tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53598916215386144242024-03-12T21:43:26.426-07:00Great Lakes CruisingAdventures around the Great Lakes aboard our 25 year old Chris Craft.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-2620695773988849152008-12-06T13:10:00.000-08:002008-12-06T13:27:57.061-08:00A Winter PastimeWell, winter has a firm grasp on Chicago. There's snow on the ground, it's blustery cold out there and the marine forecasts typically require two digits to describe wave heights out on the lake. We've finally become used to our boating experiences consisting mostly of good memories and waiting for the boat shows to arrive.<br /><br />So to fill time, Bernie has a new hobby that she's really excited about - a daily photo blog. She's roaming about Chicago, mostly during the not-quite-so-horrible weather days, taking interesting photos and posting them for others to enjoy.<br /><br />Did you know there's a whole internet community out there that posts daily photos from various cities around the world? It's at <a href="http://citydailyphoto.com/portal/">City Daily Photo</a>. Bernie first discovered it when she stumbled across <a href="http://petoskeydailyphoto.blogspot.com/">Petoskey Daily Photo Blog</a> and she's now a proud member.<br /><br />Anyway, her new website is the <a href="http://www.dailychicagophoto.blogspot.com/">Daily Chicago Photo</a>. Check it out, it's really good!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-85586846006231569732008-09-23T21:36:00.000-07:002008-09-25T17:09:31.215-07:00'Twas The Night Before Autumn Equinox *<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">At Crosswinds Marina,<br />Autumn Equinox.<br />All boaters were stirring ...<br />A party at the docks!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">(OK, that's not what this poem is about. But it definitely describes "A" Dock.)</span></span><br /><br />The lines were all tied<br />To the cleats with care,<br />As summer cruise memories<br />Danced in the air.<br /><br />Meridian was nestled<br />All snug at her slip.<br />She was dreaming of summer<br />Gone by in a blip.<br /><br />She thought of Chicago,<br />The cruise soon to wrap.<br />But what she really wanted<br />Was a long winter's nap.<br /><br />When all of a sudden<br />There arose such a clatter!<br />It was Dockmaster Eric ...<br />What <span style="font-style: italic;">could</span> be the matter?<br /><br />"Meridian's sleepy",<br />He said with a wink.<br />"I've cheap indoor storage.<br />Now what do you think?"<br /><br />Phil's eyes how they twinkled,<br />His dimples how merry.<br />"Sounds quite good to us,<br />September wind's scary!"<br /><br />"Cheap indoor storage?<br />This is great, don't you know?"<br />Meridian cheered,<br />"No more sleeping in snow!"<br /><br />A fam'ly owned bus'ness<br />For twenty odd years<br />Soon gave us to know<br />We would have no fears.<br /><br />A blank storage contract<br />Appeared in his hand,<br />So we filled in the blanks<br />While standing on land<br /><br />The storage is heated<br />Year 'round, fifty-five<br />They'll charge up our batt'ries<br />To keep them alive<br /><br />Meridian's happy<br />She'll be cozy through Spring<br />Phil and Bernie now have to<br />Unload everything<br /><br />Meridian exclaimed<br />As they drove off with some gear<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"Happy Cruising to All</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />We'll see you next year!"<br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfvtuRUF1ovS0e-LsSu04-nYWojwFNNutag97dxvD78rZBGbDW-OumbsEqmEKrdR_fxgq6_ac2k6ZWgzyep8-598cbsG0Z06w1oltYCNG4pupNcQA66j4XIvf0_QhzyYpbzLopLWniHo/s1600-h/Meridian+at+CP+Cove+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfvtuRUF1ovS0e-LsSu04-nYWojwFNNutag97dxvD78rZBGbDW-OumbsEqmEKrdR_fxgq6_ac2k6ZWgzyep8-598cbsG0Z06w1oltYCNG4pupNcQA66j4XIvf0_QhzyYpbzLopLWniHo/s400/Meridian+at+CP+Cove+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249446893906842066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" >* With apologies to Clement Moore</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-63777491749467995362008-09-23T20:44:00.000-07:002008-09-23T21:41:00.471-07:00White Lake, MichiganSeptember 18 - 20, 2007<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AJbw6zEIg7t_occDibz23KjnM58ZreMC2wfbYZaIlCQJKxFrWfIFYuwzJ5_vAz24sH2NiL3SxFBnYOt2NarOz1T9r0DszhbbCfRnBKi9yGjXXWIM1DnGIcfUqfrw_KnATCpKmVE931Q/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AJbw6zEIg7t_occDibz23KjnM58ZreMC2wfbYZaIlCQJKxFrWfIFYuwzJ5_vAz24sH2NiL3SxFBnYOt2NarOz1T9r0DszhbbCfRnBKi9yGjXXWIM1DnGIcfUqfrw_KnATCpKmVE931Q/s320/Slide1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249430127048454866" border="0" /></a>We left Ludington early (for us that means around 10:30am) because we knew it would be a long trip to White Lake, Michigan. Earlier in the trip, in Leland and in Canada, we had met Bill and Evelyn on their sailboat Inua. They were at White Lake waiting to get hauled. We got a slip at <a href="http://www.crosswindsmarineservice.com/">Crosswinds Marine</a> at White Lake.<br /><br />We had a very nice visit with them (and the rest of the people on our dock at Crosswinds) on Saturday night. We provided cookies for the Saturday dockside gathering. Thus making up for tormenting the whole dock on Friday night when Bernie baked chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies. She didn't realize that all the people from the neighboring boats were relaxing on the dock and could smell the cookies baking. She didn't hear them begging for cookies because she had the stereo cranked pretty loud. We also rode in a car to go to dinner at <a href="http://www.hobostavern.com/">Hobo's Tavern</a> in Muskegon. This was the first car trip for us since Drummond Island (before that, our last car trip was June 11.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjed-I1zsDempAto_F98JKYC0aUeWZQqBFJYmY9DbpHaY8Y4yHPfSpBnnT6OVGxSi91iKSAW9526nFZCyL4tqXr-HVUJjnuK7vGmOSbTckBU3bHGlFjhdEZZsmfi6-uzjSYXV9ZK4yby5I/s1600-h/Slide2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjed-I1zsDempAto_F98JKYC0aUeWZQqBFJYmY9DbpHaY8Y4yHPfSpBnnT6OVGxSi91iKSAW9526nFZCyL4tqXr-HVUJjnuK7vGmOSbTckBU3bHGlFjhdEZZsmfi6-uzjSYXV9ZK4yby5I/s320/Slide2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249432953764477442" border="0" /></a>White Lake is right by the <a href="http://www.trailresources.com/trail-michigan-hart-montague-bike-trail.html">Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail.</a> Hart-Montague is a 22 mile (44, round trip) bike trail and is notable as the first Michigan rail trail. It's a great trail - paved all the way with grades instead of steep hills. It runs through several towns including New Era, Rothbury, Shelby, and Mears. Each town has a small rest area for bikers (and there are many benches and picnic tables along the way).<br /><br />New Era's stop is by their Elm Tree Project. One of their schools is maintaining young elm trees that are resistant to dutch elm disease in an attempt to reintroduce the trees to the area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDZc5C_HMLBgha7chfk2IBcwUPgDVTGUQY4l3xENBvDnkJeghvY_aFEtCrZaD_LSnAktz6otd252vmiU8cdGGGkwFl_5nKvCJg3MPlqB9B9ZLEgfY8y-orR75VYgqmCGpBvUUXA1Xs2o/s1600-h/Slide4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDZc5C_HMLBgha7chfk2IBcwUPgDVTGUQY4l3xENBvDnkJeghvY_aFEtCrZaD_LSnAktz6otd252vmiU8cdGGGkwFl_5nKvCJg3MPlqB9B9ZLEgfY8y-orR75VYgqmCGpBvUUXA1Xs2o/s320/Slide4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249435276317701474" border="0" /></a>Shelby has an exercise station route off the bicycle path. We learned from this section that Bernie can't do chin-ups, cheats at push-ups and the horizontal ladder, and is a humorous sight to see doing the parallel bars. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr7INb42EvIfyyOs2Ujl698kLIIrCh_aM7VFl4t_jEoDKwNH50JhOamoMqeVkD8oOIbD8g6HKdBcjKZoMPvq7XtsWvTQnpxCKZpEGUR1JjQlvO0je3jruPzhStgG1GdZvkvNv7VwlFx4/s1600-h/P9190010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr7INb42EvIfyyOs2Ujl698kLIIrCh_aM7VFl4t_jEoDKwNH50JhOamoMqeVkD8oOIbD8g6HKdBcjKZoMPvq7XtsWvTQnpxCKZpEGUR1JjQlvO0je3jruPzhStgG1GdZvkvNv7VwlFx4/s400/P9190010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249442299770148242" border="0" /></a>While Phil has her beat, hands up, at the horizontal ladder, she wins at all the flexibility and stretching stations. (No Phil, it doesn't count if you bend your knees while doing the toe touches.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxOrmF1FxGP5TOrX93_HFFxQB6BmOZcL4UpkR2jHje72RT5i6OiXM30EnErOXHHQ59Bji4JgRm8rcWb96gg4PrkwJifYmbjnNBGlcpe1BaKDIPBvEeE9k2sVrwwLjoO_YGIZJRSihbCk/s1600-h/Slide3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxOrmF1FxGP5TOrX93_HFFxQB6BmOZcL4UpkR2jHje72RT5i6OiXM30EnErOXHHQ59Bji4JgRm8rcWb96gg4PrkwJifYmbjnNBGlcpe1BaKDIPBvEeE9k2sVrwwLjoO_YGIZJRSihbCk/s320/Slide3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249438839973393522" border="0" /></a>And you need to do those exercise stations because Mears has a great little bakery called <a href="http://www.moratsmuffinbread.com/">Morat's Bakery</a>. While they are apparently known for the muffin bread, we found their Turtle Cinnamon Rolls (Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting topped with choc0late, caramel and pecans) well worth the 21 miles it took to bike there (and the 21 miles back).<br /><br />There's also a large dairy, with ice cream, just off the trail near New Era. So, when you need that last burst of energy to get back to White Lake, just pull in to <a href="http://www.countrydairy.com/default.aspx">Country Dairy</a> and get some ice cream. Surely after close to 44 miles, you've worked off more than enough calories to balance the ice cream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHuWMNfu_MlMHkQt1KF6ha5-Q7BeTwL1InNslGGONR-fRhmfDfZpcCVoot3XtXOCUAkkbaQvLhFBkMOw6BVtLsO7_SIFhmH2uN6DkVy7OlcXv5SLdz8cfRlmOQ1FLlzPy_D74eyNwbL0/s1600-h/Slide5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHuWMNfu_MlMHkQt1KF6ha5-Q7BeTwL1InNslGGONR-fRhmfDfZpcCVoot3XtXOCUAkkbaQvLhFBkMOw6BVtLsO7_SIFhmH2uN6DkVy7OlcXv5SLdz8cfRlmOQ1FLlzPy_D74eyNwbL0/s320/Slide5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249439669974474018" border="0" /></a>The trail extends into the White Lake area and there are several art statues off the trail here. These metal origami swans are called Lake Spirits.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu10VS3EtMEoh9USSnzTvce2B22-9txBxrNWeymIjVRdUiQWA1U7wF-eDIlRfpnRelsaQjYekgruFma1W6X7M8FapYJgeF4ZjPU0wD_lvC-B_qtTFUC4bdvVi6MsbFASd5c5BnkaU7IYw/s1600-h/Slide6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu10VS3EtMEoh9USSnzTvce2B22-9txBxrNWeymIjVRdUiQWA1U7wF-eDIlRfpnRelsaQjYekgruFma1W6X7M8FapYJgeF4ZjPU0wD_lvC-B_qtTFUC4bdvVi6MsbFASd5c5BnkaU7IYw/s320/Slide6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249440241149912978" border="0" /></a>Montague has a farmer's market on Saturdays in the summer. Of course Bernie ran over there bright and early. She got late season raspberries and blueberries, peaches and plums, and, much to her surprise, acorn and butternut squash. She's always thought of those as autumn vegetables. It can;t be autumn already, can it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-3845774791128691392008-09-20T13:35:00.000-07:002008-09-21T08:23:36.160-07:00Manistee, Michigan, then on to Ludington and White LakeSeptember 15-17, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXler_GE5JWzxS3LLrdYntcSWISxa3fHjE-F6-DX809by4AaXRpmtqK2tByMxN2lfetMsz9d-6YnoWaWlQ2I26y3_2HLrZ1Kwqq4ElwFdQqh8FO2Vu4YQ3RDEw4zGdUJkBbC9DzCFG07s/s1600-h/blocked+by+coast+guard.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXler_GE5JWzxS3LLrdYntcSWISxa3fHjE-F6-DX809by4AaXRpmtqK2tByMxN2lfetMsz9d-6YnoWaWlQ2I26y3_2HLrZ1Kwqq4ElwFdQqh8FO2Vu4YQ3RDEw4zGdUJkBbC9DzCFG07s/s320/blocked+by+coast+guard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248205306988829298" border="0" /></a>We were a little worried when we started down the Manistee River and the Coast Guard blocked our path. Had they read our blog? Did they know that we had escaped from their <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/call-out-troops-meridian-wants-to.html">blockade in Traverse City?</a> Not to worry -- they were just returning from some maneuvers and not really stopping us from coming into Manistee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkFILLcXlFy-Yr8qIZDk321xQOh_-Qyk53ONUlRgBoP10Jgi75pyY3NWDiQOJ8y38uArS8X2uvTJu8LcRAple1V8JyupIgIG-jqlwK6jtPln2k7tu5pIkZmRACpl7Ly4i1MgEZq-4WEQ/s1600-h/entering+manistee+shelter+from+waves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkFILLcXlFy-Yr8qIZDk321xQOh_-Qyk53ONUlRgBoP10Jgi75pyY3NWDiQOJ8y38uArS8X2uvTJu8LcRAple1V8JyupIgIG-jqlwK6jtPln2k7tu5pIkZmRACpl7Ly4i1MgEZq-4WEQ/s320/entering+manistee+shelter+from+waves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248206116408220546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And we were grateful for that because it was getting a little rough out there. Not anything Meridian couldn't handle. But the waves were picking up and being able to duck into Manistee was nice.<br /><br />We hadn't been to <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/manistee-with-s-michigan.html">Manistee since last year</a>. One thing we knew for sure was that we were NOT going to visit the <a href="http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Emimanist/Page63.html">Manistee Historical Museum</a>. Don't get us wrong. It is a GREAT museum. It's just that it has a lot of exhibits and artifacts about Great Lakes ship wrecks like the Carl S. Bradley, The Edmund Fitzgerald, and the Pere Marquette 18. The <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/manistee-county-historical-museum.html">last time we went there</a>, we read all those accounts of wrecks. