Into the final week!

If my social life would just lighten up, I'd be further along in the chores of cleaning and clearing the boat of clutter. But, after a night out in Boyne City on Thursday, we were Barnie's guests at the Walloon Lake Golf Club for dinner last night -- the guests were delightful, the food scrumptuous, and the drinks, oh well. Today I've managed to make a few more dents in the amount of clutter on Sonador -- and tomorrow I'm dedicated to the same. Then, beginning on Monday I'm meeting friends for lunch or dinner or both every day next week.

I plan to leave here on Friday, run over to Barnie's for dinner and overnight, then take off -- stopping in Cleveland with friends Mel and Sue from Class Act, then to Philly to see Jackie and Suki (excuse me, Susan) on Sunday, then into D.C. on Monday. Iwill plan to stay with Jack and Gail in Mt. Vernon for the week. In addition to a few Dr. appointments (just check ups) I plan to meet friends from Blue Horizon at the Annapolis Boat Show on Friday, hope to see Mike and Grier on Friday night, and then who knows.

Dry wall is up -- I even have pictures -- so the new house is beginning to take shape. I'll have to pick lighting fixtures/fans and kitchen granite when I get down to Sarasota. And, then I have to change all my life-long registrations -- residence, voting, car, maybe boat, dog license, and who knows what else. Gads this will seem strange at first, but all very exciting.

In the interim, it's cool up here -- the colors are coming on -- and it's time for moving on. UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

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.

When Boating Ends Boaters Gather to Eat and Dream

The "gang" of GLCC boaters that I frequently hang out with at Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island on the way to Sault Ste. Marie. We drove up from Cheboygan to meet Ann and Jarma for lunch and then to go to their "sugar" farm for the afternoon. Even had to smuggle some home made maple syrup back into the US on our return.

Jarma and I contemplate just how much we can eat and drink and still move around during the afternoon.

Later, we explore the possibilities of finding adventure in Ann and Jarma's woods and ms Sophie relaxes with the gang before we drive back to the USofA.

Back in Cheboygan

Arrived back in Cheboygan on Tuesday mid-day after a fun three days in northern Lake Huron. We anchored with friends in the False Harbor at Harbor Island (what that really means is that there is another inner harbor where most boats go) and visited with friends Jo and Ron on Annwfyn. Then, we headed over to Mackinac Island (neither James nor Ellen had ever been there) with a smooth and uneventful crossing of the lake. Two days of touring, buying fudge, and watching the horses pull everything from people to a very large refrigerator, and visiting with Bob and Marion on Jetstream at the Yacht Club. Then, a quick exit back to Duncan Bay.

I'm here at least until the 10th and will then look for a weather window during which Susan and I can make the run under the bridge to Charlevoix. You wouldn't think it was such a big deal, but winds building in Lake Michigan can create "excitement" for the passage from the bridge to Grey's Reef, and then down the coast to Charlevoix and there is no place to hide.

Thought I'd post a few last memories of the North Channel.

First, James and Sophie lead the way across Turnbull Island to look out on the Whalesback, next Sophie and I contemplate but never act on the thought of a deep wade, and finally. Sophie and her new buddy Cruiser the Dog at play on the deck -- Yes, that is play!

North Channel Highlights (2)

Coming west on the Whalesback Channel and sunrise and mist at Oak Bay. The countryside is BEAUTIFUL!

North Channel Highlights

Anchored at the Benjamin Islands -- rocky bottom and rocky shores, but just beautiful. With a visiting dog -- Cruiser the Dog -- adventures ashore were twice the fun. The dinghy picture is from Turnbull the first time thru

Oak Bay and Turnbull then Drummond Island

We stayed an extra day in Little Current -- winds and nasty forcastes kept us and almost everyone else at the dock. Yesterday an uneventful passage to Oak Bay where the loons and their haunting songs kept us all in reverent stillness. Today we came over to Turnbull Island for one last anchorage, and tomorrow we'll take a run to Drummond Island to clear customs and prepare for the run on Sunday to Mackinac Island.

While high wind warnings here are nothing like what our friends on the east coast are expecting, the forecast for Sunday and Monday is for strong winds out of the south. What better excuse than that for enjoying fudge on Mackinac.

Then back to Duncan Bay on Tuesday.