On to Mackinac with a side of home.

8/10/11 Wednesday     When I checked NOAA a couple of days ago the forecast called for winds of 10 knots out of the NW and 1' to 2' seas for our travels to Mackinac Island today. It may come as a surprise to you that they were wrong! Rain with 20 knot winds with gusts to 30 knots and predicted seas of 3' to 5' greeted us as we woke up this morning. It didn't take long to make the decision to stay put in our slip. Even there we were rockin' as the waves came around the breakwater. The wind continued all day long making it a very bad hair day for one of the crew!

Whitecaps outside of Drummond Island Yacht Haven.

Marina office with Customs located just left of the maroon SUV.

It was a lazy kind of day with a few boat chores getting done and of course the mandatory afternoon nap.

8/11/11 Thursday     A new day with light winds and sunshine greeted us this morning and so we prepared to get underway. Unfortunately Coconuts prop wasn't back yet and so we would be reluctantly moving on without them. Sniff, sniff. We have enjoyed travelling with Bru & Sandy these past few weeks and hope that we can get back together down the road.

The Brubakers

After saying our goodbye's we pulled out of Drummond Island shortly after 9am. Conditions were great with a light chop on the water as we headed for the open water of Lake Huron. It wasn't long and we were overtaking Lollygag, an unmistakable homemade sailboat who we had first met back in Waterford, NY. at the start of the Erie Canal.

Lollygag. (http://www.lollygagaroundtheloop.blogspot.com/)

We slipped past DeTour Village listening to a report of an dinghy floating unmanned in the area. We didn't see it but later heard a transmission from a boat who apparently lost it and didn't realize it was gone. Huh?

We had a pleasant ride across the top of the lake and arrived off Mackinac Island around 1:30pm.

Grand Hotel.

Mackinac with the fort in the background.

We met this guy on our way to Mackinac.

One of the Star Line ferries.

We cruised past the island and dodged the ferries as we made our way to Straits State Marina. Only 3 years old this is a marina that is hard to find. Not one cruising guide has it listed and it doesn't show up on my plotter. Thanks to Active Captain we were able to get a number and make a reservation.
Once we got close a call on the VHF got us directions into the marina and to the fuel dock before heading to our slip. Lack of publicity was evident as there were only 10 boats occupying the 120 slips. We found the place to be clean and close to the services of Mackinaw City. The only thing that may be a stretch is the IGA food store but we were told that they would give us a ride back to the boat.

Empty slips at Straits State Marina.

What's not to like about a marina within walking distance of a fish market?

Our reason for coming to Mackinaw City was because of our need to go home for a few days. Research showed that this was the closest spot to a rental car agency and that there is a shuttle service that will take you the 20 miles to get it.

As it turned out we didn't need it. In a conversation with my parents they said they had nothing to do this weekend and would be happy to drive up and get us.

8/12/11 Friday     5am Central Time my parents left their home in NW Illinois. 4pm Eastern time they pulled into Mackinaw City. 535 miles. Not bad for a couple in their 80's. In fact they were visiting with the Harbormaster when Pam & I returned from the laundry. We visited for awhile then had dinner and a movie before retiring for the night.

8/13/11 Saturday     Not to be outdone by my parents I took the wheel as we left MC at 6:20am Eastern and pulled into our driveway at 2:30pm Central. We will be home for a week then back to the Loop.

Received some pictures from Greg & Kate of M/V Grianan of Tourist at the Big Chute Railway. Thanks for the photos.

Tourist entering the rail car with Pam keeping an eye on the boats in front of us.

Up and out.

Over the hill we go!