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5duOSBGrubhWAOSnOg-eJj71zm7-1mXj6gMf5dgG43tBtuvVyX87k8GxUcb-DyG28bym3n6nCzvk7BxofnV1oMC7ov2rnHOM1WakO1ZkgEBX_Vchl2cWWbHq27uzI2GPrBgpCOtZshKI/s1600-h/P9160034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5duOSBGrubhWAOSnOg-eJj71zm7-1mXj6gMf5dgG43tBtuvVyX87k8GxUcb-DyG28bym3n6nCzvk7BxofnV1oMC7ov2rnHOM1WakO1ZkgEBX_Vchl2cWWbHq27uzI2GPrBgpCOtZshKI/s320/P9160034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248475025781518498" border="0" /></a>Then headed out into a <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/any-portage-lake-in-storm.html">very windy Lake Michigan</a>. All we kept thinking about were the wrecks in storms and suddenly being out on the lake in rough conditions got very uncomfortable and we had to duck into Portage Lake. So, no more maritime museum visits during windy conditions. But, if you're not going to be boating on Lake Michigan in stormy weather, definitely check out the museum.<br /><br />But there is plenty more to do in <a href="http://www.visitmanisteecounty.com/home">Manistee</a>. They have a great river walk that runs the length of the river/town. It gets quite a bit of use from joggers, runners, walkers, and strollers. Along the path they have pictures and stories about the history of Manistee. One of our favorites concerns a sand dune called Creeping Joe. In the late 1800s, Creeping Joe was a large stable sand dune. Stable, that is, until one of the political parties had a huge bonfire to celebrate an unexpected election win in 1884. The bonfire disrupted the plants that had stabilized Creeping Joe. So Joe started creeping, swallowed a couple of houses and threatened the whole town of Manistee. The town was saved when the railroad hauled away all the sand for construction, or cement, or some other such purpose.<br /><br />We also took a kayak trip down the river into Manistee Lake, which is home to a very large, parked ship named the <a href="http://www.carferry.com/">City of Milwaukee</a>. There is a swing bridge right before Manistee Lake that only closes for train traffic. And there is also a very nice veteran's memorial park along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI9Ux_X44chSJ81RqLLGQTyd_Ty-kc3LdRYjXrkXqoekOrGPbbXXiloQNmhWa2onP3ORmiVhhKTy7kxiMSVx8eKqeygtAyYJaunZZ1015Wr1nwvPVRbn7gmWwGtbi3qz5i06JPKzm-kQ/s1600-h/Kayak+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI9Ux_X44chSJ81RqLLGQTyd_Ty-kc3LdRYjXrkXqoekOrGPbbXXiloQNmhWa2onP3ORmiVhhKTy7kxiMSVx8eKqeygtAyYJaunZZ1015Wr1nwvPVRbn7gmWwGtbi3qz5i06JPKzm-kQ/s320/Kayak+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248209458888245090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GwHkeyei2PXj_Dngdj7MmUaITa7aRtCGddGW58zFcu59xNNpContaspsX8OjVgN-MFmQfRpu8jCa9SqPDTp2oOLe0is11Dho5kwL1axZreySwSmP9HgKIxmCRZXYdgN725cUR6kEaDw/s1600-h/manistee+train+bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GwHkeyei2PXj_Dngdj7MmUaITa7aRtCGddGW58zFcu59xNNpContaspsX8OjVgN-MFmQfRpu8jCa9SqPDTp2oOLe0is11Dho5kwL1axZreySwSmP9HgKIxmCRZXYdgN725cUR6kEaDw/s320/manistee+train+bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248209460463174178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbHFkeE0e_60Ml85tjTu0iqrDpHhbunHEVSgGbqlFhz6mBJqkp7t4sC3Z_4AhnLatAB9vIvEjSK7ewyV8ZqSnzJAde83A6p1UOJcXe_s9GinBfDYApEUUwvTMjXb9oisybRy4Dd_Zqlk/s1600-h/Manistee+river+vet+park.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbHFkeE0e_60Ml85tjTu0iqrDpHhbunHEVSgGbqlFhz6mBJqkp7t4sC3Z_4AhnLatAB9vIvEjSK7ewyV8ZqSnzJAde83A6p1UOJcXe_s9GinBfDYApEUUwvTMjXb9oisybRy4Dd_Zqlk/s320/Manistee+river+vet+park.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248209465543450930" border="0" /></a><br />For some reason that we've never figured out, Meridian seems to inspire people to recreate the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLige56ApEn8177AE-HTL287uUao3v4yv3zOEUrURsUX1RjEyAORm7Rzt9wbXjwvn8PoBWnVZ9T0ZZIdzeH6HQmqrJoPFb57QQJyCF-VSwaJBnin0ePg1H7RoxwrsobuWawIGOAhsgU6I/s1600-h/Titanic+Recreation.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLige56ApEn8177AE-HTL287uUao3v4yv3zOEUrURsUX1RjEyAORm7Rzt9wbXjwvn8PoBWnVZ9T0ZZIdzeH6HQmqrJoPFb57QQJyCF-VSwaJBnin0ePg1H7RoxwrsobuWawIGOAhsgU6I/s320/Titanic+Recreation.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248378746081491282" border="0" /></a>"I'm King of the World" scene from the movie Titanic. It happens a lot. And Manistee was no different. A group of women were visiting Manistee and strolling down the river walk. They complimented us on Meridian. We got to talking and they asked if they could have their picture taken on Meridian. Only one of them, Marilyn, was brave enough to go through with it and here she is doing her version of "I'm King of the World". It's cute. We enjoy people having fun on Meridian.<br /><br />And Meridian loves to get compliments and have her picture taken.<br /><br />So a few blog posts ago (OK, way back in the <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/09/east-jordan-michigan.html">East Jordan post</a>), we mentioned that Bernie had stumbled upon a book called <span style="font-style: italic;">A Supremely Bad Idea</span>, which is about a New Yorker who gets hooked on birdwatching as a hobby and his adventures while doing birding trips. It got Bernie interested in figuring out what kind of birds we're seeing and taking bird pictures through the binoculars (although that technique still hasn't been perfected yet). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZfZAsDOAB6tVNBx52camLT0MNg4wJnJ3SWQgGNgPEXv9vfpd1NPnCUx1m6TrvT8qmZYPOncJhf5yX1m4Otb9Jfto50Cw95BVdUwZf58lSbK78S9d4dTIAZfLdqZQDdFcaVXoZzno2eg/s1600-h/Birders+are+interesting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZfZAsDOAB6tVNBx52camLT0MNg4wJnJ3SWQgGNgPEXv9vfpd1NPnCUx1m6TrvT8qmZYPOncJhf5yX1m4Otb9Jfto50Cw95BVdUwZf58lSbK78S9d4dTIAZfLdqZQDdFcaVXoZzno2eg/s320/Birders+are+interesting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248382584968587538" border="0" /></a>Then Phil read it and he got interested in birdwatching, too. Now he's tracking "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitchers%27_vocabulary">life birds</a>" (and debating whether or not he is allowed to retroactively count the ibis and roseated spoonbill we saw in Florida, which was <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> we even knew what a "life bird" was) and trying to study each bird's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jizz_%28birding%29">jizz</a> (a shortened way of saying "general impression of size and shape"). He's poked around the <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/">Cornell Lab of Ornithology website</a>, which has a wealth of birding related information as well as recordings of bird calls. We've a long way to go but it's a start.<br /><br />So on this beach in Manistee, this poor turkey vulture was just trying to have a washed-up salmon snack. Not only did he have to contend with a seagull who was just waiting for an opening (no pun intended), but the poor bird suddenly had an audience of three people watching and documenting his every nibble. He just wanted to eat in peace<span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">A Supremely Bad Idea</span> is a neat book to read. But be forewarned: It may unlock a deeply hidden "birder" tendency you didn't know you had.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgaX1FDGRVnHKq8g3z00uSXqxsi8n9L_WaQwVYVn0uD-YZ8UFaP-RnyZ9v78t9a-gSFXSi9-d9Nn9eICCXdOVb96ODuJepUDn7oFQT-cjAX23V74TvpufnsYNbRXKhOMHTRY6Ea_9DhY/s1600-h/Turkey+Vulture+in+flight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgaX1FDGRVnHKq8g3z00uSXqxsi8n9L_WaQwVYVn0uD-YZ8UFaP-RnyZ9v78t9a-gSFXSi9-d9Nn9eICCXdOVb96ODuJepUDn7oFQT-cjAX23V74TvpufnsYNbRXKhOMHTRY6Ea_9DhY/s320/Turkey+Vulture+in+flight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248475971046534498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq4a984mqcIoKAg4TJT66CMXYP2Y7tvViiCwyZzHrjOs4JMx_N7zmr4jD0R2dpInD7nTjdONqgbVCugl2bX-G3aFyTK7NqfhgUy4-EuP30Iljz7h8x7TEVMm7snG5-pOEm_lqM0_pTAY/s1600-h/bird+to+be+determined.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq4a984mqcIoKAg4TJT66CMXYP2Y7tvViiCwyZzHrjOs4JMx_N7zmr4jD0R2dpInD7nTjdONqgbVCugl2bX-G3aFyTK7NqfhgUy4-EuP30Iljz7h8x7TEVMm7snG5-pOEm_lqM0_pTAY/s320/bird+to+be+determined.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248476167814840514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's kind of hard to imagine but we've been cruising for 4 moons now. Well, this is the 4th full moon we've seen on the cruise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ4lU-qmXPaxR-lWUMMeJVcpc2oAvxHO9gCgSlZdJ6nF2fplCvpHDVZI0y83qUiTe7uNbHcqEk86g3OaaMWRO4sxScL0GAHU3ZvDCCXcXJjFOrKTk2K8bENZWZqHkQuho5m3Ry-GWCbY/s1600-h/4+moons+cruising.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ4lU-qmXPaxR-lWUMMeJVcpc2oAvxHO9gCgSlZdJ6nF2fplCvpHDVZI0y83qUiTe7uNbHcqEk86g3OaaMWRO4sxScL0GAHU3ZvDCCXcXJjFOrKTk2K8bENZWZqHkQuho5m3Ry-GWCbY/s320/4+moons+cruising.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248392861771573346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy0LrM8ZojFdU6VKCQ0h1XbV6nPidfV3W1u56sNgQbNg2Vi2ECk-lZuKqefAQ4QVrfFq-aH-EQ5dp-k_3qGO77ZGCrF-WIOks_WunxSAfSn5UBNIA0cPod7DBDxmvmLBzv3_nju0HFJk/s1600-h/manistee+shore.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy0LrM8ZojFdU6VKCQ0h1XbV6nPidfV3W1u56sNgQbNg2Vi2ECk-lZuKqefAQ4QVrfFq-aH-EQ5dp-k_3qGO77ZGCrF-WIOks_WunxSAfSn5UBNIA0cPod7DBDxmvmLBzv3_nju0HFJk/s320/manistee+shore.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248392867141182162" border="0" /></a>We had a weather window on September 17 that let us move down to Ludington for a night. But first we had to let the Freighter Calumet pass by. (This is a different Calumet than the one that was scrapped in December 2007.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6CADgrYH_T18FWGi34rH3sCKmI0MJkVKMORuB-aIx4SwMFFtHvoys-LRK5yqTuFe99SMwNtM0Se0xP5a1remkSkyoDk9GraIztkbqB26cyW04yNKQp7Nx6NEd7E1DD0rGdulbz83WuQ/s1600-h/P9170004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6CADgrYH_T18FWGi34rH3sCKmI0MJkVKMORuB-aIx4SwMFFtHvoys-LRK5yqTuFe99SMwNtM0Se0xP5a1remkSkyoDk9GraIztkbqB26cyW04yNKQp7Nx6NEd7E1DD0rGdulbz83WuQ/s320/P9170004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248482052142001138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEJWmROqjmlo30PwDvySGvCT6Tdn1Mit8cs2UDcXmlBUljC3oEZxz9rPY4JtgZe3GQqmkxD49RoKYoGynNZXIlepHrwYnnl7qbOnk7pWSeVm7FlY7YfzmZY0nbJlaHB8-PA7EL_nNc2M/s1600-h/P9170005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEJWmROqjmlo30PwDvySGvCT6Tdn1Mit8cs2UDcXmlBUljC3oEZxz9rPY4JtgZe3GQqmkxD49RoKYoGynNZXIlepHrwYnnl7qbOnk7pWSeVm7FlY7YfzmZY0nbJlaHB8-PA7EL_nNc2M/s320/P9170005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248482055945767026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkDe0o033pclPJ3NKqsCJcKYrKvErZMZUQno0mDYZrMq5s50esw5XZyO4IxnRFL295dL3RN-jNsNwN1cAeXbkvJAQjPfDopQcPim-kEZMOaS22WZLys_SU-udz-R_RhG3BNzUXCP_kO4/s1600-h/P9170006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkDe0o033pclPJ3NKqsCJcKYrKvErZMZUQno0mDYZrMq5s50esw5XZyO4IxnRFL295dL3RN-jNsNwN1cAeXbkvJAQjPfDopQcPim-kEZMOaS22WZLys_SU-udz-R_RhG3BNzUXCP_kO4/s320/P9170006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248482060473757186" border="0" /></a>Hmmmm ... These freighters don't get much wiggle room on the Manistee River. Guess we've got no business commenting on narrow slips when we see the passages these guys have to maneuver.<br /><br />We weren't in Ludington very long this time, so no bike rides to the state park like we had done <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/06/revisiting-ludington-michigan.html">earlier this summer</a>. But we did eat at the <a href="http://www.jamesportbrewingcompany.com/">Jamesport Brewing Company</a>. We'd eaten there last year and Bernie located her tasting notes from the flight of beers we sampled last year. Their Hefeweizen (summer in a glass) and Nitro Stout (creamy and chocolaty) brews are still our favorites.<br /><br />Another weather window on September 18 let us move down to White Lake, Michigan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-86089964800731192942008-09-16T16:09:00.001-07:002008-09-16T18:58:42.891-07:00Northport to Leland to FrankfortSeptember 8 - 14, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrhEn0n_c0bS_qwWFY9anvxlNF8X9tODk6J9cdGs_evg4jLYclNgqyDqVuYGGZ5L7UFTedDxEW6p_flx4utlMuUGbQIL89-ca-xFGmbS80_o3vjuoaWFWhIcrtJpXvcDzENJwG0K5mwQ/s1600-h/Northport+Sign.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrhEn0n_c0bS_qwWFY9anvxlNF8X9tODk6J9cdGs_evg4jLYclNgqyDqVuYGGZ5L7UFTedDxEW6p_flx4utlMuUGbQIL89-ca-xFGmbS80_o3vjuoaWFWhIcrtJpXvcDzENJwG0K5mwQ/s320/Northport+Sign.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246760596357325378" border="0" /></a>We've visited <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/rockin-in-northport.html">Northport</a>, Leland (<a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/bugging-good-folks-of-leland-michigan.html">this year</a> and <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/leland-michigan.html">last year</a>) and Frankfort <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>(<a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/06/summer-solstice-in-frankfort-michigan.html">this year</a> and <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/frankfort-michigan-another-windy-port.html">last year</a>) a few times so we'll just cover new activities and information in each place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /><br />Northport, Michigan<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">(September 8-9)</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.leelanau.com/northport/">Northport</a> is a great community with a friendly and helpful marina staff. They also have great bakery called Barb's Bakery. Barb's is known for delicious cinnamon twists and as a local gathering spot for a lively exchange of opinions. On one of the mornings that we were there, the subject was nuclear power. Until someone got tired of that topic and changed it, rather abruptly, to the weekend's big college football game. Nuclear Power and Big Ten Standings all in one morning.