratches from mom. (Truth be told, the head scratches were for my calming as much as hers)

And, today it is even hotter and muggier. BD and I drove to Petoskey to putz around, and when I finished provisioning this evening around 6:60 p.m. it was still 92 degrees. Tomorrow promises to be warmer and the next day equal. Poor Charlee is arriving tomorrow expecting to be where it is cool and it feels like the Chesapeake Bay.

IFF (that is if and only if) the weather doesn't hold more horrific storms, Charlee and I will leave on Wednesday for the North Channel -- however, if this heat wave continues, I may be a marina hopping boat for several days where we can at least plug in at night and get air conditioning (God would not have invented air conditioning on boats, if he didn't intend us to use it!!)

Pictures as we go, and as internet is available.

Finally, Little Detroit and Oak Harbor

The channel at Little Detroit has been enhanced by blasting, but it is still narrow and requires a call of securite before entering to notify boats going the opposite direction that you are approaching. Been through narrower on the Georgian Bay Small Craft Channel, but still makes you wish for more water below your keel

Meanwhile, Oak Bay and the lovely harbor there -- after another tricky entrance hugging within twenty feet of one of the entrance islets to make the turn into the larger Bay -- is less than ten miles away. The larger mountain in the distance is McBean, and leads to the LaCloche range of mountains down to Killarney. Once again, First Nation land. But the shore line is softer and there are several hidden bays to tuck into -- we chose the bay just above the word Hotham

And BD even went for a swim in the warmer waters

There are small islands where Sophie can be set free to explore and even run as long as she didn't get up too much head of steam and fall right off.

Pictures -- Beardrop

The very protected Beardrop Harbor -- just off the Whalesback. So named because ledgend has it that the local natives drove bears off the cliffs into that very narrow break between the western island and the eastern island. The whole of the land is First Nation.

Following Class Act into Beardrop, small rocks are marked by clorox bottles -- the larger rocks speak for themselves. The anchorage is really spectacular, sorry we didn't take our cameras while out in the dinghies -- but, Sophie had a hard time going ashore since there are very few landing spots and steep rocks to climb.

Pictures with Captions as Appropriate -- Turnbull

The chart shows both the tricky entrance to Turnbull, thru the narrow entrance on the northwest, and the protection offered from all but the strongest westerly winds -- which we didn't have at all.

Here we are on the eastern shore looking out toward the Whalesback Channel and our future adventures. That's me and Sophie, Ric, Mel and Susan (from Class Act) -- BD is taking the picture!

And then we were joined by Venetia and Valee from Fairy Tale

Ms Sophie is getting much too comfortable even on long dinghy rides -- exploring the islands that comprise the Turnbull group, with Rick at the helm