September 2022

 September 2022

9/1/22 Little Current, Ontario (North Channel) Nice town where we picked up some whole bean coffee, good brewery with adorable outdoor bar (Split Rail), lovely interesting pink sunset and large cruise ship!

9/2/22 The Benjamins anchorage (Gore Bay) – Can’t get enough of these gorgeous rock islands, clear water, and yes even a water snake!

9/4/22 Meldrum Bay – Quick stop before we head back into the USA!

 9/5/22 De Tour Village, Michigan USA – We contacted USA customs to let them know we crossed back in, which was simply filling out the on-line form. Back in the water of the Big freight ships and dolomite mining!

9/6/22 Cedarville MI – Found an adorable waterside café with delicious walleye and BBQ! Kent did some fishing while Bodie and I watched the sandhill cranes, swans, beavers and a lovely sunset through a light fog! Coffee and breakfast burritos in an adorable coffee house!

 

9/7/22 Hessel MI – Lovely homes (or cottages as they are called). We cruised by Money Island with an interesting home that remined me of A Series of Unfortunate Events!

 9/8-11/22 Mackinac Island MI – Unusual Island that does not allow any motorized vehicles, including electric bikes! My day started with a relaxing massage (thanks for this b-day gift Kent), an 8 mile bike ride around the island and then yummy rum runners! Exquisite, clear water with white rocks, interesting arch rock and a view of the Mackinac bridge! More grand homes and magnificent gardens! We found a charming “secret” garden for dinner and enjoyed drinks at the Pink Pony! Later we danced to live music and watched the large orange moon! We saw a beautiful trawler come into the harbor with beautifully finished wood, you can own a part of this beauty for a “small”sum!

       

       

9/11-14/22 Petoskey MI – Found a fun Backyard Bar to watch football, nice selection of beers, fried cheese curds and pizza. The next day we went to see some boating friends in Frankenmuth, which has a German flare! We had lunch, talked and Bodie got to “run very fast” in their backyard! Saw some of Michigan’s lovely countryside! Loved the bridges and stream running through Petoskey! We saw many people crowded around the bridge leading out to the bay, fishing. Apparently, the salmon were making the run to spawn and then eventually die in the stream. They were using a very specific fishing technique, almost like fly fishing! We only saw one man with a catch and it was at least 20 inches long! Fine feed for his family! We searched the shore for the Petoskey Stone! A gentleman I met gave me one of his small pieces and Kent found 2 larger ones. The stone is rock and fossil composed of fossilized rugose coral. They were formed as a result of glaciation and deposited in the NW Michigan lower peninsula! Very interesting pattern which is much easier to spot when wet!

 

9/15-18/22 Charlevoix MI 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! We went to an adorable restaurant; Terry’s!  Started with a martini, escargot, dinner was almondine walleye and Kent had Long-Island duck! Walking around town the next day we found some of the “Mushroom” roof homes with stone walls, that were built over 100 years ago. Artist and hobbit-home architect Earl Young was known for his iconic structures built in northern Michigan! They are recognized for their wavy cedar-shingled roof.

Saw the Great Lakes Brewing poster, unfortunately in up coming days we experienced some of the raff of Lake Michigan!

 

                       

9/19/22 Leland MI –Leland is a historic fishing village with a charming downtown filled with unique shops, art galleries, a distillery, and Fishtown shanties with a delightful crystal blue waterfall! Home of the Blue Stone in its beautiful shades of blue and green! Colorful sunset behind the breakwall!

Bodie says, "Could someone please come save me from this nonsense?"

9/20-22/22 Frankfort MI – Heading into Frankfort we experienced some of the roughest water we have been in! First 3 hours were ok, then rough seas, with last hour in a 4-5 foot washbasin! We watched it crashing over the breakwall wondering “How in the hell are we getting in there?” We drove past it about a mile then turned back and road the waves between the lighthouses! Eight trawlers came in after us with the same feeling of being beaten up as we had! Beautiful sunset and sandbeach. Unfortunately, the wind was stinging our legs with wiped up sand!

9/23-28/22 Manitowoc Wisconsin - Our 8 hour voyage across Lake Michigan started out ok, went to “what happened to calm seas” then our possessions being thrown around in the boat, drawers flying open and Bodie and I hanging on for dear life. Very Terrifying! After a somewhat restful night we walked into the farmers market to get some fresh veg. We discovered a fresh water submarine the USS Cobia, built in CT in 1944, located in the Manitowoc Maritime Museum. She did 6 war patrols in the Pacific and sank 13 Japanese vessels! The SS Badger built in 1952, is a coal-fired, authentic steam engine car/big truck ferry! It crosses over Lake Michigan to Ludington WI, about a 4 hour, 60 mile cruise! We had to wait 6 days for a weather window to continue our journey.

9/29/22 Port Washington Wi – Nice port with some interesting architecture.