<br /><br />Earlier this summer, we biked over to Northport from Leland and were taken in by the painted doors that the area students had done. They were still on display so here are a few more of them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DSUh1Gexd5q8sL-AJe851DELWlk4N1N_SmGCplVLUHYHGbaQcyZqg_tJtrACHBFx5_wdR4tH9fAdC4-sVv_f-FWFLfgFX23Ow0Q67VlJZQ2xhJqQMnrBw3ro78Q3khrFIGtsJMPB5ao/s1600-h/doors+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DSUh1Gexd5q8sL-AJe851DELWlk4N1N_SmGCplVLUHYHGbaQcyZqg_tJtrACHBFx5_wdR4tH9fAdC4-sVv_f-FWFLfgFX23Ow0Q67VlJZQ2xhJqQMnrBw3ro78Q3khrFIGtsJMPB5ao/s320/doors+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246780137251168802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhCER-sLZOO3nOtiPys3M9AUyAtE4lS4bS5ABtZxfQq334FmIqcAPlqKu_HvdvF5Kkp4X61TF1RttyiAUsQ8CnSADGQn0Nu7lOstA-uIzDGcePjLDJrhx15bxSHXv3vgmQ8eWx40Si5o/s1600-h/doors+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhCER-sLZOO3nOtiPys3M9AUyAtE4lS4bS5ABtZxfQq334FmIqcAPlqKu_HvdvF5Kkp4X61TF1RttyiAUsQ8CnSADGQn0Nu7lOstA-uIzDGcePjLDJrhx15bxSHXv3vgmQ8eWx40Si5o/s320/doors+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246780138883475474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZyLwNa0xJ5zuwpvPmnF5qOXcUZf9by9g8rIbpzLLNodJdh9k_tRBp3tT64mkVYyrxVkaT_EsTYmdLKi0DXVl5uFwKCzXALvJPaVAC4wfBcIbJjFadbzMhCu4kXsIUikZqLtNPvui-WI/s1600-h/doors+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZyLwNa0xJ5zuwpvPmnF5qOXcUZf9by9g8rIbpzLLNodJdh9k_tRBp3tT64mkVYyrxVkaT_EsTYmdLKi0DXVl5uFwKCzXALvJPaVAC4wfBcIbJjFadbzMhCu4kXsIUikZqLtNPvui-WI/s320/doors+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246780144410379250" border="0" /></a><br />We also took a bicycle ride out to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/MARITIME/light/grandtra.htm">Grand Traverse Light</a>. Grand Traverse Light is one of the finalists in an <a href="http://www.jeld-wen.com/lighthouse/">annual event sponsored by Jeld-Wen windows</a>. Each year, Jeld-Wen selects a lighthouse and gives them new windows and doors. The effort is intended to prove how reliable their product is and in the process help preserve historic lighthouses. Good Luck Grand Traverse Light! (We also bought peaches from a roadside stand on the way to the lighthouse. We had to buy more peaches on the way back as we ate all the ones we bought on the way up. They were good!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Leland, Michigan<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">(September 10-11)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPI3v0AGPKJsaA7hSnnz-WONcjHFhsH14nnWacWzVQbOBcnBwqNxOEEinMFaA_R5-gEsiCRn0CV2DroXVOU_SPWUwUoyRc_rxWrHdVXmMBAeooE2BYVTg1419IE9KlYqKldQUqaZtgWM/s1600-h/Leland+Sky.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPI3v0AGPKJsaA7hSnnz-WONcjHFhsH14nnWacWzVQbOBcnBwqNxOEEinMFaA_R5-gEsiCRn0CV2DroXVOU_SPWUwUoyRc_rxWrHdVXmMBAeooE2BYVTg1419IE9KlYqKldQUqaZtgWM/s320/Leland+Sky.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246783880627109106" border="0" /></a>Like many of the towns in this area, <a href="http://www.lelandmi.com/">Leland</a> is a big sky town. Meaning that you get an incredible view of the wide open big sky. Makes for great sunsets, sunrises, and every view in between.<br /><br />We were able to go to one of the last of <a href="http://www.leelanaucounty.com/farmersmarkets.asp">Leland's farmers markets</a>. Bernie was happy to see that they were holding it at the high school and that the high schoolers were there tasting, talking to the farmers, and buying. OK, it's not like they were buying the carrots and the acorn squash. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qZaIh5W2A8hd7cMHy6eVDU7RoyrbgI9TYGvd3mMa5mlIChoznn_th-fhchEmZVnUraBk_ro_sfKhyphenhyphenXfRI3G9bwuxdAYHDXZdnuw_ikF4jDr_U8dc7dVjMqzpx4-n3TaEXAp4QhEHPo/s1600-h/Leland+Shore.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qZaIh5W2A8hd7cMHy6eVDU7RoyrbgI9TYGvd3mMa5mlIChoznn_th-fhchEmZVnUraBk_ro_sfKhyphenhyphenXfRI3G9bwuxdAYHDXZdnuw_ikF4jDr_U8dc7dVjMqzpx4-n3TaEXAp4QhEHPo/s320/Leland+Shore.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246785492122281250" border="0" /></a>They were mostly buying cinnamon rolls from the <a href="http://www.stonehousebread.com/">Stonehouse Bakery</a> but that's a start! (That's how Bernie got Phil interested in Farmer's Markets -- lure them in with the pastries and soon they'll be buying the beets and squash.)<br /><br />Leland is a bit on the hilly side when it comes to biking so we opted for a hike along the shore instead.<br /><br />All the hurricane activity in the gulf is sure playing havoc with the September weather. (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Bernie, will you just give up and admit that September is cold and windy and not part of Summer?</span>) Luckily we caught a half-day weather window and moved down to Frankfort before the winds picked up too badly. Trying to plan a trip around the weather and the <a href="http://www.localdifference.org/">Taste the Local Difference Guide to Northwest Michigan farmers markets</a> is a challenge. But an enjoyable one.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Frankfort, Michigan<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">(September 12-14)<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir787Sy08_DIHFXH7m-RsrZ3NqO5u-qQUAb_iyV9Dtmp0z4r0w5rytzqLxHLn8Jjh0vhAnN_iWN5grTdaJfd03s0wkl5UXZ66UDaQL5eVQZuk7M5PXJLEKTyqEhc5DcBcSr-wgn53rohM/s1600-h/Frankfort+Light.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir787Sy08_DIHFXH7m-RsrZ3NqO5u-qQUAb_iyV9Dtmp0z4r0w5rytzqLxHLn8Jjh0vhAnN_iWN5grTdaJfd03s0wkl5UXZ66UDaQL5eVQZuk7M5PXJLEKTyqEhc5DcBcSr-wgn53rohM/s320/Frankfort+Light.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246791466034006178" border="0" /></a>After <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/waves-to-left-waves-to-right-frankfort.html">last year's trip to Frankfort</a>, we really wanted a nice relaxing trip. (If you don't want to follow the link to read last year's account of Meridian's trip from Leland to Frankfort in September, we'll sum it up:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Waves</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Big Waves<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Huge Waves</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />Gigantic Waves<br /></span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;">Kite Boarders?!?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">More Big Crashing Waves</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Here's a nice fairly straight picture of the <a href="http://www.pointbetsie.org/">Point Betsie Lighthouse</a>. It makes up for the horribly crooked one that we included in last year's blog. You can take a much better picture when the waves aren't knocking you all over the place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv_E238AruAtigU4OBaZarTvUdPL5mKQug-Upvm-JiP76uGwwEiPwDGeoXQjUFye93qUH0m3BicgVKOMpEU1bcyzuYYTECOXGM6IDCPJDG9RAhBmPwBSpNuIueQzn1vj5Yc0svcGLv4g/s1600-h/Point+Betsie+Light.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv_E238AruAtigU4OBaZarTvUdPL5mKQug-Upvm-JiP76uGwwEiPwDGeoXQjUFye93qUH0m3BicgVKOMpEU1bcyzuYYTECOXGM6IDCPJDG9RAhBmPwBSpNuIueQzn1vj5Yc0svcGLv4g/s320/Point+Betsie+Light.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246791549269962562" border="0" /></a>We got into Frankfort about 7:30pm and went to <a href="http://www.dinghysrestaurant.com/">Dinghy's</a> for dinner. The next morning, Saturday, was the Frankfort Farmer's Market (coincidence? Nah!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5tBsuTbeYl4hX4hmZJPp2TNHxMLG3KDsozL_hjoWsaYeRjYJ7AcPPdz70iUQov2ZbIV0TstwxkAwr7b5EdL2P5973YJMgyMk_nyd9iNBk4FHdjPO0b1hC-8TE1QJX6tW1lwG6iWpUGI/s1600-h/Fashionable+Bikers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5tBsuTbeYl4hX4hmZJPp2TNHxMLG3KDsozL_hjoWsaYeRjYJ7AcPPdz70iUQov2ZbIV0TstwxkAwr7b5EdL2P5973YJMgyMk_nyd9iNBk4FHdjPO0b1hC-8TE1QJX6tW1lwG6iWpUGI/s320/Fashionable+Bikers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246798341104378194" border="0" /></a>Even though it was a little rainy, we really needed some good exercise. Donning what all fashionable bikers are wearing nowadays, we headed off down the <a href="http://www.betsievalleytrail.org/tour.html">Betsie Valley Trail</a>. The Betsie Valley Trail is a 22.5 mile path that runs from Frankfort to Elberta, through Beulah, through part of Pere Marquette National Forest and ends in Thompsonville. It's a beautiful, flat and winding trail over crushed limestone. Last year when we took it, we saw salmon meandering around in the Betsie River near Thomsponville. Apparently they never made it any further up the river because they were STILL there. Still meandering around in almost the same place. ;)<br /><br />After a bike ride like that, we had no guilty feelings about taking advantage of The Cool Spot's end-of-season ice cream and fudge sale and enjoying the fried cinnamon rolls and cherry fritters at <a href="http://www.crescent-bakery.com/">Crescent Bakery</a>.<br /><br />We think Hurricane Ike cause it to rain all day Sunday. But after a 45 mile bike ride, we could use a lazy day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW_gYl6Vnjp3SWo21qvoO0Ex_2neWIHepIJnrM_bESmNyEjeW4b_4zXEVQpqdCP8A6RGwTS76wFdFdOJZo-P_QIBXX6M0A8KgigiuuTo_jIEdLcCk0-xM6anHrqWZAWLlIZ-IEkEJzYo/s1600-h/Trip+to+Frankfort.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW_gYl6Vnjp3SWo21qvoO0Ex_2neWIHepIJnrM_bESmNyEjeW4b_4zXEVQpqdCP8A6RGwTS76wFdFdOJZo-P_QIBXX6M0A8KgigiuuTo_jIEdLcCk0-xM6anHrqWZAWLlIZ-IEkEJzYo/s320/Trip+to+Frankfort.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246801883779643170" border="0" /></a><br />On Monday, the weather cleared up and Lake Michigan calmed down enough for us to run down to Manistee.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-87817713762891062362008-09-14T16:41:00.000-07:002008-09-15T18:59:12.982-07:00Petoskey, MichiganSeptember 4-8, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyNGBKL4p86Lro1JRt9Y0ryYyzYN3hpktSYYKTgHAyS8Fo-ob0nNldoTkjGlh61CL8LzLsJeHhSxp3sKPMvmIGlayV265_1Q9x7GqqF61Y1PFRWGKHQUQsQ7lnB8buhV2FVwv9SVbviY/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyNGBKL4p86Lro1JRt9Y0ryYyzYN3hpktSYYKTgHAyS8Fo-ob0nNldoTkjGlh61CL8LzLsJeHhSxp3sKPMvmIGlayV265_1Q9x7GqqF61Y1PFRWGKHQUQsQ7lnB8buhV2FVwv9SVbviY/s320/Slide1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246026653405666962" border="0" /></a>We spent several days in Petoskey last year <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/petoskey-michigan-salmon-are-running.html">bicycling</a>, <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/petoskey-weather.html">watching the weather</a>, <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/petoskey-michigan-salmon-are-still.html">watching the salmon run</a>, <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/even-rougher-day-and-night-in-petoskey.html">documenting the results of weather</a>, and <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/watching-for-waterspouts-in-petoskey.html">waiting for a weather break</a>. Even though it was a bit stressful last year, we really enjoyed Petoskey and had to visit it again.<br /><br />Now, on our way over we heard a little one-sided radio chatter. Specifically, a boater was calling into the Petoskey Marina requesting a slip but wondering about the "fire truck spraying water". We couldn't hear the response and didn't think much of it until we pulled into the Petoskey Marina and saw a fire engine shooting water into the lake. Well. Guess that explains why the lake levels are higher now. Darn nice of Petoskey to make that contribution to the lake. Of course, curiosity did get the better of us when we saw a different truck later in the day also spraying water. We had to ask. Turns out, they were testing the volume and pressure performance of the equipment for their annual certification. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJJJ8K9LgnEryijK-TT4joPIVBgHER8I1I_n3wwONmiXj_d9sbSNq0bXANvTbc75wkce5fJ-9qrwwmWrUlm8A1qUeEWs3J01KOAh-9IEWIs9jBGqzMlk1IfjaOKOhzDo_lSOfQgTIVic/s1600-h/Slide2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJJJ8K9LgnEryijK-TT4joPIVBgHER8I1I_n3wwONmiXj_d9sbSNq0bXANvTbc75wkce5fJ-9qrwwmWrUlm8A1qUeEWs3J01KOAh-9IEWIs9jBGqzMlk1IfjaOKOhzDo_lSOfQgTIVic/s320/Slide2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246422971632005250" border="0" /></a>We got the chance to go to the Petoskey Farmers Market. A few of Bernie's favorite vendors are there: <a href="http://www.pondhill.com/">Pond Hill Farms</a> and <a href="http://www.apples-cherries.com/index.html">Friske's Orchards</a>. <br /><br />We also visited some of our favorite retailers in Petoskey: <a href="http://www.roastandtoast.com/">Roast and Toast</a> (while they don't have a Lake Effect, they do have Autumn Sunset and an Accidental Tourist coffee drinks that could give a Lake Effect a run for its money) and <a href="http://www.mcleanandeakin.com/">McLean & Eakin Booksellers</a>. Petoskey now has a<a href="http://www.lifeisgood.com/about/genuine-neighborhood-shoppes.aspx"> Life is Good</a> store. We really didn't know how much Life is Good merchandise was out there. Until now. <br /><br />Add to that, the <a href="http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/little-traverse-wheelway_27/">Little Traverse Wheelway</a>, a great bike path that links Petoskey with Charlevoix and Harbor Springs (both Woolly Bugger towns) and really, what more do you need? <br /><br />Nice restaurants and friendly people, you say? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oGwfVIu_0gVwgxejGtXvbj5GcFSH3GYAYsXpqrEF6HuxauXu1_WxJ51pg0ZjKaw83nqL43o4-XQHW2AgSnToZEiu-mf3uH4QHql8FZYSs9vOYzaKrby27eR9tWrOHQZQH5ilOp-Vc_M/s1600-h/Slide3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oGwfVIu_0gVwgxejGtXvbj5GcFSH3GYAYsXpqrEF6HuxauXu1_WxJ51pg0ZjKaw83nqL43o4-XQHW2AgSnToZEiu-mf3uH4QHql8FZYSs9vOYzaKrby27eR9tWrOHQZQH5ilOp-Vc_M/s320/Slide3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246425195203862114" border="0" /></a>Well they have that, too. In fact, our waiter at <a href="http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/dining.asp?id=1128">Chandler's</a> took time out of his busy night to talk to us about life in Petoskey. By the end of the evening, we were convinced that we should consider moving here. <br /><br />So the next day, we got a list of properties for sale and wandered the neighborhoods.<br /><br />So we talked to a real estate agent.<br /><br />And, while it would have made for a great blog about us buying a house in Petoskey while on this cruise, we didn't find the right house. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yet.<br /><br />But we'll be back.