The END of the Summer

Sophie is ready to go home! 

In fact, as I type this, we are in Fenton, MI beginning a convoluted trip south -- via Philly, Annapolis, Alexandria, thru Savannah and then home.

We had a delightful last week in Charlevoix.  First the sun was shining, and that was just fine.  Then, Jay and Phillip came up several times -- and they have promised to come to Florida for my birthday!  Barney Bishop and I had lunch.  New friends, Jennifer and Ed -- who have a condo on Round Lake -- invited Sophie and me over for a delightful evening.  Caught up with Fish and Susan, Lynn and Judy.  Had a late lunch with Ron and JoEllen and her parents.  Rick and BD came over from Cheboygan.  Had several mornings at coffee with Lou Hollow.  And, in addition to three fun days staying with Lou and Donna Diaz in Boyne City -- I got to go out and helm (on a tiller no less) their 41 foot sail boat.  What a thrill.

But, as ms Sophie's end will hint, it's all over even if the fat lady hasn't sung yet. 

Another great summer of good friends, good boating, too much food and drink -- and dreams of coming back next year.

Pictures Around Charlevoix

Sophie's Relief to be at a dock is Palpable!

Looking East -- believe it or not -- at the reflected Sunset across Round Lake to the entrance of Lake Charlevoix

The original Pine River connecting Round Lake with Lake Charlevoix, now just a nice dinghy ride in high water

Further down the Pine River -- hard to believe that larger boats once traversed this small body of water

A "mushroom" house on Round Lake in all its fall splendor

Brrr...it is getting colder!

Have enjoyed rambling around Charlevoix -- Sophie has settled in, re-acquainted herself with favorite walks and some of her dog buddies from the spring -- and I have done the same (substitute dog owners and you get the idea.)  We've had warm sunny days, but we are in a stretch of cooler weather -- waking up to the mid-40's and overcast/rainy days.  That's surely a sign that the boating season is drawing to a close.

Not to be deterred, however, I've taken advantage of the sunny days -- Jay and Phillip gave Sophie and me a ride around Round Lake in their little whaler, we picnicked on the lawn at the marina, Sophie and I took my dinghy a couple of days later for another look at the homes and boat docks, and in between I was asked to go sailing with friends Donna and Lou on their Farr 41 (even given a turn at the tiller and didn't embarrass myself too much)

Have been to dinner with good friends from the boating world and had coffee several mornings with Lou Hollow (a delightful man who has made Charlevoix his home for forty years) -- learning all the local intrigue and history while looking out on the harbor.  Now, what could be better than all of that?

Oh, and I've been reading -- great books (The Goldfinch), good books (A Respectable Trade), and books by local writers (Steve Hamilton's Let it Burn).  Still have a library of close to fifteen books to get through, and haven't visited my favorite local bookstore in Petoskey yet.

Pictures just won't post -- I'll keep trying, but can't promise results.  Am here until the 26th of September, then haul out, and hit the road heading south and east.

Back to Charlevoix

Don't care how many times I round the tip of Michigan -- going east in the spring and west in the fall, it's a long trip.  And, yesterday was no different -- except, I did the seven plus hours solo and the waves about two hours out of Charlevoix decided to become "challenging."  Sophie left the safety of the bed, came up to the helm, things went crashing down below, she crept back to bed -- repeat several times until we were in the channel to the bridge and there was peace.

Had a great time in Cheboygan at Duncan Bay.  Happy hours on shore, followed by cook outs -- sampling the eateries around the area -- and playing Yahtzee with my friend Susan who came over for a couple of days (no sailing with me this year as she has to get back by mid-September.)  But, most of my buddies are "coming out" -- that's not prom night for you land lubbers -- early next week, so I found what I thought was a weather window and took it.

Right now, today looks like the better day.  But it is hard to tell in the well protected harbor of Charlevoix.  Will be here for at least two, and perhaps three weeks before heading toward home.

Sophie is HAPPY to be tied to a dock, in a town where she knows the walks, and where there are lots of her admirers to fuss over her.  Me, I'm just happy to be here after the long day yesterday.

Boat houses on Round Lake, Charlevoix

Some Final Visual Memories

There may be no boats at Gore Bay, but the Gulls are making full use of the docks

The booming village of Meldrum Bay -- population 50 -- I kid you not

Last morning's sunrise in Meldrum Bay

Back in the good Ole US of A

Left Gore Bay as planned on Sunday morning -- and motored some 35 plus miles to Meldrum Bay.  The last harbor and marina on Manitoulin Island, and a delightful stop over if you understand that the town has a population of 50, and the biggest thing in town is either the marina or the Meldrum Inn.  Two years ago they put in new docks -- and the harbor master was most attentive, so I tied up with no problems.  MOKU HALE followed within two hours.

