Shelter

This entry is out of sync. It was written on 7/21/11 but I thought it captures the feel of anchoring in the North Channel. It is interesting to look back at this while secured to the east wall of Northport Harbor in Grand Traverse Bay surrounded by 50 and 60 foot powerboats with their AC running.

Shelter

Amendroz Island is straight west out of Little Current for 8 miles then a right-left-right. There is an entrance on the east side but the ultimate authority in these parts, The Great Lake Cruising Club’s Port Pilot and Log Book, says to go north around the Bourinot Reef and then come straight south into the anchorage. We did and are now anchored in 18 feet of water with 100 of chain off the bow. Our trusty Bruce anchor is well dug into the mud and rotted sawdust of years past when our ancestors were busy chopping the entire island’s trees down to build cities which eventually burned to the ground.

Now that latitude and longitude have come into vogue I will share my coordinates — N 46˚ 03.138, W082˚ 08.357 — in the hope the reader will locate this special place for yourselves and have a look. It is in the friendly confines of Canada: country full of down to earth, joyous people, most of whom are very glad not to be U.S. citizens. That said, Canada, if my unscientific survey is correct, is a country that moves to Florida for the winter. They live in fifth wheels, doublewides, your common condo and boats of every description.

A buffeted small green sailboat has just sailed in and placed itself about 100 yards port of Carrie Rose. With its anchor barely in the water the solo sailor jumps in the tepid bay for a swim. And the larger sailboat I drove behind (never drive in front of an anchored boat if possible) on my way to anchor, went out to test the Main Passage made turbulent by 30 knot winds and returned to anchor closer to shore. It is shallower there but also a bit more protected.

Carrie Rose is swinging to the gusts. She is having a tug of war with the wind and the 100 feet of chain off her bow. I have decided to monitor the one small deciduous tree amongst the conifers. Its gray trunk stands out from the multiple shades of green. So far it is a stalemate and will remain as such until the wind moderates this evening.

Every cruise brings on another set of stressors. This cruise is no exception but sheltered in this protected cove from a strong west wind most of our travails seem worth it. It is a hard thing to judge. Some distance is needed and distance we will have. As the crow flies we are 342 nm from our mooring in Montrose harbor. That is a lot of diesel!