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-76400817345655139252008-09-14T15:29:00.001-07:002008-09-14T16:25:53.473-07:00New Charlevoix MarinaSeptember 3-4, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O9zAhiT4PSfEf3gBFW9q8QscU8gPSYpYynGrW10RwjleThwGqJXnWn9JZuPCgLxUXJNzXy0TzVYU4vE3kX9fO7kZxe4soE-7YzXMVrkA_DRpoLbPdqBuNOFVwVh5bJK4OjMrhD4_hhY/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Marina+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O9zAhiT4PSfEf3gBFW9q8QscU8gPSYpYynGrW10RwjleThwGqJXnWn9JZuPCgLxUXJNzXy0TzVYU4vE3kX9fO7kZxe4soE-7YzXMVrkA_DRpoLbPdqBuNOFVwVh5bJK4OjMrhD4_hhY/s320/Charlevoix+Marina+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246007969467950642" border="0" /></a>Hello. My name is Bernie and I am a Woolly Bugger addi - I mean, "fan" -- especially their Lake Effect. But Phil exaggerated in that last post. I did give the guy the stern line before I ran to the coffee shop.<br /><br /><a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/charlevoix.html">Last year when we were in Charlevoix</a>, the marina and park were under major construction. So we were curious how it had turned out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rdjdFXNxoKbaAdrRCEICCBJlr-tZnbwiVLLgrbKEwDwB7VT9lXUqIDgdYFXRHpc8tm6kK_wT6-_ybcKT6v7ojNjmETgxjD9gFswrxItf511qeJy0O7DxMKzlizzK69vHTvRQ_8yDpSY/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Marina+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rdjdFXNxoKbaAdrRCEICCBJlr-tZnbwiVLLgrbKEwDwB7VT9lXUqIDgdYFXRHpc8tm6kK_wT6-_ybcKT6v7ojNjmETgxjD9gFswrxItf511qeJy0O7DxMKzlizzK69vHTvRQ_8yDpSY/s320/Charlevoix+Marina+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246011015315740738" border="0" /></a>It turned out beautifully. We think they did a great job on the marina building and the park around it. The marina building plays homage to some of the distinctive Earl Young "mushroom houses" that are scattered throughout Charlevoix. The harbormaster said that it was designed by Peter Pollock and mentioned that it took 27 masons to do the marina house and that they needed a little retraining to get them to make the curvy design. They were having trouble with the concept of someone actually <span style="font-style: italic;">wanting</span> the edges not to be straight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmwXradum12y5YVDhkFO_dY-3dfha4CMPvc3hevg1aq9pHsphVE3lzXcjVguEXq6tH11nvy2JyyOSDxWCOSH6Qx8uxYmXcbUWyxu3WtssYPH-fx2t8tuLPI0dKDH30ncrD-sQVdnr78g/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Dancing+Waters.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmwXradum12y5YVDhkFO_dY-3dfha4CMPvc3hevg1aq9pHsphVE3lzXcjVguEXq6tH11nvy2JyyOSDxWCOSH6Qx8uxYmXcbUWyxu3WtssYPH-fx2t8tuLPI0dKDH30ncrD-sQVdnr78g/s320/Charlevoix+Dancing+Waters.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246014154582658322" border="0" /></a>The park is also beautiful. You'd never know that about a year ago it was all torn up. It does make us wonder what progress has been made on the DuSable Marina building and bike path in Chicago in our absence.<br /><br />They've also put in a shooting water fountain that, at night, puts on a colorful water display. It doesn't speak in first person like the one in Grand Haven. The boater's lounge is quite nice and comfortable, too. It has wi-fi for boaters, a television, nice laundry facilities ($1/wash; $1/dry) and a telescope for night time stargazing -- or just scoping out the boats in Lake Charlevoix.<br /><br />Really a great job and a great marina staff.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWmdMLbWo90TeCm8dpxXEIsm4Jl0boi7rzQJse1PxhxEGWSEgzDJsr0ixdofH2_e5U-kfD0tZ2xArkxF7jmyhsvEFZe7_F88vKYaXkX7LEJI4xU1ryvwKl7gKLeav_q6dedS9-yKNTZk/s1600-h/Battered+Bull.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWmdMLbWo90TeCm8dpxXEIsm4Jl0boi7rzQJse1PxhxEGWSEgzDJsr0ixdofH2_e5U-kfD0tZ2xArkxF7jmyhsvEFZe7_F88vKYaXkX7LEJI4xU1ryvwKl7gKLeav_q6dedS9-yKNTZk/s320/Battered+Bull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246014926750695602" border="0" /></a>It was easy for the harbormaster to direct us to our slip. This large boat, a 172 foot mega yacht names the Battered Bull, was parked at the end of the dock that we were to pull into. We heard a rumor that it was Kevin Costner's - batter, Bull Durham, makes sense - and that he, too, had stopped in Charlevoix to get a Lake Effect at the Woolly Bugger. (OK, so we just heard it was Kevin Costner's. We also heard speculation that it was Scotty Pippen's - now <span style="font-style: italic;">there's</span> a battered (former) Bull - or maybe just someone who's been beaten down in the stock market - hey, does that make it <span style="font-style: italic;">ours</span>?)<br /><br />Phil feels the need to point out that it is now September. He knows this because it is very windy. All the time. As evidenced by these views of Lake Michigan from the Charlevoix breakwater. Bernie calls it a little breezy. There's plenty of summer left!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UZBYT-oa08RgJsH_ofwANuR8lb8B9-q3nBycP2fthSNAYiS21V6XIRoOGP4A7lQ3eByF-jEh6gjPbrehPZvMc05OoD1bbMx4k5VI2yf5-UFAEtP0tJDVQLWYDSfsSUOC1nmsjv7kDSE/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Light+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UZBYT-oa08RgJsH_ofwANuR8lb8B9-q3nBycP2fthSNAYiS21V6XIRoOGP4A7lQ3eByF-jEh6gjPbrehPZvMc05OoD1bbMx4k5VI2yf5-UFAEtP0tJDVQLWYDSfsSUOC1nmsjv7kDSE/s320/Charlevoix+Light+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246015469900945138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidBKXt5oa3N4tkP0d1EnpHyWIC6ZyzO8po-d86eNLXvYO_SZQTdos58ltwP3lWcISQV1JVqDxMuULWNvZus2n3epjM7byTnPJSdEvOTz2exL8eEhC7RLZRxWVvqf33V_bJGqeTu3-RSE/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Beach.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidBKXt5oa3N4tkP0d1EnpHyWIC6ZyzO8po-d86eNLXvYO_SZQTdos58ltwP3lWcISQV1JVqDxMuULWNvZus2n3epjM7byTnPJSdEvOTz2exL8eEhC7RLZRxWVvqf33V_bJGqeTu3-RSE/s320/Charlevoix+Beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246015172392362994" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning we went to the Charlevoix Farmer's Market. It is great to be back in the land of farmer's markets. Especially when one of the vendor's, <a href="http://www.apples-cherries.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/2684.8.1570569663410761001">Friske's Orchards</a>, still has some late season raspberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches and cherry cobblers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVtnl9ME5qtJgFoCWnoTuhVkPCuEHFpW3mrZRUVnaKDwgvD2y_j5hvE6jQFen1s9vZbX-PAR9h3GVBBJlYNaIwKNxG3Z3gGr0VHyv33F6RejEQWAf0u9UAaqa0UuvH0Ku1CKKM7oDR3g/s1600-h/Charlevoix+Sjy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVtnl9ME5qtJgFoCWnoTuhVkPCuEHFpW3mrZRUVnaKDwgvD2y_j5hvE6jQFen1s9vZbX-PAR9h3GVBBJlYNaIwKNxG3Z3gGr0VHyv33F6RejEQWAf0u9UAaqa0UuvH0Ku1CKKM7oDR3g/s320/Charlevoix+Sjy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246017074075013026" border="0" /></a><br />Now, our next stop may surprise some people who are familiar with this area. We're heading for Petoskey. Yes, we know that is north. Yes, we know we're supposed to be going back to Chicago. But we really like Petoskey and we missed it on the way up and skipped it on the way down. It didn't feel right to skip it. So we're going to go there next. And, what a coincidence, we'll be there in time for their Farmer's Market.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-28841261108397421682008-09-09T17:06:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:42:41.254-07:00Bernie Goes to CharlevoixOk, so in our last post we were leaving East Jordan for Charlevoix.<br /><br />We had planned to stay in East Jordan for two nights, but suddenly Bernie asked to cut that to one night. She claimed it was because we had seen everything there was to see in East Jordan and she wanted to see the new marina and park in Charlevoix.<br /><br />Phil didn't quite understand that. Sure, we'd seen all of East Jordan in about an hour or so, but that's the case with a number of these small harbor towns. What was so special about Charlevoix that caused her to suddenly want to drop her new hobby of photographing wildlife through the binocular lenses and rush out of town like a traveling salesman chased by the farmer who's unhappy about that little "sales meeting" with his daughter?<br /><br />Like always, Phil just shrugged and said "sure, let's go."<br /><br />And it was a nice cruise up Lake Charlevoix. The Labor Day traffic was gone now, so we mostly had the lake to ourselves. We made our way up the lake past all the unusual, quaint, pretty and, sometimes, grotesquely huge, boathouses. This <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> Lake Charlevoix after all.<br /><br />All along, though, it just felt different. Bernie seemed almost giddy with expectation (and I don't think I've ever used the words "Bernie" and "giddy" in the same sentence before), as though she was REALLY looking forward to Charlevoix, and kept urging Phil to "hurry up, we'll never get there". Which is a bit unusual because, what with current gas prices, she's usually telling him to slow down. And she really unnerved him when she reached over and goosed the throttle. He would have pulled out his "I'm the captain" speech but she'd have just laughed at him (loudly and in a humiliatingly mocking manner) like she always does when he tries that.<br /><br />So, anyway, we made it to Round Lake and the Charlevoix Marina in record time. Before Phil could reach for the VHF mike, she pulled out the little handheld radio and was calling the marina. Upon receiving the slip number, she looked at Phil and asked "Got that?"<br /><br />Without actually receiving confirmation, she said "Good" then mumbled something about getting money and went below. She reappeared as we were easing down the fairway to the slip. Phil was busy manuevering Meridian into the slip and didn't really pay attention as she dashed out to the bow to handle the lines.<br /><br />That's when it got a little weird. As we moved into the slip, she grabbed the bow line and tossed it to the dock hand. Then, in one lighting-fast motion, she vaulted over the bow railing onto the dock with a display of agility and athleticism Phil had never witnessed before. Thinking she was going for the stern line or maybe the spring line, he smiled to himself and said "Now she's really becoming a boat person".<br /><br />But apparently she had other plans. Instead of getting the other lines, she just yelled over her shoulder to the dock hand as she sprinted up the dock "Don't forget the stern line! And, Phil, <span style="font-style: italic;">please</span> try not to hit other boats this time."<br /><br />Then she disappeared into town.<br /><br />As Phil and the dock hand looked at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces, she returned, strolling down the dock with a big smile and a <a href="http://www.wbcoffee.com/">Woolly Bugger</a> Lake Effect (white chocolate mocha coffee drink) in her hand.<br /><br />She REALLY likes her Lake Effects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-70427813357591805562008-09-08T17:26:00.000-07:002008-09-08T18:56:17.788-07:00East Jordan, MichiganSeptember 2, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD9L07_0w8zbwWqShwoorj1PvkXOTkmRau69ZfFnNqCSrfMTv9pRm7lZcwRhERWD4w0aiJkJkgOdur7c7jTQ-LNIINjdBpfy6XiDvGOR-2geFHbFlRPVleXxBql40b3hamVkMj8JHwbU/s1600-h/Engine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD9L07_0w8zbwWqShwoorj1PvkXOTkmRau69ZfFnNqCSrfMTv9pRm7lZcwRhERWD4w0aiJkJkgOdur7c7jTQ-LNIINjdBpfy6XiDvGOR-2geFHbFlRPVleXxBql40b3hamVkMj8JHwbU/s320/Engine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243811959622832178" border="0" /></a>After word got around Boyne City about the <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/09/come-on-paddle-padddle-paddle-paddle.html">goofy kayakers</a>, and word <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> get around in a small town, we had to leave. People kept pointing, exclaiming "there's those <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/09/come-on-paddle-padddle-paddle-paddle.html">KAYAKERS</a>" and snickering uncontrollably.<br /><br />Well, we had wanted to check out <a href="http://www.ejchamber.org/">East Jordan</a> anyway. So we headed over to the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcW4q84IurHPjyh2nFxVrFF6M9fjwBRSvv9GEjBHBx04F0okIlLy6Ap8MyLCon5K5CGyfaqE6ZYeW-akjTkINwkZFvJBCTPQQgLPh91JytWHjZVggi8zlNmN9xTq3fQhDzTYIdcKt7jQ/s1600-h/Ferry.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcW4q84IurHPjyh2nFxVrFF6M9fjwBRSvv9GEjBHBx04F0okIlLy6Ap8MyLCon5K5CGyfaqE6ZYeW-akjTkINwkZFvJBCTPQQgLPh91JytWHjZVggi8zlNmN9xTq3fQhDzTYIdcKt7jQ/s320/Ferry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243814293382964818" border="0" /></a>On the, way we passed through the Ironton Ferry route, a pleasant memory from a few days ago.<br /><br />The south arm of Lake Charlevoix, which goes to East Jordan, is narrower than the north arm (which goes to Boyne City). So you get a closer view of some of the houses and boat houses. The Charlevoix area has been a resort area for a very long time. The history museum speaks of the trains and ferries coming up from Chicago for as long as people can remember and the Michigan auto barons all had huge houses up here. Along the lake, you see all sorts of houses and boat houses.<br /><br />Classic (with wooden boats)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllGb8vSdG_Nd3J_EHpfSlJV6vXOTkUsLce52HrdJy6qYgYhTfLg3Im3dYJzEYonfI5gQjsuthugvAVu4xk7v0SvP_oiXagiuUFb1gdtUG7mc3oisLsSXfKp94r7tbE4E-oFVONRjxlOQ/s1600-h/Boat+house+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllGb8vSdG_Nd3J_EHpfSlJV6vXOTkUsLce52HrdJy6qYgYhTfLg3Im3dYJzEYonfI5gQjsuthugvAVu4xk7v0SvP_oiXagiuUFb1gdtUG7mc3oisLsSXfKp94r7tbE4E-oFVONRjxlOQ/s320/Boat+house+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243815616294034498" border="0" /></a>Quaint<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KrfqQCHhANiIWW64dkidOSLyJNsMkVoDcAg6oH_OgGATUyAX7Z_zzM-WooYkfLiP5659YNuNsdRC0KNh1AkbAxN1xWspPpsWECaFaXZPRJVwRb2aflwgMXhaMIgGB5K44v_R0UH9lpI/s1600-h/House+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KrfqQCHhANiIWW64dkidOSLyJNsMkVoDcAg6oH_OgGATUyAX7Z_zzM-WooYkfLiP5659YNuNsdRC0KNh1AkbAxN1xWspPpsWECaFaXZPRJVwRb2aflwgMXhaMIgGB5K44v_R0UH9lpI/s320/House+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243815626447243282" border="0" /></a><br />Stately (with a fine example of local stonemanship)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzgDO6taBxNRzfmhuEut9kcXqzFoThgY_vL7yn6Rj6TOSwFx-4TKc7iJJ7wpO5-Iv7CQSQXDI3tH3LndLAlGec8QxG4vrV2jQYQIVQljQ8ftXOc8p6_7wOhDUt3lQLL5toE7kvESyVDg/s1600-h/House+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzgDO6taBxNRzfmhuEut9kcXqzFoThgY_vL7yn6Rj6TOSwFx-4TKc7iJJ7wpO5-Iv7CQSQXDI3tH3LndLAlGec8QxG4vrV2jQYQIVQljQ8ftXOc8p6_7wOhDUt3lQLL5toE7kvESyVDg/s320/House+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243815623440637362" border="0" /></a><br />And, of course, Exaggerated Excess (complete with a boathouse for a ... SAILBOAT?