Chicago Tug: Cruising Log WEEK7

Leaving Little Current behind we traveled West rather than East due to some nagging concerns about the engine, concluding that if it malfunctioned again it would be better to be in the lower 48 rather than in the vast wilderness of Canada. Lucky for us our friends on Sir Tugly Blue were also heading west, so off we went.

The first night we anchored in a stiff NW wind in Amendroz Bay. It was quiet and well protected. Great to be swinging in the breeze again. The next day we transited the narrow McBean Channel above Fox Island, then squeezed through Little Detroit to the Whalesback Channel, skirted around Turtle Rock, turned north pass Godfrey, Prendergast and Drew Island, and snuck under Navy Island to anchor where our adventure started, Long Point Cove. Quite a day!

The next day we motored into a fog bank several miles south of the appropriately named town of Blind River and then made a mid-course correction, which took us to Drummond Island, MI instead of our original destination of Thessalon, Canada. So, Sunday found us painlessly checked back into the U.S. by a young Immigration officer and it only cost us $27.59 — credit cards only, please.

Moving on we left for St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac spending the entire day in 3 to 4 to 5, ye gads, 6 foot rollers and even managed to surf down one at greater than 12 knots; quite an accomplishment for our overloaded tug. I respectfully asked Charlotte to stop announcing the next big wave catching us up from behind. I spent the 6 hours it took watching the new autopilot (I spent fifty some hours installing it last summer) doing a stellar job keeping us on course.

Monday we actually vacationed and took our bikes on a ferry to Mackinaw Island. There is a 8 mile bike path around the island, which we surprised ourselves by completing without much difficulty, had a snack on the porch of The Grand Hotel (10 bucks for the privilege), checked out the stately “cottages”, walked the main drag (how much fudge can you sell!) and took the ferry back during a squall; all-in-all enjoyable day.

Now we sit in Petoskey, across from Harbor Springs, The Naples of the North. We had a calm day for our trip west down the Straits of Mackinac and south through Grays Reef Passage. This time we could see the Abandoned, White Shoal, Grays Reef and Ile aux Galets lighthouses. All missed the first time due to dense fog. The Pride of Baltimore tall ship accompanied us through the passage.

Sadly Sir Tugly Blue’s and our paths diverged once through the Passage. They have to get back to the real world and we still have some time in our fantasy one. Better companions we could have not wished for. Now we can wander, ride our bikes, try and find a Petoskey stone, and only travel in calm seas … ahhhhh!