We had a delightful dinner at the Inn -- well known for it's great cuisine -- and casual atmosphere.  And a walk with Sophie along the one road in town (actually there are two, since one road seems to climb up the hill to some houses.)

Next morning, given flat seas and no winds to speak of, we backed out of our slip and headed to Detour Village.  With a stop for Customs clearance at Drummond Island.  An uneventful passage of less than 40 nautical miles including the detour into Drummond.  You can tell it is late in the season -- instead of waiting for clearance, the Customs Officer even helped me tie up. Within twenty minutes, I was motoring to Detour -- where there were three transient boats tied to the docks, and less than five others who obviously base their boating out of DeTour. 

And, then with little or no wind the next day, I set off to cross Lake Huron.  The wind gods were kind -- just kindly rollers of less than one feet, until I turned north into the channel between Bob Lo Island (actually Bois Blanc but the locals don't accept that) where the waves built to almost three feet and neither Sophie nor I were happy. 

Into Duncan Bay, and a slip aside CLASS ACT.  We are in the US, and back with friends who shared the summer in the North Channel.

Gore Bay Again, and the times inbetween

After leaving Killarney -- and thankful to be away from a dock again -- motored into light westerly winds to Haywood Island.  This time anchoring in the west anchorage, along with a slew (that's a technical sailing term meaning that I didn't count the number but it was more than a handful) of other boats.  Among them, my friends from Charlevoix on WINGS and the sailboat SWALLOW.

Donna on SWALLOW issued in invite to freshly baked cookies at 1500 hours -- and who could resist.  So, after taking Sophie ashore I went over with MOKU HALE to enjoy peanut butter cookies, and chocolate-mint chip cookies.  Seventh heaven!

Kept an eagle eye out for the mother bear and her cubs, but no such luck.  WINGS, on the other hand, spotted them on the beach, again playing and ignoring the human activity all around.

Next morning we left in a heavy fog -- the winds were supposed to build and we would be exposed to large, choppy water where we were anchored.  It is amazing to me, that I'm now relatively comfortable with the idea of motoring in dense fog using the radar and all my senses (and electronic chart plotters) to find my way around.  Not over confident, never that, but at least pretty comfortable.  Headed thru Little Current and back to the north shore and Sturgeon Cove. 

Renewed acquaintance with Paul and Deb on NADURRA (met them back in 2009), and after MOKU HALE came in I hosted happy hour on SONADOR.  Next day, bright sunshine called for a dinghy ride into and around Bell Cove with Chuck and Joann.  Returning, we were alerted to an alarm going off on SONADOR -- first, panic -- then, shame face at myself since I had turned on the chart plotter, then off before we left, and I had left the VHF on -- it's one of these new fangled units that will broadcast your position in case of an emergency, but doesn't have the foggiest where you are if the chart plotter is turned off -- thus the alarm.  Later, as we were planning an expanded happy hour on MOKU HALE, more friends came into the harbor -- and the happy hour moved to the beach.

Next day was also sunny, so nothing would do but another dinghy exploration -- this time to the east toward the Bay of Islands.  We poked into one of the anchorages, which I would enter if and only if there was a deeper draft boat leading the way.  But very protected.  Returning, another new boat in Sturgeon, this time SALTY DAWG from across the dock in Gore Bay, so another happy hour on MOKU HALE.

Next day, cold and rain, accompanied by dense fog -- and the decision was unanimous, stay where you are and read.  Finally, the next morning in fog, but no rain we motored over to Eagle Island where MOKU HALE and SONADOR were the only two boats for a couple of hours until one other sailboat came in.  Sophie has an island here, so she's a much happier dog when we can scramble ashore and she can get off the leash if only for half an hour.

Thursday, mid-morning we left Eagle for Gore Bay.  And, this morning I'm sitting in the cockpit having shopped at the farmers' market for home baked bread, fresh veggies -- and an interesting acrylic painting by a local First Nation artist.  It's high overcast, and a little cool, but life is good with hot showers, an LCBO (those happy hours put a dent in the wine supply), and long walks for Sophie. 

Here 'til Sunday, when we'll start seriously heading west.  Right now planning on the south shore of the North Channel skimming the islands that form the Channel and eventually clearing customs at Drummond Island, Michigan.  Then across the lake to Cheboygan.

No pictures -- you've seen all of these places before.