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc34BVsswK8nidacQ_IIVg-ykk9yfMP589Uy_s9gvsAbiELwDRBSzcBO3Z7FzXxEj8IxQQJAULUya_s2Amyb4YhBtbPAo3Q1evw3uSRfKtFT72HiaPhgzCiE8DYgi70IiwGRJh4urB9s/s1600-h/Big+House.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc34BVsswK8nidacQ_IIVg-ykk9yfMP589Uy_s9gvsAbiELwDRBSzcBO3Z7FzXxEj8IxQQJAULUya_s2Amyb4YhBtbPAo3Q1evw3uSRfKtFT72HiaPhgzCiE8DYgi70IiwGRJh4urB9s/s320/Big+House.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243815611986555986" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre0lvdiP2FGSBv5R6a8pfJycU7XSNwuKqKjwpB37RlmAUqH9g8bh1kF6ZN_Tb-iRde7l_VyT39upKB6S83qHyi5kWMvsltpL0C0WjO20LnHiKpr_12ZhI1r9qO9o1yPpBXlEYTQ5b9Ws/s1600-h/EJ+Iron+works.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre0lvdiP2FGSBv5R6a8pfJycU7XSNwuKqKjwpB37RlmAUqH9g8bh1kF6ZN_Tb-iRde7l_VyT39upKB6S83qHyi5kWMvsltpL0C0WjO20LnHiKpr_12ZhI1r9qO9o1yPpBXlEYTQ5b9Ws/s320/EJ+Iron+works.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243817918505285650" border="0" /></a>We continued down the river until we reached East Jordan.<br /><br />You can't miss the marina. It's right next to East Jordan Iron Works. We had gotten the impression from the ports guides that East Jordan was more of an arts community. Not quite. It's actually one of the few towns we've encountered that have a non-tourism focus since they have the ironworks industry. There really isn't a lot for a boater to do here. (They do have a lot of <a href="http://www.ejchamber.org/activities.htm">nature-related activities </a>but most are located more than a bike ride away from the marina.) Almost all the restaurants were closed for the season. There is an Arts Center but it seems to be open only for specific art compilations (and we were between shows). You can watch glass artisans at <a href="http://www.jordanvalleyglassworks.com/">Jordan Valley Glassworks</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm0J0NkdSTnAbY-lgmme7Ls5_ib-CGDH-EohmrnLH8sO9w1ELQfLSkqeaT1EOGhQJOZB1psNB7ZE3WFypfOrfWCW7hPdBuwPQAOlSBkkonI-FbSyfuwmSftxBvdrpT897kjCmeeS8MFg/s1600-h/Heron+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm0J0NkdSTnAbY-lgmme7Ls5_ib-CGDH-EohmrnLH8sO9w1ELQfLSkqeaT1EOGhQJOZB1psNB7ZE3WFypfOrfWCW7hPdBuwPQAOlSBkkonI-FbSyfuwmSftxBvdrpT897kjCmeeS8MFg/s320/Heron+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243821214100624226" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ejchamber.org/activities.htm">Sportsman's Park</a>, across from the marina, is part of a wildlife sanctuary in the area (that includes the <a href="http://www.ejchamber.org/nature.htm">Jordan River and the Jordan River Pathway</a>) and Bernie got to experiment with a digital camera technique she read about in a book called <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9781596913554">"A Supremely Bad Idea"</a> (it's about a guy and his two friends who get deep into a Birdwatching Hobby). <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW3sIXb4gU6sCw4vxY2ObV5Ms0-q8DzlUpIgQp-WvCozbRmwdUEJoYzV4GD2NzIQO25DSChooZmguy1zcfj5ZxifREWhar8TSqEvHEEIZ-hqy6fisPB4uEVhk7mwGPg53xbRBv2rAVKA/s1600-h/Heron+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW3sIXb4gU6sCw4vxY2ObV5Ms0-q8DzlUpIgQp-WvCozbRmwdUEJoYzV4GD2NzIQO25DSChooZmguy1zcfj5ZxifREWhar8TSqEvHEEIZ-hqy6fisPB4uEVhk7mwGPg53xbRBv2rAVKA/s320/Heron+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243821309843563922" border="0" /></a>She set up binoculars and took pictures through the lens. Now, in the book, they took pictures through a bird sighting scope which is very different from binoculars but this was just an experiment (one that needs a bit more perfecting). They're a little fuzzy but she insists they have a watercolor painting quality to them. Phil shudders to think what it would have been like up in the North Channel had Bernie read this book <span style="font-weight: bold;">before</span> encountering the taunting loons. Sometimes just the plain old zoom works well enough, as it did for this flying egret.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVP95QN1bAlGNa8ao3XO_A_sZtlmC1gEHVNEQ9NsY9Gr6crflCHPKSNfJCNuRY_KgDeoBaTQi3jT5U4CWDdO5tfG0Di8NtZh5GAh4X5TUdHwoNanvUW5-j_jdOgq-AllbcqXHnQDHxug/s1600-h/Flying+Egret.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVP95QN1bAlGNa8ao3XO_A_sZtlmC1gEHVNEQ9NsY9Gr6crflCHPKSNfJCNuRY_KgDeoBaTQi3jT5U4CWDdO5tfG0Di8NtZh5GAh4X5TUdHwoNanvUW5-j_jdOgq-AllbcqXHnQDHxug/s320/Flying+Egret.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243822393534969666" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.ejiw.com/">East Jordan Iron Works</a> makes, among other things, manhole covers. Along the sidewalk leading to the factory, they have embedded some of their more notable covers. Here are two we thought were very detailed and interesting. We got the impression that EJIW tries to be a good neighbor. They've done a bit of landscaping that, from the main street side, completely hides their operations and muffles the sound of the 24 hour operations (from the <span style="font-style: italic;">street</span>. not from the <span style="font-style: italic;">marina</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxeiFpGdJVIXuZglfZjZxHVm4IeE-lmXA0l8bMh6pqLmq-aAQm29MkusCF8NPwvaAr1JCWLIdw7N8GqOAjAGIcIRzOlDYh2beXHJ5aPLys89GyhzNLCBMF_OlNtEUgCd9x1ACOOYJO0c/s1600-h/Manhole+Cover+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxeiFpGdJVIXuZglfZjZxHVm4IeE-lmXA0l8bMh6pqLmq-aAQm29MkusCF8NPwvaAr1JCWLIdw7N8GqOAjAGIcIRzOlDYh2beXHJ5aPLys89GyhzNLCBMF_OlNtEUgCd9x1ACOOYJO0c/s320/Manhole+Cover+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243823318419365218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywr0L9PpciYXMEP9kTnh1upuHCt4ttoAcFnnHzoi3sD7eGVKo679r8xibrBKVn-YwJE3KqBFaE4VBpQnWoCowV2IuuoXNd-WfPsvzWsf8hl10q4KGwGUQH9gLl7thIqZIEgu08pgL9M/s1600-h/Manhole+cover+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywr0L9PpciYXMEP9kTnh1upuHCt4ttoAcFnnHzoi3sD7eGVKo679r8xibrBKVn-YwJE3KqBFaE4VBpQnWoCowV2IuuoXNd-WfPsvzWsf8hl10q4KGwGUQH9gLl7thIqZIEgu08pgL9M/s320/Manhole+cover+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243823319097010434" border="0" /></a><br />Having seen East Jordan, we decided to re-visit Charlevoix. Last year, when we were there, they were in the middle of constructing their new marina buildings and park. We wanted to see the result. So off we went to Charlevoix.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-41519228183403044432008-09-06T15:18:00.001-07:002008-09-06T18:26:00.729-07:00Come on! Paddle Padddle Paddle Paddle PaddleSeptember 1, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9uYrPDE1MuB99WtIX9Bm8Fcwwbgl2dxLZBq_dHKw23ZDSd46tBVA4X5ARpYRA8Msuk_UPsCUdsBuPGNTub_88d8BNuJwMPFxV0n7heNQhawuE_us3QgDeR8POcKD6gCLF6JmR1ggmg/s1600-h/Kayak+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9uYrPDE1MuB99WtIX9Bm8Fcwwbgl2dxLZBq_dHKw23ZDSd46tBVA4X5ARpYRA8Msuk_UPsCUdsBuPGNTub_88d8BNuJwMPFxV0n7heNQhawuE_us3QgDeR8POcKD6gCLF6JmR1ggmg/s320/Kayak+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243037379621766274" border="0" /></a>So armed with a devil-may-care attitude, we headed off on the kayak for a trip <span style="font-weight: bold;">up</span> the Boyne River. Yes, we know that the standard way to kayak is to drive it up stream and kayak <span style="font-weight: bold;">down</span> stream. But, we could hardly portage the kayak via bicycles all the way up to Dam Road (a couple people mentioned this so we assume this is the "typical" starting point for kayaking down the Boyne River). Undaunted, we headed upstream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsjiTCKwZ5IbB-bbYh1UkwlB1LpPNAcUb5M2b36Ze7SncxOWFlWisqf6FvNesAjtVR9yPdE_xgGv5-LNrXDzs4EFDHpXRd2RMP80RCV1Bjv5xvGysls40oguG1hgdQ1UTKlTa8xW_PfM/s1600-h/Kayak+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsjiTCKwZ5IbB-bbYh1UkwlB1LpPNAcUb5M2b36Ze7SncxOWFlWisqf6FvNesAjtVR9yPdE_xgGv5-LNrXDzs4EFDHpXRd2RMP80RCV1Bjv5xvGysls40oguG1hgdQ1UTKlTa8xW_PfM/s320/Kayak+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243039464253345666" border="0" /></a>The first obstacle was the culverts under the street. Phil was worried that they weren't wide enough and that we'd get the paddles stuck crossway in the culvert, thus getting ourselves stuck, no one would hear our cries for help, and everyone would wonder why that nice couple just abandoned that beautiful boat at the Boyne City Marina.<br /><br />Bernie's fear was that spiders, lurking in the culvert would fall on us midway through and the ensuing commotion would cause us to capsize. Since we would be in the middle of the culvert, no one would see us or hear our cries for help, and everyone would wonder why that nice couple just abandoned that beautiful boat at the Boyne City Marina.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE-nECF1lUsup9_oFXch5H61Pv7W8bL_qzmDJEOTEQeme0bVr8GFhdXKNM_VNp1nbD8L29k2tk0PO_c4ZjmkOGmRi4LNSUoYfeSMVE5bp7W_MdLIoYO-V9q23DbRoM1ZU81uAF_O5WBE/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE-nECF1lUsup9_oFXch5H61Pv7W8bL_qzmDJEOTEQeme0bVr8GFhdXKNM_VNp1nbD8L29k2tk0PO_c4ZjmkOGmRi4LNSUoYfeSMVE5bp7W_MdLIoYO-V9q23DbRoM1ZU81uAF_O5WBE/s320/Slide1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243045233796274978" border="0" /></a>But it went smoothly and we were confident we could handle the river since the rapids had been removed (unless the marina people meant it was the dam that was removed).<br /><br />OK. So the rapids weren't quite removed. But the dam was. And these rapids, while bigger than what we dealt with at <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/long-point-cove-north-channel.html">Long Point Cove</a>, weren't too bad. All it took was focus. We backed up a little and then paddled really hard and went right up and over them.<br /><br />That's when we saw the next set of Mighty Rapids. Roiling, bubbling, churning, and swirling. Around a lot of rocks. Right between us and the smooth glassy water of the Boyne River that we wanted to get to. But our confidence had been built by successfully sailing through the culvert and the first set of rapids, so we attacked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4fDe94TxzJbRM3AkX8Z886vyKshi2i1rQ2CBbHAA0C0sCkUCGI7g5vk5W8wfMlr0It5onLMVfn2oOUZJAYtfvk47p6LR4VtYwbSBFGHRoq8dVHBZKSfZF7N5QDE3SCGOd_GPTT9bC90/s1600-h/Slide3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4fDe94TxzJbRM3AkX8Z886vyKshi2i1rQ2CBbHAA0C0sCkUCGI7g5vk5W8wfMlr0It5onLMVfn2oOUZJAYtfvk47p6LR4VtYwbSBFGHRoq8dVHBZKSfZF7N5QDE3SCGOd_GPTT9bC90/s320/Slide3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243048153968178178" border="0" /></a>And were humbled. Grandly so.<br /><br />Undaunted we tried again. This time sneaking up from the right side so as to catch the Mighty Rapids unaware. This time we were only pushed back 30 feet.<br /><br />Again!<br /><br />With Phil advising Bernie to "Paddle like the wind" we raced at the Mighty Rapids. Hey we made progress, only getting pushed back 15 feet this time. The Mighty Rapids are obviously tiring down and we'll be able to get through.<br /><br />Again!<br /><br />This time in order to maintain our focus, Bernie yelled our battle cry<br /><br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNE_74p9W2wHV9OJ_BSZ3V77YUx-_L78g56SXups9QYA_h5kwTba5aL55D030oxpyiHwETsV3CFQzQM2Zi_1Uhc4KGJBP2AoCiJFxwnahkmpPQ56OHb18rLiiXot_H1avF_SpaReRPKwI/s1600-h/Slide2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNE_74p9W2wHV9OJ_BSZ3V77YUx-_L78g56SXups9QYA_h5kwTba5aL55D030oxpyiHwETsV3CFQzQM2Zi_1Uhc4KGJBP2AoCiJFxwnahkmpPQ56OHb18rLiiXot_H1avF_SpaReRPKwI/s320/Slide2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243049854732137826" border="0" /></a>And it worked. Instead of getting pushed back we got wedged in sideways in the rocks in the middle of the Mighty Rapids. Hmmm. This is quite a predicament. This time though, if the roiling water capsized us, we'd at least be seen by all those people eating dinner on the outdoor patio of a restaurant over looking the river. Presuming, of course, that they weren't rolling on the floor laughing their @** es off at the dunces in the kayak trying to get <span style="font-weight: bold;">up</span> the Mighty Rapids.<br /><br />Somehow we freed ourselves - it involved Bernie crawling into the nose of the kayak so Phil could move his seat as far forward as possible to lighten up the back end. Just another amusing skit for the nice people eating dinner.<br /><br />One more time!<br /><br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br /><br />Back to being pushed down the river. OK. Time to do some field research. We tied the kayak to shore and scrambled up the bank to look over the bridge to see if there was a path down on the other side that we could portage the kayak to and launch beyond the Mighty Rapids. No such luck. About this time we saw a group of kayakers gently floating down the river. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Down</span> the river. The way we know you're <span style="font-weight: bold;">supposed</span> to go. Anyway, we asked them if they'd noticed a nearby place to launch the kayak from the other side of the bridge.<br /><br />They hadn't. Not willing to give up, we tried one last thing. We walked the kayak to the corner of the shore and the bridge, under which the Mighty Rapids flowed. We used the paddles to anchor/push our way through the rapids.<br /><br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Push! Push! Push! Push! Push!<br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br />Push! Push! Push! Push! Push!<br /><br />By this time the roar of laughter from the outdoor diners was louder than the roar of the Mighty Rapids.