| CHAPTER 5 Mackinac to Chicago Page 1 |
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| Click on the pictures to enlarge. |
View from Yacht Haven Marina on
Drummond Island
Drummond Island
AUGUST 16 We got underway from Drummond Island around 0830. It was calm at the time, but the
west, there WAS a west wind and it continued 15-20 MPH, but the waves were 1-2 ft. However, as
we progressed slowly at about 7-8 knots following Southern Comfort, Sunshine, and Blue Max, the waves
increased and increased so they were rolling at 3+ feet, with added chop and swirls. One thing about
our Nordic: it held steady and firm in the water. We did take a few splashes of water over the bow
and into the windows. Lily settled in under Jim's feet in her little bed, occasionally getting up to
stretch. She handled the "hobby horse" ride very well. It calmed down somewhat when we neared
Mackinac Island, but it would not have been a day we would have gone out on LI Sound if we were home.
We arrived at St. Ignace around 1500. The marina is very quiet like our friends from CT told us when
they were here in July. The Coast Guard was on the docks checking boats, but skipped ours when we
told them we were a CG Facility. They did inspect the other 4 looper boats. We met for an hour on
Sunshine for snacks and drinks, fed and walked Lily, and had a late supper of left overs from last night
plus some really good corn on the cob we bought at a farm stand yesterday. Tomorrow we plan to walk
up the main street then take a ferry ride to Mackinac Island. We would like to stay there but heard
the ferry wakes can rock the boat, and after 7 days at Bay Mooring in the Georgian Bay rocking, it
would be too much to ask! Rolling when docked is not fun.
west, there WAS a west wind and it continued 15-20 MPH, but the waves were 1-2 ft. However, as
we progressed slowly at about 7-8 knots following Southern Comfort, Sunshine, and Blue Max, the waves
increased and increased so they were rolling at 3+ feet, with added chop and swirls. One thing about
our Nordic: it held steady and firm in the water. We did take a few splashes of water over the bow
and into the windows. Lily settled in under Jim's feet in her little bed, occasionally getting up to
stretch. She handled the "hobby horse" ride very well. It calmed down somewhat when we neared
Mackinac Island, but it would not have been a day we would have gone out on LI Sound if we were home.
We arrived at St. Ignace around 1500. The marina is very quiet like our friends from CT told us when
they were here in July. The Coast Guard was on the docks checking boats, but skipped ours when we
told them we were a CG Facility. They did inspect the other 4 looper boats. We met for an hour on
Sunshine for snacks and drinks, fed and walked Lily, and had a late supper of left overs from last night
plus some really good corn on the cob we bought at a farm stand yesterday. Tomorrow we plan to walk
up the main street then take a ferry ride to Mackinac Island. We would like to stay there but heard
the ferry wakes can rock the boat, and after 7 days at Bay Mooring in the Georgian Bay rocking, it
would be too much to ask! Rolling when docked is not fun.
< Martin Reef Lighthouse on
northern Lake Huron
The picture doesn't even
show the waves as they
really were, but it was a
bumpy ride! >
northern Lake Huron
The picture doesn't even
show the waves as they
really were, but it was a
bumpy ride! >
| Pictures of the Coast Guard boat from St. Ignace as it was leaving the dock. Notice the machine gun on the bow. This boat is a "roll over" boat. |
AUGUST 17 Day at St. Ignace Marina We had breakfast at a local cafe with our looper friends, then
took a ride on the ferry to Mackinac Island. First we took a carriage ride for 2 hours on a horse
pulled carriage. We couldn't believe the number of bicycles, people riding horses, and horse drawn
buggy rides. It's a very busy place! It really looked like an island in the Bahamas, and the water color
was an amazing light aqua. Scenes of Mackinac Island
took a ride on the ferry to Mackinac Island. First we took a carriage ride for 2 hours on a horse
pulled carriage. We couldn't believe the number of bicycles, people riding horses, and horse drawn
buggy rides. It's a very busy place! It really looked like an island in the Bahamas, and the water color
was an amazing light aqua. Scenes of Mackinac Island
< Grand Hotel from the
water
Grand Hotel >
water
Grand Hotel >
Houses along the shore of Mackinac Island |
< Harbor at Mackinac Island
Main stree at Mackinac -
horse buggy in distanc & bikes
galore! >
Main stree at Mackinac -
horse buggy in distanc & bikes
galore! >
< View looking east from the
top of the hill. The water is
beautiful!
