Day 70 April 15th to Presque Isle

A day behind "schedule", we have a nice offshore breeze and mostly sunny skies, so we depart Rogers City for Presque Isle in anticipation of a lot of exercise riding our bikes to the two lighthouses, museums and maybe even to the inland lake. It's a 20 mile trip and no need to hurry except for the afternoon forecast is calling for showers and winds after 2:30pm. Steve, from Voyager and Ron talk about all sorts of trawler issues and share their experiences...teak work, engines, delamination, fuel tanks, leaky windows....boy stuff. I start to prepare for Presque Isle.

Pleasant ride over, passing both the old (1840) and the new (1870) lighthouses and keepers homes with nice views from the water.

Last year Ron climbed both to the top, and I was able to make the old one. Views were great from both.

A storm is forming after we are all tied up and anticipating the bike ride. The cloud formations are quite unique, although my shots did not quite pull off the full effect. A water spout tries to develop near shore, We get a quick afternoon storm and then the sun comes out. Wind shifts and we are in for cooler weather.

We change our minds about biking, so, in goes the dinghy. At first we head out towards the old lighthouse and museum, but the wind has kicked up some waves and we have the camera with us. Turning around, we go a bit faster with the bow up and head to the beach.

With the dinghy onshore, we wade around in the shallow sandy bottom and take photo's. Ron wins the "picture of the day". I have been watching these small moth-like yellow butterflies the past few days and cannot get a photo. I finally did get one in the weeds, however, later, Ron got some great shots of them in the sand. Way cool!

Presque Isle in french means...almost and island. That is likely the reason we have passed numerous areas on the waters named the same.
Nice day of play again with a great sunset and Captain Ron movie :)

Day 69 Saturday 14th of August Rogers City

Rain wakes us, and then while we sip on coffee, the fog fills in. The Farmers Market was out of site, but, I grabbed my basket and an umbrella and walked over to see if anyone was there. Hoping for sweet corn and tomatoes, I was happy to see so many vendors. I buy from each of them...so much good stuff.....carrots, beans, corn, tomatoes, bread, purple potatoes and cukes, yummy! See this old dive boat on the way back to the boat.

Our intentions today are to meet up with Shy Fox in Presque Isle, and visit with Jim, Carol and the kids (Ron's  family). Half an hour later  (around 11am), Ron spots 3 boats heading into the marina and it's Shy Fox, Zot Yacht, and family of Zot's (I think). Anyway , they fuel up and have decided to continue to home rather than stop. We're bummed, but what can you do.? We will try to hook up with them as we get closer to home at their Yacht Club, or North Channel YC. Hope it works out!

So, we decide to stay in Rogers City another day. It was a good decision. Soon after another trawler pulls in named Voyager. We soon meet Steve and Annie. They have with them two dogs. I beautiful black lab and an older small dog that needs special assistance. They turn out to be from Meinke's Marina in Curtice where we used to have a cottage in the neighborhood. Steve is really into trawlers and has practically re-built theirs on his own. He had seen ours at Anchor Point last year and remembered our boat.

Wild Goose II gets a bath inside and out today. After working so hard, we walk over to the fishing tournament area to buy some BBQ for dinner. We've been smelling it cook all day. The fisher persons are still out fishing, so we are the first of many customers this evening. Very yummy and "no dishes".

Tonight's movie stars Al Pacino and Robin Williams. Great movie.

Day 68 Friday the 13th Rogers City

Ron and I slept in and watch the end of a movie from the night before., Skype with Sis, late breakfast  before walking to town to load up on groceries for the next week. We seem to remember that groceries are limited at Presque Isle and Harrisville Grocery is not as convenient. FOOLED US! The grocery 3 blocks from the marina has closed and we have to walk another mile up hill to US 23 where there is a large grocery called Glen's. Very nice, fresh breads and produce is good as well with some local stuff, but the farmer's market is at the marina tomorrow morning, so, I hold back on veggies and stuff.

The marina car comes to pick us up and get our groceries back to the boat. When we know there is a car, we picked up the heavy stuff....water, beer, wine, juices. And bulky paper towels and toilet paper etc.

There's a free concert every Friday Night July and August and we plan to walk over and a fishing tournament Sat. and Sun. which brings in some vendors and lot's of activity.

We find ourselves ready for a bike ride.

Roger's City has a great 7 mile bike path with wild flowers, many brooks and streams, lot's of evergreen to remind you that you are up north. There is white birch about every 20-30 yards and tons of little yellow butterflies the size of moths chasing each other around. Really cool path.....and here comes the Friday 13th thing.....we brought the camera with us, and left the battery back on the boat charging! Oh well. Another time to say...."we'll just have to come back next year  to show you".

After dinner, the concert drew us into the crowd. The guys on stage did a fine mix of jazz, oldies, buffet like and reggae. Ron was dying to play his harmonica, but kept it close to his lips.

Walked for ice cream before finishing the night off with A Twilight Zone DVD we had picked up along the way.

Day 67 Thursday 12th of Aug. Departing Duncan Bay

Yet another foggy morning. I am now remembering past trips this time of year and I remember fog, however not so many days in a row. Fogs rather neat to watch if you have the time.

Duncan Bay should be on everyone's list of stops. Not only do they have very nice owners and staff, but the facilities are outstanding. I would rate them #1 of the trip. Best washrooms and showers, laundry room, and decks all around the building so that you can sit outside with a view while doing laundry, or just having a morning coffee. The nicest pool (and with a view) of the grounds and harbor. The grounds immaculate and the clubhouse spacious, inviting and comfortable. In fact, the shower rooms are like being at home (probably cleaner), which is a hard thing to come by at marina's where you are always afraid to touch the walls or shower curtains and never go without sandals while bathing.
 If you are a diver or you snorkel, a 2 minute dinghy ride will take you to a couple of old wrecks in the clear calm water and the beach is wide with beautiful sand bottom that extends out a few hundred yards to a swim platform. And "no", I did not get paid to say all of these nice things!