<br /><br />But we made it through the Mighty Rapids! Well at least Bernie, in the front of the kayak made it through. She was so relieved to be through the Mighty Rapids that she stopped to raise her hands in triumph. Then, from behind, she heard<br /><br />Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br /><br />OOPS! Phil's end of the kayak hadn't quite made it through the Mighty Rapids yet, and he was paddling like a maniac trying to keep us from getting pushed back AGAIN, while "gently" reminding Bernie to continue paddling. Sheesh! What has he been doing back there? Napping? No wonder we couldn't get through the first six times!<br /><br />So the paddling was on again and this time we BOTH made it through the Mighty Rapids. And when we get back, we're going to take one of those <a href="http://www.rei.com/">REI</a> kayak classes so we can learn how to do this without creating a comedy show for outdoor diners.<br /><br />It was a very scenic trip up the river. The river twists and turns and its bank has interesting tree and plant configurations. We saw a number of different water birds including snow geese and a green heron.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7NAlhTHQ_Dz9FLcuf8VTMnZp4XHIyNKMH0MA0czHulUDxw8840rjQXvQk3C6r06vzC7ps6gA1z0oqdfcZEUMBgXCD50E4nkM5m4YlIYGP8fptOXgN4vEHnVuarSgGTS8UG7o_ZuwdEA/s1600-h/Kayak+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7NAlhTHQ_Dz9FLcuf8VTMnZp4XHIyNKMH0MA0czHulUDxw8840rjQXvQk3C6r06vzC7ps6gA1z0oqdfcZEUMBgXCD50E4nkM5m4YlIYGP8fptOXgN4vEHnVuarSgGTS8UG7o_ZuwdEA/s320/Kayak+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243075499888921714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQVCAiurzFflIz4Rk2XonoognsqUl-fF4kj9uWnEcDhjChpI183Bycq12WJipVpWI9KMrSG_B7F1JEdkL4cCofeV6fNysqJcM0jAsC4pe4dksareb620qX1OU2OK3ZcWc6xGtGRAZf0/s1600-h/Kayak+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQVCAiurzFflIz4Rk2XonoognsqUl-fF4kj9uWnEcDhjChpI183Bycq12WJipVpWI9KMrSG_B7F1JEdkL4cCofeV6fNysqJcM0jAsC4pe4dksareb620qX1OU2OK3ZcWc6xGtGRAZf0/s320/Kayak+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243075503773650738" border="0" /></a><br />The trip back down the river was incredibly easy. A few paddle strokes here and there to keep the kayak straight was all that was required. That was good because we were a bit tired from all that Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCbfYaT6hwLMLel6va-pNAnlUSshF0qOMggr5e4-OvSrV28tmxgZZ0eRizwFsmGWFsvCkzy2q_YhGHOg9vUQfM8BE1K8zVY6eTx8jk3S5q592zZ9jfW_HLYooMf48dsyN1LIVv1iB44M/s1600-h/Kayak+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCbfYaT6hwLMLel6va-pNAnlUSshF0qOMggr5e4-OvSrV28tmxgZZ0eRizwFsmGWFsvCkzy2q_YhGHOg9vUQfM8BE1K8zVY6eTx8jk3S5q592zZ9jfW_HLYooMf48dsyN1LIVv1iB44M/s320/Kayak+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243075499521212706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXuHp8yoTBBaW704rLMh1NHJ3dSnGUNQj5mNeOXdPt3UYWU1QUvEewhKHQXBohHB0olobpEu2OILghzxVh9PAlg5W5YN3ecZqkOCBoGNUGFKHyyVqo14ZUXEOwWNL6tAZv597UNMK0Q/s1600-h/Kayak+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mXuHp8yoTBBaW704rLMh1NHJ3dSnGUNQj5mNeOXdPt3UYWU1QUvEewhKHQXBohHB0olobpEu2OILghzxVh9PAlg5W5YN3ecZqkOCBoGNUGFKHyyVqo14ZUXEOwWNL6tAZv597UNMK0Q/s320/Kayak+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243075499093947826" border="0" /></a>We got back in time for one of Boyne City's pretty sunsets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CPj9kOAI6gXzAtaGvxVbjACkueULON8d2a3RboS9Y1yVsiWtV3F5mJ_eZX7owZIz9VW6TKTDMCzwidJPWX-CZC-ZGR_Hqlb8hRdCIVeEc7r8BNoVfjNcMaJwg9NV5dfWhZ9Pc1SCfy0/s1600-h/Sunset+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CPj9kOAI6gXzAtaGvxVbjACkueULON8d2a3RboS9Y1yVsiWtV3F5mJ_eZX7owZIz9VW6TKTDMCzwidJPWX-CZC-ZGR_Hqlb8hRdCIVeEc7r8BNoVfjNcMaJwg9NV5dfWhZ9Pc1SCfy0/s320/Sunset+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243075505907228930" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-50703845547978118012008-09-05T14:43:00.000-07:002008-09-05T18:53:40.738-07:00Boyne City, MichiganAugust 31 - September 1<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Mo871VZK7h2Djfckmm51KJvbs-AMoPjbsCr2yhdrDHV_9MPSTrPrWn8HKpjnfNoJGmFXwt7-KBMw6jPXgduhgh7Kqoh3-Nsk8tCi-6VZJTHXrvUNTR25Mt6vybWAy4-qxWyQEWNyKc/s1600-h/Mackinac+Bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Mo871VZK7h2Djfckmm51KJvbs-AMoPjbsCr2yhdrDHV_9MPSTrPrWn8HKpjnfNoJGmFXwt7-KBMw6jPXgduhgh7Kqoh3-Nsk8tCi-6VZJTHXrvUNTR25Mt6vybWAy4-qxWyQEWNyKc/s320/Mackinac+Bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242703887304067026" border="0" /></a>After <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/09/mackinaw-city-michigan.html"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">gently</span> jolting Bernie out of bed</a> before the sun was barely up, running to the Mackinaw Bakery, then zooming out of the Mackinaw City Marina, Phil settled into piloting Meridian on our longest journey since we crossed Lake Michigan back in June (has it been almost 3 months already)? We were headed to Lake Charlevoix.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntac6Hv4eNjIOmorEz5qGFa9kfjMG4x-9qoXRBVdByRS96aCxrhE21mt9cLssnosHM8jSV5En-BJ50lKSPgDtCIbas7h8jfqF2Wh-1MmiIS33VFB1svnpcaR-mfVf8aqfgx1z30GkwQM/s1600-h/Slide18.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntac6Hv4eNjIOmorEz5qGFa9kfjMG4x-9qoXRBVdByRS96aCxrhE21mt9cLssnosHM8jSV5En-BJ50lKSPgDtCIbas7h8jfqF2Wh-1MmiIS33VFB1svnpcaR-mfVf8aqfgx1z30GkwQM/s320/Slide18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242704008587424786" border="0" /></a>After leaving the Mackinaw City Marina, it was a fairly uneventful cruise - well, except for almost hitting the breakwall. Those things are surprisingly hard to see when the windshield is covered with dew. Did we say we left really early? But weather was then much better than expected and we got to see one of Bernie's favorite lighthouses, the <a href="http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/waugoshance/waugoshance.htm">Waugoshance Light</a>. We like the birdcage top. Plus it has a cool tale about the first lighthouse keeper, <a href="http://www.waugoshance.org/ourlighthouse.html">John Herman</a>, a trickster, who mysteriously disappeared one stormy evening, but who continued to somehow play jokes on subsequent lightkeepers.<br /><br />We reached the Charlevoix Bridge in time for its 1600 (that's nautical talk for 4:00pm) opening and cruised into Round Lake. The Emerald Isle, the Beaver Island Ferry, was on its way out. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI1NikMT5NzgK5dbwuQz09em7mDtsFRD0IdCABed2JiLtsuQ_j-TM_qJMYSr1-nWk9TJmvRdzO8OSk8YRMPTR0oCTGapVaEChBhjlf6pJHWLz_J30wv_u2TUaqAjYtr45oBcFfqBcGOg/s1600-h/Meeting+the+Emerald+Isle+at+Charlevoix+Bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI1NikMT5NzgK5dbwuQz09em7mDtsFRD0IdCABed2JiLtsuQ_j-TM_qJMYSr1-nWk9TJmvRdzO8OSk8YRMPTR0oCTGapVaEChBhjlf6pJHWLz_J30wv_u2TUaqAjYtr45oBcFfqBcGOg/s320/Meeting+the+Emerald+Isle+at+Charlevoix+Bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242704296937263554" border="0" /></a>It looked like it takes up the whole channel but there's really plenty of room. We passed underneath the bridge at almost the same time. Then, after passing the bridge, we figured out where all the boats on Lake Michigan have been hiding. They're all in Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. Every one of them. There must have been thousands of 'em - sailboats, powerboats, cruisers, skiers, fisherment, big, little, rowboats, you name it - and every one of them was out enjoying the beautiful Labor Day Weekend weather (80s and Caribbean blue skies). There were boats <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere</span>.<br /><br />Sailboats were racing, jet skis were zooming, go fast boats were going fast all over the place. In fact, it was so busy that the wakes from all those boats made Lake Charlevoix more wavy and turbulent than Lake Michigan! Whew!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8IV_Wo6ai6xS5o7zoMzxWVQaGH9Ft0u9oQxvXGzeVD7_DXUviEs40vvxVnUmj6jFVv1-XqSpohVL7srQW9rzCtzid-P4eTOqSRD7MmyMX9ZT1ZqN_iUHfV6Q3O1rWRfDIho8zvkMpZQ/s1600-h/Busy+Lake+Charlevoix.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8IV_Wo6ai6xS5o7zoMzxWVQaGH9Ft0u9oQxvXGzeVD7_DXUviEs40vvxVnUmj6jFVv1-XqSpohVL7srQW9rzCtzid-P4eTOqSRD7MmyMX9ZT1ZqN_iUHfV6Q3O1rWRfDIho8zvkMpZQ/s320/Busy+Lake+Charlevoix.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242704598576278962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGfJ6o9qAtViUZqCFXzAdnrOdChqRBs_ufWSRvPNWFWT_DQuOAZYPfM7n_vALJAk7cvpYXwVJzZo-9Mmg9BcJU4he8K0bsSzKd5m3ch2c4TSAaCNyGMtdVMHPX-6j96txshdPscLUe9w/s1600-h/Boyne+City+Map.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGfJ6o9qAtViUZqCFXzAdnrOdChqRBs_ufWSRvPNWFWT_DQuOAZYPfM7n_vALJAk7cvpYXwVJzZo-9Mmg9BcJU4he8K0bsSzKd5m3ch2c4TSAaCNyGMtdVMHPX-6j96txshdPscLUe9w/s320/Boyne+City+Map.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242709049760975874" border="0" /></a>We had planned to anchor at Oyster Bay, one of the coves on Lake Charlevoix. But after seeing all the activity on Lake Charlevoix - as well as the 2000 boats already anchored in Oyster Bay - we thought about it for a couple of seconds and changed our minds. We decided to go directly to Boyne City and got a slip there. <a href="http://www.boynecity.com/">Boyne City</a> is known in the summer for its series of summer festivals. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCA0TSVxHBJfWMEQe2uisGkuQLNQBHY6rW6wMmPO8tTBYAaffKYv1Ia3-3hYQhCici-RAChYJjv71DJsHaT3dg6br8PllZWL8ymY8t6BZdjBOUNudhk_pgmHAOxz206DB49v1XjxJ62o/s1600-h/Morel+Mural.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCA0TSVxHBJfWMEQe2uisGkuQLNQBHY6rW6wMmPO8tTBYAaffKYv1Ia3-3hYQhCici-RAChYJjv71DJsHaT3dg6br8PllZWL8ymY8t6BZdjBOUNudhk_pgmHAOxz206DB49v1XjxJ62o/s320/Morel+Mural.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242709992133948498" border="0" /></a>Its festival season starts with its <a href="http://www.morelfest.com/">Morel Mushroom fest</a> and includes a Poker Tournament, Farmers Markets, Car shows, and strolling musicians. The municipal marina is a nice little marina with friendly staff, nice grounds and facilities, and a beautiful sunset every night. Being a little tired from our long (9 hours) journey, we went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant called <a href="http://www.redmesagrill.com/redmesa.asp">Red Mesa Grill</a>. Service, food and margaritas were all good. As Red Mesa uses biodegradeable take-out containers, recycles, and on certain Thursdays donates a percentage of sales to the local food pantries, they seem to be good business citizens as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrMaVD5_BH2rGdIV_Y3FhU7O8_zzHET9gbau5SOjLeKmCZhhJL-8bVSZgYbDIYJS01ledMpIkcBIkuHvNwX9Yxe7WLWcdbFL4MS8nwvtiBINoc8eZPG4Pfr1V3pXcgm901uRbZCRYYCM/s1600-h/Ironton+Ferry+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrMaVD5_BH2rGdIV_Y3FhU7O8_zzHET9gbau5SOjLeKmCZhhJL-8bVSZgYbDIYJS01ledMpIkcBIkuHvNwX9Yxe7WLWcdbFL4MS8nwvtiBINoc8eZPG4Pfr1V3pXcgm901uRbZCRYYCM/s320/Ironton+Ferry+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242707177112476114" border="0" /></a>Labor Day was another beautiful day so we took a bike ride to explore the area a little. A good biking road (Front Street which becomes Lake Shore Road) runs along this side of Lake Charlevoix. It has a pretty wide shoulder and the cars are very bike-friendly. This was the first time since Traverse City that Bernie has biked on any hills. She now loves to ride UP steep hills. But, true to her contrary nature, she is not the least bit embarrassed to stop her bike and walk it DOWN a particularly steep hill. When she doesn't do that, she definitely rides her brakes all the way down. When she goes too fast, Phil yells "Use Your Brakes" (instead of "Use Your Gears" as he did last year). We road our bikes over to the <a href="http://www.charlevoixcounty.org/commerce6072756.asp">Ironton Ferry</a> (it wasn't the planned destination -- we just kinda happened upon it). The Ironton ferry is a cable ferry that runs across the south arm of Lake Charlevoix at one of its narrower points. When we first read about the cable-based Ironton Ferry, we pictured something like the <a href="http://www.free4allcity.com/michigan/info/saugatuck.htm">little hand-cranked ferry in Saugatuck</a>. As usual, we were mistaken. This is a real ferry capable of carrying as many as four cars. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eZsJ5iJ4Dom0UO9Vch03TAKWEDnmI-L2sS70nnmr3Fr3B81SOxsqEbkzt8BmmYMvmdusRaA226x150aJgAojPUZte7S8wIuuYu7IwR7wvSeTDbtLAF-_f16QQ3shHMKMloNp_JlpwRw/s1600-h/Ferry+rates+edit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eZsJ5iJ4Dom0UO9Vch03TAKWEDnmI-L2sS70nnmr3Fr3B81SOxsqEbkzt8BmmYMvmdusRaA226x150aJgAojPUZte7S8wIuuYu7IwR7wvSeTDbtLAF-_f16QQ3shHMKMloNp_JlpwRw/s320/Ferry+rates+edit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242706959097775778" border="0" /></a>We couldn't resist a short trip to the other side, after all it only cost a dollar for bicyclists and we didn't bring the sheep with us (see sign to the right) so there would be no extra charges. There's a little sign by the ferry that mentions that one of the earlier ferry boat captains got into Ripley's Believe It or Not for "having travelled a distance equivalent to the circumference of the earth without ever being more than one quarter mile away from his home in Ironton." The current ferry boat captain was nice enough not to laugh at us for taking the return ferry about ten minutes later.<br /><br />Returning to the marina, we decided that a bike ride wasn't enough. No, we had to take the kayak out for a spin as well. After all, the Boyne River looked so inviting and the entrance (or exit depending upon your perspective) was very near the marina. Ok, so the entrance is really just a culvert (you know, those round tunnel things that allow water to flow under roads).