Fort Mackinac >
top of the hill. The water is
beautiful!
Fort Mackinac >
AUGUST 18 - Day at St. Ignace We almost took the boat over to Mackinaw City late morning, but
the computer, vacuumed, and I managed to find a place to get my hair trimmed. There are 3 looper
boats left here and we are all heading for Charlevoix Tuesday. However, the winds seriously picked up
and the forecast tomorrow for the run on L. Michigan is 2-4 ft. waves with winds 10-15+.
Wednesday is less wind and waves 1 foot or less. We have 52 miles to cover. Between NOAA on line,
the forecast on the radio, and what the marina shows, we get 3 different reports. You wonder when
they say there's a small craft advisory with winds gusting to 25 MPH and say waves 1-2 ft! I always
double what they say anyway.
AUGUST 19 Mackinac to Charlevoix LAKE MICHIGAN...300 MILES TO CHICAGO
the computer, vacuumed, and I managed to find a place to get my hair trimmed. There are 3 looper
boats left here and we are all heading for Charlevoix Tuesday. However, the winds seriously picked up
and the forecast tomorrow for the run on L. Michigan is 2-4 ft. waves with winds 10-15+.
Wednesday is less wind and waves 1 foot or less. We have 52 miles to cover. Between NOAA on line,
the forecast on the radio, and what the marina shows, we get 3 different reports. You wonder when
they say there's a small craft advisory with winds gusting to 25 MPH and say waves 1-2 ft! I always
double what they say anyway.
AUGUST 19 Mackinac to Charlevoix LAKE MICHIGAN...300 MILES TO CHICAGO
| We're finally heading south!!! |
All night long the wind howled and whistled from the east 25-30+ knots. The water was swishing into
the marina from the channel. We wanted to leave by 0700, but didn't know how we would get the boat
unglued from the dock! We heard other loopers heading out into the Straits of Mackinac, so after 3
boats in our marina left, we got untied and left. Before the Mackinac Bridge, it was like The Race and
The Gut on LIS put together, then it smoothed out with a following sea of about 2 feet. After 20 miles
of the Straits, we headed around The Abandonded Lighthouse, and IT HIT. Our boat dipped and rolled
into the rollers and chop at the mouth of Little Traverse Bay. It was quite a ride! But soon enough, we
entered the beautiful blue channel into the little pond where Charlevoix Marina is. It's a beautiful little
town with small condos right on the little pond where we docked. It's a beautiful little town with small
condos right on the water, bandstand (they had an orchestra concert which we could hear and see from
our boat). We one of the best marinas and town we have ever been in so far. ( click on the small
thumbnail picture to enlarge)
the marina from the channel. We wanted to leave by 0700, but didn't know how we would get the boat
unglued from the dock! We heard other loopers heading out into the Straits of Mackinac, so after 3
boats in our marina left, we got untied and left. Before the Mackinac Bridge, it was like The Race and
The Gut on LIS put together, then it smoothed out with a following sea of about 2 feet. After 20 miles
of the Straits, we headed around The Abandonded Lighthouse, and IT HIT. Our boat dipped and rolled
into the rollers and chop at the mouth of Little Traverse Bay. It was quite a ride! But soon enough, we
entered the beautiful blue channel into the little pond where Charlevoix Marina is. It's a beautiful little
town with small condos right on the little pond where we docked. It's a beautiful little town with small
condos right on the water, bandstand (they had an orchestra concert which we could hear and see from
our boat). We one of the best marinas and town we have ever been in so far. ( click on the small
thumbnail picture to enlarge)
Mackinac
Bridge
Bridge
Abandoned
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lake
Michigan
waves
Michigan
waves
Entering
Charlevoix
inlet to
the harbor
Charlevoix
inlet to
the harbor
White
sand
cliffs
on L.
Michigan
sand
cliffs
on L.
Michigan