We leave our deep water dock and the seaweed reminds me of the big kelp forests  off the California Coast, in The Pacific that I've seen in dive magazines. Of course this is so much smaller, but it reminded me that I did not ever want to dive in it, nor did I want to swim in it   (big carp hiding at their bases here ). What an ugly fish!

As we exit the marina channel, we get a better look at a tug boat that sank here a couple weeks ago. I suspect it will be salvaged. What a cool snorkel that might have been.

Wild Goose is heading south on Lake Huron and I try to photograph the water color. Although I did get a couple fun shots, the slate grey-blue water of this deep lake does not show well.
Rogers City is our destination, and as we approach I make lunch. Yes, the same lunch we have had 60 of our 67 days. Turkey w/ LTM. It's great now that the tomatoes are local. Yummm.

Days 64-66 DeTour-Cheboygan Aug 9-11

Left Drummond behind this morning. I was able to exchange some of our Canadian money for some clothing in the Ships Store, and was very grateful as we had miscalculated our needs over the past couple days.

A pleasant light breeze and mostly sunny skies greeted us as we pulled out towards DeTour. We ran into quite a bit of freighter traffic heading to and from The St. Mary's River. The ships are overwhelmingly huge close up.
I remember back while we were still racing sailboats and would run through the freighter channels and am glad it wasn't in this busier area. Once, on our boat JUMP, we picked off other sailboats by heading towards and crossing in front of a very pissed off freighter captain. The other boats had to reach around behind and had lost time. What fun times to remember and laugh about.
Our short trip gets us at the dock early enough for me to head into town and use the computer at the Mainsail Restaurant and Ron used the afternoon to change the engine oils and other fluids on Goose.

Tuesday brought more fog and a different perspective on the freighters. By 10:15AM it was safe enough to travel and we quickly approached the DeTour Lighthouse. Ron's former boss, Judy,  is going to be staying there in a few days. Our plan was to go past as she is the "keeper", and wave, but our schedules are off by a couple days. What a cool thing Judy is doing. She stays there for a few days and takes care of visitors' tours and works as the assistant keeper of the lighthouse. Check it out online! You can do it too.

Arrival in Cheboygan was uneventful with the harbor master and another gentleman helping us in. We are staying at The Duncan Bay Boat Club on the advise of one of their resident dock holders we had met in Georgian Bay.
After walking some of the grounds, I was awfully glad we made this decision. The outdoor pool was very refreshing as we headed over there soon after our arrival.  The grounds are beautiful and Ron later grills dinner near the offices which look out onto the bay.
We stay another day and take bikes to town to look at the other  marina facilities and to stretch.
Due to the high humidity and threatening conditions for rain, I leave my camera behind for most of our stay here. Guess we'll have to go back next year!!

Day 63 Thessalon Fog

Cannot tell what time of day it is when I wake up. I almost wonder if I slept through the whole day or it's still the night before. There are raindrops hitting the fiberglass above my head and some roaring thunder quite a distance from our safe harbor.

At various times, we both venture off the boat in the rain to take showers. The clubhouse has an upper living room set up with a full kitchen and "real "sofa's and chair's and a huge vaulted ceiling..

I take the opportunity to lay on the sofa, watching the paddle fan go 'round and picturing myself at home in my own living room.. Not that I want to go home today, but I do miss our home and everything that comes with it....family, neighbors etc.

After awhile of stretching out, I look outside to see more fog. We cannot leave safely yet. And I guess we really don't have to leave today.

But we do. By 11:30 we depart,

On our way to Drummond Island, MI and The USA Customs. Drummond Yacht Haven has always been a nice stop with great fishing and lot's of nice people. 
Wi-Fi is not reaching the boat at Drummond (I guess they lost or broke their amplifier). The two of us take our laptops to the office and as soon as I plug  in I get a Skype call from my sister. They are having a birthday party at her home for my Mom. I get "passed around" and I get to say hi to everyone gathered. Timing is everything!

Days 61-62 Aug 6-7 To and from Blind River

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM XOXOOXOXO

Leaving the dock and moving out in to the channel was nice and peaceful.

It's rather early and we are enjoying a nice North Wind @7 knots, .3 meters waves and it's a cool 66 degrees.

Hearing from our friend Anita really made our morning. By 11:30AM it's 73 and sunny and I read in the sun from the top deck while Ron enjoys the journey at the helm.

The timing for our arrival could not have been better, as we just missed the waves kicking up outside the entrance to Blind River.

Lunch is an easy pick here. The marina has a great cafe and it's next to the laundry room. So, I can relax with Ron  while  washing towels, and rugs.

We get our bikes ready for the trip to town, not so easy at this marina due to all of the hills. Trust me, stretching our legs out was needed in more ways than one. Maybe we'll try weight watchers when we get home

Nothing like a Blind River Sunset and a John Wayne movie. Although it sure would be nice if Ron's feet wasn't the only thing watching next to me because that means I get to watch it tomorrow and the next day, and the next until he makes it through it :) OH well.....tough life 'ey.

Sleeping in this morning, it is Saturday, isn't it?

We'll hit 1000 NM today and as we get to 999 it's like watching paint dry.

Arrival in Thessalon brings smiles top our faces as we see two other boats we've met before and the marina is like brand new.

We grilled chicken after walking to town for fresh meat and fruit. Tomatoes taste like home now and the peaches are almost as good as the ones in NE Ohio.