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBosHdmQHCsmMyK4u-K-NoWbH3_RCIYtbyyHMZ5rwc0X0-MyU27XFNy3q_zy2_l2R0_IvqMaTxsRMDBZnIgccz3YjMg5YP7Iwp-ewmDC_-UmKSXU5ivJ_61KezyYL4nvPCIR8IGozXFDc/s1600-h/Kayak+8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBosHdmQHCsmMyK4u-K-NoWbH3_RCIYtbyyHMZ5rwc0X0-MyU27XFNy3q_zy2_l2R0_IvqMaTxsRMDBZnIgccz3YjMg5YP7Iwp-ewmDC_-UmKSXU5ivJ_61KezyYL4nvPCIR8IGozXFDc/s320/Kayak+8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242720176039165234" border="0" /></a><br />But the marina staff told us that they took out the rapids that used to be at the turn by the auto parts store. Or did they say they took out the dam and created some rapids? We probably didn't pay close enough attention. Oh well, you only live once - we decided to go for it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWilBCq4aFS5OPqJtDqL7H6cZ12dYmMR0NC1NHJ86jDrbcxiTVvzS1b5B7ISJ-sG7ZsPfia5-lyVho1kPcyY6j-5tYK7Ksg2XfEMSdoKMe3UPXmOb4lNkGhAIQYKEwu7SMq1feSJ31NQU/s1600-h/Sunset+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWilBCq4aFS5OPqJtDqL7H6cZ12dYmMR0NC1NHJ86jDrbcxiTVvzS1b5B7ISJ-sG7ZsPfia5-lyVho1kPcyY6j-5tYK7Ksg2XfEMSdoKMe3UPXmOb4lNkGhAIQYKEwu7SMq1feSJ31NQU/s320/Sunset+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242710823087951730" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-928342432343773622008-09-01T20:19:00.001-07:002008-09-01T21:16:30.163-07:00Mackinaw City, MichiganAugust 29-30, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI2CoIO5ztR1EknKNzlW_vUWbuUgOCCC8MFJvfjHcNC5yEbRp4Uu49PAVF9KbxJlA4m-Ss44FMfTX9NuaeMIKyA4sMxeSVrPFTHeEKvMEsRcPbX3i6AQqEbD_2LVkGCJ0z8DhmVPlq_U/s1600-h/Foggy+Crossing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRI2CoIO5ztR1EknKNzlW_vUWbuUgOCCC8MFJvfjHcNC5yEbRp4Uu49PAVF9KbxJlA4m-Ss44FMfTX9NuaeMIKyA4sMxeSVrPFTHeEKvMEsRcPbX3i6AQqEbD_2LVkGCJ0z8DhmVPlq_U/s320/Foggy+Crossing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241258552304887106" border="0" /></a>Don't you hate it when dense fog rolls in and turns a routine trip into a slow, "blow your horn every two minutes" trek? We left Cheboygan in the sun. But 4 miles away from Mackinaw City, this dense pea soup rolled in, not on little cat's feet, but on big tiger paws. Really, this is the view from the helm. Not good. Thankfully, the pea soup cleared up before we got anywhere near the ferry boat routes. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6e1BI_rApBxX0PUWWj-vEasZaOin2QyvCvDt3Up0BthLr_hU58qjscCZXbJvh9rAx_RTpIDX5Uo2rVmvM8SOUeVX9xraL1RG2yIm_1ryW6MvwCMat6ywBgXvXeAoqMWQMo-t14FIYuM/s1600-h/Mackinac+Bridge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6e1BI_rApBxX0PUWWj-vEasZaOin2QyvCvDt3Up0BthLr_hU58qjscCZXbJvh9rAx_RTpIDX5Uo2rVmvM8SOUeVX9xraL1RG2yIm_1ryW6MvwCMat6ywBgXvXeAoqMWQMo-t14FIYuM/s320/Mackinac+Bridge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241259761887175426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But it was slow going for awhile.<br /><br /><br />We've visited <a href="http://www.greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/mackinaw-city-michigan.html">Mackinaw City</a> before, so we won't retell any of the previous stories. Except to mention two of our favorite places.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mackinawcity.com/dining-58/105/105/">Mackinaw Bakery and Coffee Shop</a> Cinnamon rolls, raspberry sticks, buttermilk sticks, donuts, cream and jelly filled delights. Enough said.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.joannsfudge.com/">JoAnn's Fudge</a> Fudge and Ice Cream. Enough said.<br /><br />We also like <a href="http://www.sheplersmarine.com/">Sheplers</a> because they always have an "End of Season" sale going on long before the end of OUR boating season. And the staff of the <a href="http://www.islandbookstore.com/">Island Bookstore</a> is always helpful and knowledgeable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD_DP3z6Oz83ACWPGQbBhj9JKmbuv4GfiCOAQse5pppKowlyrgwjzUbEeF5xCUGsvUHNo6_kT4A8pnLi5Q3Y5LpY8PpeT1nFhxf2hkhi6hYi63jILeKtARe5jmSk3MBCAI1c96LNMc5I/s1600-h/Turtle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD_DP3z6Oz83ACWPGQbBhj9JKmbuv4GfiCOAQse5pppKowlyrgwjzUbEeF5xCUGsvUHNo6_kT4A8pnLi5Q3Y5LpY8PpeT1nFhxf2hkhi6hYi63jILeKtARe5jmSk3MBCAI1c96LNMc5I/s320/Turtle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241264825664984674" border="0" /></a>Last year, we biked down to the <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/wilderness-state-park-mackinaw-city.html">Wilderness State Park</a>. So we had to take a different bike trip this year. Last fall (2007), a new route was completed called the <a href="http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/gaylord-to-cheboygan-trail_37/">Gaylord to Mackinaw Rail Trail</a>. Apparently the funding came from an MDOT grant and local contributions. We took the trail from Mackinaw to <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/09/cheboygan-michigan.html">Cheboygan </a>(which is only 32 miles round trip -- but we're still converting from kayaking to biking so aren't quite ready for the 50+ mile trips. Yet.) It is a wonderful trail. Pretty flat, great crushed limestone, and scenic. Along the way we found a very large turtle that apparently was passing his day by watching riders, runners, and walkers go by. Being <span style="font-weight: bold;">so</span> much more camera-friendly than any loon we found in the North Channel, Bernie spent several minutes snapping pictures. He seemed to be posing <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-style: italic;">(Actually, Phil thought he was preparing to launch at Bernie, like the rabbit in Monty Python.).</span> Bernie thought he needed a manicure though. Can you see those nails?<br /><br />That evening, Mackinaw City had a huge fireworks display celebrating Labor Day and the 51/50 Bridge Walk. Last year was the 50th Bridge Walk, true. This year is the 51st Bridge Walk, but it is the 50th <span style="font-weight: bold;">LABOR DAY</span> Bridge<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Walk. We suspect that next year might be 52/51/50. The 52nd Bridge Walk. The 51st Labor Day Bridge Walk. The 50th Bridge Walk that started after 7:00am. The possibilities are endless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7slq9gcEsP50sFmzJV-lZcZy7gX3t182zOL58cEX86VOgs83ZhC5TZF0x38ptOO_ewaOOR89Uwm0qETu-RV07mI3IDTUY6RHcar-dgeehnc22g6zf9uwvL4AHy7PLRIbFQJBFGsfrXuk/s1600-h/Fireworks+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7slq9gcEsP50sFmzJV-lZcZy7gX3t182zOL58cEX86VOgs83ZhC5TZF0x38ptOO_ewaOOR89Uwm0qETu-RV07mI3IDTUY6RHcar-dgeehnc22g6zf9uwvL4AHy7PLRIbFQJBFGsfrXuk/s320/Fireworks+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241266695957546690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGybJQuN4Jgng8Ce5uLq86Rl3_w_UBrYP3Kf81_9fFQQbwZgvBKdBEvp1tHWVxku4MkilgmRvCQTjgqmIoly_Q_bV2esYuka9WJlvdm9C5efPJPbxCcJVVzRutpU38kHykateIob5mfuA/s1600-h/Fireworks+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGybJQuN4Jgng8Ce5uLq86Rl3_w_UBrYP3Kf81_9fFQQbwZgvBKdBEvp1tHWVxku4MkilgmRvCQTjgqmIoly_Q_bV2esYuka9WJlvdm9C5efPJPbxCcJVVzRutpU38kHykateIob5mfuA/s320/Fireworks+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241266698369011842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMyM3F_yBq1EePJxGq11asUKrA0isWncjpey9ruyVjiFKoawRVzQ8PTde11ce-SyDD52rC2P9l3CgRG406IzFrnBrOBk60fvAHZHWHnLirHwofI_K-5DaqVOPrnkcdcE7khyViqhDoxU/s1600-h/Fireworks+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMyM3F_yBq1EePJxGq11asUKrA0isWncjpey9ruyVjiFKoawRVzQ8PTde11ce-SyDD52rC2P9l3CgRG406IzFrnBrOBk60fvAHZHWHnLirHwofI_K-5DaqVOPrnkcdcE7khyViqhDoxU/s320/Fireworks+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241266700983839426" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning, quite early, Phil roused Bernie from a deep, pleasant-dream-filled, relaxing sleep and dragged her to the bakery to load up on sweet treats for the very long trip to Lake Charlevoix, Michigan. "Not a moment to lose", he harangued, "Could be some weather moving in! Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Let's get moving, sleepy girl! Andale! Andale! Arrr!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-62444481831724730122008-09-01T19:10:00.000-07:002008-09-01T20:13:20.618-07:00Cheboygan, MichiganAugust 28, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdI0S5-GRZIgrGBSe_Sh8eQmUuKNUdFAVG8g2mp39mUV4DBAUzkQuz0dwEgu_Iuwuhb2aDfo30RJFiCcXYtbC1YnnMxn_XywSusLgvFFULcTPjV0X84J3njIELQ9kWSxjitGrOEKOKb0/s1600-h/Meridian+at+Cheboygan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdI0S5-GRZIgrGBSe_Sh8eQmUuKNUdFAVG8g2mp39mUV4DBAUzkQuz0dwEgu_Iuwuhb2aDfo30RJFiCcXYtbC1YnnMxn_XywSusLgvFFULcTPjV0X84J3njIELQ9kWSxjitGrOEKOKb0/s320/Meridian+at+Cheboygan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244084711611218" border="0" /></a>You can't really miss the entrance to the Cheybogan County Marina. There's a large Coast Guard cutter right across from it. At first we thought it was the same ship <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/call-out-troops-meridian-wants-to.html">that tried to stop us from leaving the harbor in Traverse City</a>, so we quickly ducked into the marina.<br /><br />The Cheboygan River is pretty busy as it is the entrance to the <a href="http://www.irtourism.com/inlandwaterway.htm">Inland Waterway</a>, a stretch of water that runs the width of Michigan from Cheboygan to nearly Petoskey. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQMy57qCrtyNzeALpHg9HXqum6UmHKBbHHOin3PkiLwN1P42cgYJl4zjKUICE8C_Bz12LsXna6zdr9gdZUNUJKPu7DQKAV2byvzVHBYPCSWfexhri-RAuSGSTgeM8CtWHx2tRqAtRFDo/s1600-h/Cheboygan+entrance.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQMy57qCrtyNzeALpHg9HXqum6UmHKBbHHOin3PkiLwN1P42cgYJl4zjKUICE8C_Bz12LsXna6zdr9gdZUNUJKPu7DQKAV2byvzVHBYPCSWfexhri-RAuSGSTgeM8CtWHx2tRqAtRFDo/s320/Cheboygan+entrance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241244173020264690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's a fixed bridge along the way that has a clearance of about 15 feet. Meridian is too tall.<br /><br /><br />But <a href="http://www.cheboygan.com/">Cheboygan</a> has a number of things to enjoy besides the Inland Waterway. During the summer, they have weekly concerts at Washington Park. We were able to see the last concert of the year. A performer named <a href="http://www.billyjewell.com/">Billy Jewell</a>. He has a CD out with mostly originals. He most notably covers "Sylvia's Mother" on the CD. (A song of the type that will always get stuck in your head as soon as you hear the phrase <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JHXRuu2bmMfMjTii8x5fHYeyZyTLnsKRY9BRENa_Gyp4OInL8ZLaxQNkMFKNA0PkHTHzeDj-KbfPuYHUoELa8x5DqLpwqX0BcIOA8LMHoMF4lCFDvNE_8jPG9C2IZ9IJRAJORVPovNc/s1600-h/Billy+Jewell+n+concert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JHXRuu2bmMfMjTii8x5fHYeyZyTLnsKRY9BRENa_Gyp4OInL8ZLaxQNkMFKNA0PkHTHzeDj-KbfPuYHUoELa8x5DqLpwqX0BcIOA8LMHoMF4lCFDvNE_8jPG9C2IZ9IJRAJORVPovNc/s320/Billy+Jewell+n+concert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241254130736653474" border="0" /></a>"And the operator says 40 cents more. For the next (pause) three (pause) minutes PLEASE!") Aside from that, he's a good performer and the kids were all dancing in front of the stage. The crowd must have been very familiar with the show he and his partner do. They kept requesting the song "Picture" (the Kid Rock-Sheryl Crow duet). He and his male bongo playing partner do the song -- with the bongo player singing Sheryl Crow's part in a rather high voice. It was fun to see. (OK - so maybe it loses something in the re-telling but LIVE, it's entertaining.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemWan1vcRABC0I4bObU7VU8yi4FjYHChpDR3TT6FBBvPC2XPtr5C8fHip23Ea5DQ2ZaDDia0L-7bsgggMKThTtDjjGom-7RvJ8ggNxAMQyPX8V-elZ1rVSerXV6H-ooXXcXHScAMd57M/s1600-h/Big+Dipper+Ice+Cream+note+wood+carved+cone.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemWan1vcRABC0I4bObU7VU8yi4FjYHChpDR3TT6FBBvPC2XPtr5C8fHip23Ea5DQ2ZaDDia0L-7bsgggMKThTtDjjGom-7RvJ8ggNxAMQyPX8V-elZ1rVSerXV6H-ooXXcXHScAMd57M/s320/Big+Dipper+Ice+Cream+note+wood+carved+cone.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241246230353586162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.cheboygan.org/dda-directory.php">The Big Dipper</a> is the local hand-dipped ice cream parlor. We're now back in the land of House of Flavors Ice Cream. The Big Dipper has a large wooden carved ice cream cone outside complete with a cherry on top.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cheboygan.org/dda-map.php">Downtown Cheboygan</a> seems to be losing some downtown businesses. A number of empty store fronts were on the main street. Don't let that stop you from visiting (shopping isn't everything.) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNXQ3QQSQt1TL1zOrHh9HmhGuR0YRih6kMuPqRvh1qx8IhvaLmiNzYRFRY3s5-HSKKEHc_EtnvLQBd0m1amHSWkHCYst7G6GkIIsa6gqp4caKgHBiHFq9sskqxJ6ti2TqFrZG5FSYKn8/s1600-h/Libbys+Restaurant.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNXQ3QQSQt1TL1zOrHh9HmhGuR0YRih6kMuPqRvh1qx8IhvaLmiNzYRFRY3s5-HSKKEHc_EtnvLQBd0m1amHSWkHCYst7G6GkIIsa6gqp4caKgHBiHFq9sskqxJ6ti2TqFrZG5FSYKn8/s320/Libbys+Restaurant.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241246088727191730" border="0" /></a>There are a lot of restaurants and watering holes to visit. We ate at <a href="http://www.cheboygan.com/memberlisting/Libby%27s/1367/">Libby's</a>. A fairly new restaurant on Main Street that has good food and an amazing selection of pies. They boast the availability of 75 combinations for orders. The day we were there, they had options like Cherry-Blueberry, Blackberry, Peach, Blueberry, Peach-Strawberry, etc. And a choice of crusts are available to (standard or an oatmeal struedel style). They also do cooking classes. It's good to see a business like that!<br /><br />It's also a stop on the new <a href="http://www.trailscouncil.org/inside/gaylord-to-cheboygan-trail_37/">Gaylord-Mackinaw Trail</a>. A multi-use (bikers, runners, walkers, horseback riders) trail that is packed limestone. It's a rail trail so pretty flat and a good way to work off the pie and ice cream. (We actually road back to Cheboygan from Mackinaw which we'll talk about in the next blog.)<br /><br />And they are very artistically oriented, too. <a href="http://www.cheboygan.org/dda.php">Ottawa Park</a>, one of the two downtown parks, had displays of classic artwork done with a local twist.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC1mIzuDHvWhdK8LrMOpccDGM5pW_wYt9pIBCWNiBXTqomlnfAeEgabI2qwCCyHiO3SV_GtwxpH7FUzADCiOr7tUIKxlGEDcFwGqcwuwdFtprMsfkhY0nrV-s9e1gZhk-Hj7CKreE-OQ/s1600-h/Art+in+the+Park+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC1mIzuDHvWhdK8LrMOpccDGM5pW_wYt9pIBCWNiBXTqomlnfAeEgabI2qwCCyHiO3SV_GtwxpH7FUzADCiOr7tUIKxlGEDcFwGqcwuwdFtprMsfkhY0nrV-s9e1gZhk-Hj7CKreE-OQ/s320/Art+in+the+Park+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241247309504136594" border="0" /></a>Starry Starry Lighthouse?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvaaaxSeCcmnI1SG_SdTwbp5l14DpGf-atokEUHv1AZnTq-6klCVRxbZOZb1fvySl9lNHdPS2x42qCf55LMH8g9Kj5Uw0WdnW49dGhk498kpk5pWQp2p1taeu4fqdmhyphenhyphenu-6aEDFdS7pY/s1600-h/Art+in+the+Park+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvaaaxSeCcmnI1SG_SdTwbp5l14DpGf-atokEUHv1AZnTq-6klCVRxbZOZb1fvySl9lNHdPS2x42qCf55LMH8g9Kj5Uw0WdnW49dGhk498kpk5pWQp2p1taeu4fqdmhyphenhyphenu-6aEDFdS7pY/s320/Art+in+the+Park+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241247314948056850" border="0" /></a>The Mackinac Bridgewalk Scream?<br />(Probably due to the <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/09/stroll-over-bridge-episode-2.html">lines for the buses</a> to go back over the bridge)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TABECsqT6dpV1btmt8I0fmpXCN-0Yn4HP0XxWDHYVYwJrNDB5Z0YPEPeOno10MbK05a44CS3zYl99XQzsHZgpR17w3qtDic9YTZGe-bGw2F4t4femE6fRF_m9VwLCE3ehjFfVbc5_dU/s1600-h/Art+in+the+Park++2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TABECsqT6dpV1btmt8I0fmpXCN-0Yn4HP0XxWDHYVYwJrNDB5Z0YPEPeOno10MbK05a44CS3zYl99XQzsHZgpR17w3qtDic9YTZGe-bGw2F4t4femE6fRF_m9VwLCE3ehjFfVbc5_dU/s320/Art+in+the+Park++2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241247311446118946" border="0" /></a>American Salmon?<br /></div><br />On Friday we headed out of the marina and channel to go to Mackinaw City. Two Blue Herons provided an escort for us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvnnCPLjrKAQ9eqPZ4cJuh0YU8gndBLyaB1WtzZmIUgh_V9YDwNH7GpD6KIF7vYDzkyxnr8vqDsoLhaLM1kwZUtLPEFFAJAMcknskm1B7wMzj10shVCakEvQpEjvYpIo44sw-mXgItI/s1600-h/Heron+Escort.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvnnCPLjrKAQ9eqPZ4cJuh0YU8gndBLyaB1WtzZmIUgh_V9YDwNH7GpD6KIF7vYDzkyxnr8vqDsoLhaLM1kwZUtLPEFFAJAMcknskm1B7wMzj10shVCakEvQpEjvYpIo44sw-mXgItI/s320/Heron+Escort.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241250132286498146" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-67986051115771350412008-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:002008-09-01T07:04:12.974-07:00Bicycling on Bois BlancAugust 27, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HZNJ3cekQSnuCK3nPmHfiCEkacp-0WEqhuHYuhZtjVKGP15Xfj9v2LEI0FZZcySH_Nr3CDNy4IBk_egiljiRz-97YT8jK2yX0Yu3Og3uN1xfvolSjTMTfPMhqafistrZRslJ3QwGTWo/s1600-h/P8270072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HZNJ3cekQSnuCK3nPmHfiCEkacp-0WEqhuHYuhZtjVKGP15Xfj9v2LEI0FZZcySH_Nr3CDNy4IBk_egiljiRz-97YT8jK2yX0Yu3Og3uN1xfvolSjTMTfPMhqafistrZRslJ3QwGTWo/s320/P8270072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241048249202888418" border="0" /></a>When we had <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/08/trip-to-bois-blanc-island-michigan.html">arrived on Bois Blanc</a> yesterday, the Harbormaster/Deputy Sheriff had told us of a good bicycle ride that we could take to see the island. Start by taking Bob-Lo drive from the marina, go right to Baseline Road. Central (aka Baseline) Road runs through the island to the opposite shore. From there you take the only road that is there to Bible Road. From Bible Road you can take Lime Kiln Road right (to the tip of Bois Blanc) or left (back to the Marina). It sounded like a good trip so we headed off. He had warned us that there would be some muddy spots due to the recent rains.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfiCad7w1og46Zi8yDTaDlOwXAscFXBGB6hqXgXVcQUZKvE4B3h8Uq7uzHhZo-orsK7usE3Rh9OkQva-MXuVdYkXIntGehE0O4LcnnQ9CJkDaG4rNVN6aaNaj741cHzu-Fc6EO-Et9Mg/s1600-h/P8271228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfiCad7w1og46Zi8yDTaDlOwXAscFXBGB6hqXgXVcQUZKvE4B3h8Uq7uzHhZo-orsK7usE3Rh9OkQva-MXuVdYkXIntGehE0O4LcnnQ9CJkDaG4rNVN6aaNaj741cHzu-Fc6EO-Et9Mg/s320/P8271228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241031273904575202" border="0" /></a>His directions were right on and the biking was mostly nice. Bob-Lo and Baseline are well used roads so the riding is good (like a rail-trail). There aren't a lot of cars on <a href="http://www.bois-blanc.com/phpBB2/portal.php">Bois Blanc</a>, but <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">every</span> car we passed - no matter if they were passing us from the front or from the rear - waved at us as they went by. It is a very friendly island.<br /><br />Along the way we noticed some numerical markers that seem to go along with an interpretive historical trail. We didn't have a map so we made up our own interpretive guide. Some were easy. Number 1, for example, is the Bois Blanc Historical Marker Signs right at the Marina.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i0zs-8OtENAbUnEwk84ZVWINv5hRESDQiAaLLg5cbXkL4-C3vXISKSkYWPfb4XiJja2RpHs4cy1-H6LAhxIW5GF3MQm8PtIwcAQOeQW48Qm9hKEPT-ZCPD7p3c3xIvBfRvUg6l7vJQw/s1600-h/Bois+Blanc+Signs.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8i0zs-8OtENAbUnEwk84ZVWINv5hRESDQiAaLLg5cbXkL4-C3vXISKSkYWPfb4XiJja2RpHs4cy1-H6LAhxIW5GF3MQm8PtIwcAQOeQW48Qm9hKEPT-ZCPD7p3c3xIvBfRvUg6l7vJQw/s320/Bois+Blanc+Signs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241035732129002546" border="0" /></a><br />Number 19 is about a study being done on the effects of deer and rabbit grazing on a forest. In 1956, they fenced off a few areas on Bois Blanc so the deer and rabbit couldn't graze. These would be comparison points for the rest of the forest. Don't know if the picture is clear enough but without the deer and rabbits, Bois Blanc forests would be dense jungles!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX-2DUO1sC74IZ87oDZsGrRJjEcaUnE9Jaj-0VSbk_9A2Vy0FmwMAhSRlW9RygwKk1988GZWJprVR6LL6BBJOzbPT-0NeSC4gmHiVbw8ZCXMlQqQ2vzMyXFGZ5dzfGVDzpPAWCDagyGk/s1600-h/P8270065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX-2DUO1sC74IZ87oDZsGrRJjEcaUnE9Jaj-0VSbk_9A2Vy0FmwMAhSRlW9RygwKk1988GZWJprVR6LL6BBJOzbPT-0NeSC4gmHiVbw8ZCXMlQqQ2vzMyXFGZ5dzfGVDzpPAWCDagyGk/s320/P8270065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241048982371394050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A9L7qx5JSk9nbZ811cjzxayYdbbUwBclblE4JrMkArjGSjtfkxffYaWH29IWqdDxgj2YDwELlpnD9L2YpZZBSJJq6PCJrvHA00w6HZxdT3Wm2GAT3rgkZArHOkzPJxB24bOFvNSAGUI/s1600-h/Deer+Grazing+Study+Sign.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A9L7qx5JSk9nbZ811cjzxayYdbbUwBclblE4JrMkArjGSjtfkxffYaWH29IWqdDxgj2YDwELlpnD9L2YpZZBSJJq6PCJrvHA00w6HZxdT3Wm2GAT3rgkZArHOkzPJxB24bOFvNSAGUI/s320/Deer+Grazing+Study+Sign.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241035735326982610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifux5dyxGZgXst_sUlLrO9N2Rw1Cvp207IP8oemPM8FtHW3yC-Q2DDxCGAt9QenyDW7UFOY7Z1ssHWCPXkKMI4kOtFnIyqaF6yCLvWDGlnVxjKX5S33xnsvtx3sWIR05dlD1wNos-ZlJ4/s1600-h/Deer+Grazing+Study.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifux5dyxGZgXst_sUlLrO9N2Rw1Cvp207IP8oemPM8FtHW3yC-Q2DDxCGAt9QenyDW7UFOY7Z1ssHWCPXkKMI4kOtFnIyqaF6yCLvWDGlnVxjKX5S33xnsvtx3sWIR05dlD1wNos-ZlJ4/s320/Deer+Grazing+Study.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241035731313974498" border="0" /></a><br />Number 14 was an open meadow and it really threw us. What could it signify? Then we saw the large turkey and realized THAT must be what #14 is. Although how they get the turkey to stand in the field all the time is beyond us. It must be really tough to maintain this site around Thanksgiving.<br /><br />When we got to the opposite end of the island, the road splits to go towards the lighthouse or toward Bible Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HvrNIuTfAf5Horu2SgCVNAS4iqbiKXkRS7kshnoc5fguNyOuFmOVERD-46Z_9X2jVWg8ePWUa3b_AacjE_L5v7CVIgUscFKYOiEBnArMOCCFVLm7PrF2WXqB_t6if2A3j6wsxNA1Vgg/s1600-h/P8270069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HvrNIuTfAf5Horu2SgCVNAS4iqbiKXkRS7kshnoc5fguNyOuFmOVERD-46Z_9X2jVWg8ePWUa3b_AacjE_L5v7CVIgUscFKYOiEBnArMOCCFVLm7PrF2WXqB_t6if2A3j6wsxNA1Vgg/s320/P8270069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241048822667974674" border="0" /></a>We attempted to go to the lighthouse but the road doesn't seem to be used much at all and we hit three big mud pools in a short distance. So we turned back to go the opposite direction toward Bible Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-nr0Lgwz5LIywja0H_a7Ah3iS69BQy7pCkiWjVNWp0EScS6rS55tNWhN2YyZ2qWAbYpVESH8T3Rg2QsSHAH9nhib6FkQZbWWGECpCA0TChRm7e6LQ-eD7Sjkk8zcpnIlYofVveMiY8I/s1600-h/Tauting+Loon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-nr0Lgwz5LIywja0H_a7Ah3iS69BQy7pCkiWjVNWp0EScS6rS55tNWhN2YyZ2qWAbYpVESH8T3Rg2QsSHAH9nhib6FkQZbWWGECpCA0TChRm7e6LQ-eD7Sjkk8zcpnIlYofVveMiY8I/s320/Tauting+Loon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241038934659274674" border="0" /></a>Along this route there are places to camp and picnic. One clearing provided another loon a chance to taunt Bernie by swimming around just out of good camera range. She takes pictures anyway!<br /><br />Bible Road is marked with a cross so you can't miss it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPecK6jCjs_FrYiXTksBzBiDVzOWbnMkEz-QqUdePZ-12vDTpa6Iy2InQpPJOIJowYjIWhm7jECFvzVklcVzIK5NpOcW5rqNojX3GxV81wW-MpsoQ4qylBiZpCiITmpQTeFg4KvxwIXc/s1600-h/P8270084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPecK6jCjs_FrYiXTksBzBiDVzOWbnMkEz-QqUdePZ-12vDTpa6Iy2InQpPJOIJowYjIWhm7jECFvzVklcVzIK5NpOcW5rqNojX3GxV81wW-MpsoQ4qylBiZpCiITmpQTeFg4KvxwIXc/s320/P8270084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241049565427184722" border="0" /></a>We THOUGHT the cross was why it was called Bible Road, but then we passed the site of the Bible Family Farm...<br /><br /><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/Org/land/er/factsheets/plants/dwarf.htm">dwarf lake irises</a> along the shore (an <a href="http://www.fws.gov/midwest/greatlakes/endangeredsp.htm">endangered plant species</a> that ONLY grows in the Great Lakes region) are a little more cooperative when she brings out the camera.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmDB_pCZwg9DNuZtsLYbF9aCu6YMtdk5poEfJrxyWCXx425QA9phkSUNlr1D3Kv05qUS8MH1yV9c13ic1_W9vVtgzLHMNRGLNAnfGPLrm7fnj5On8EuE2PzugMb3Svr1IY6HU2aLnxKE/s1600-h/Dwarf+Iris.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmDB_pCZwg9DNuZtsLYbF9aCu6YMtdk5poEfJrxyWCXx425QA9phkSUNlr1D3Kv05qUS8MH1yV9c13ic1_W9vVtgzLHMNRGLNAnfGPLrm7fnj5On8EuE2PzugMb3Svr1IY6HU2aLnxKE/s320/Dwarf+Iris.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241040094865535538" border="0" /></a><br />A few signs we saw really confused us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn71Fp1OkMCnNsLYZCqMslrAFC44p1jEj0iV-qKfSFYYbU8hRrGu4XvXJJxq66c1PuXUwaklLHsUyBg97Lp8zdNUcJIntCuRx-GQwXGVh2EMuGXzo4fnF1O1CD0VsnSgv7WqWRzc_1NE/s1600-h/No+clue+what+this+means.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn71Fp1OkMCnNsLYZCqMslrAFC44p1jEj0iV-qKfSFYYbU8hRrGu4XvXJJxq66c1PuXUwaklLHsUyBg97Lp8zdNUcJIntCuRx-GQwXGVh2EMuGXzo4fnF1O1CD0VsnSgv7WqWRzc_1NE/s320/No+clue+what+this+means.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241042821640672770" border="0" /></a><br />We know <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halsted_Street">Halsted Street</a> is long, but didn't know it ran all the way to an island in northern Michigan!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH68Hir9x0FRNZRwqAkbIJdte1viKv6p7EuFWRrM9Nk08T70HKQ6za4HmQCbSUh2761HiZuvuUufWZl7jU-6I7bAl4b-dHXGeG7ZzyZbKUB3uhAJ9kvGKzECC-KlEMawwVTJSrsd5kmBo/s1600-h/Halsted+is+a+LONG+street.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH68Hir9x0FRNZRwqAkbIJdte1viKv6p7EuFWRrM9Nk08T70HKQ6za4HmQCbSUh2761HiZuvuUufWZl7jU-6I7bAl4b-dHXGeG7ZzyZbKUB3uhAJ9kvGKzECC-KlEMawwVTJSrsd5kmBo/s320/Halsted+is+a+LONG+street.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241042826085646690" border="0" /></a><br />Just like you can buy pink tools, you can also purchase pink flowered cases to carry your hunting rifles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZbbO7xyoJ9OElF_GvNE_MEpsj6-Y72bLhxmfepEqUhv_v4en3375Oi3yvhj47OCvQarYj9khkODGDdZhyphenhyphenrMULt-qDpz3MzAWs0aBxyRMBd1Is3f2RnY74sN5_aJ4qRTYCfCoxP-17lg/s1600-h/Girl+Gun+Cases.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZbbO7xyoJ9OElF_GvNE_MEpsj6-Y72bLhxmfepEqUhv_v4en3375Oi3yvhj47OCvQarYj9khkODGDdZhyphenhyphenrMULt-qDpz3MzAWs0aBxyRMBd1Is3f2RnY74sN5_aJ4qRTYCfCoxP-17lg/s320/Girl+Gun+Cases.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241042825241673010" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped for ice cream at Hawk's general store on the way back and ran into the Harbormaster /Deputy Sheriff. We thanked him for the tip on the bike route and he seemed to be glad that we had enjoyed our stay.<br /><br />The next day we left for a long and arduous 4 mile trip to Cheboygan, MI. The angle of the wall and a boat to our stern made getting out a little trickier than expected. We had to push off with the boat hook, and help from a boat neighbor, to get enough distance from the pier. Having safely turned around, only using the dinghy as a fender once, we said "So Long, for now" to Bois Blanc Island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdPm19att73aX5n_Bd0poiJWz9kImWZqL3RugmdbNMATDEnKx2De3DwQHP7Tl37CFPG1XYXMS4Kv9uJH_4DjFGnZntXgQbtKdGYjxOkhiFB5SZiHvvWTB5f5IhfNjnwWDzGTuBACHNQs/s1600-h/Bois+Blanc+Harbor+Entrance.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdPm19att73aX5n_Bd0poiJWz9kImWZqL3RugmdbNMATDEnKx2De3DwQHP7Tl37CFPG1XYXMS4Kv9uJH_4DjFGnZntXgQbtKdGYjxOkhiFB5SZiHvvWTB5f5IhfNjnwWDzGTuBACHNQs/s320/Bois+Blanc+Harbor+Entrance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241044803361198242" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-68572802582305733872008-08-28T21:45:00.000-07:002008-08-28T19:43:53.557-07:00Trip to Bois Blanc Island, MichiganAugust 26, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjd3wnehCpr0mvo1dWWXuHUETAi3LIOk-tLX2CPrlXTx7HNPMN5w2WKexDkzJ5oib9Mg0hIk0cnS9IXL9vy9nA_oPUmnUf64Dg-Umf5Jk0buphbriUcRo-ZKcLKw2ZZ1qchhNhnWrE1M/s1600-h/Meridian+on+Lake+Huron.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjd3wnehCpr0mvo1dWWXuHUETAi3LIOk-tLX2CPrlXTx7HNPMN5w2WKexDkzJ5oib9Mg0hIk0cnS9IXL9vy9nA_oPUmnUf64Dg-Umf5Jk0buphbriUcRo-ZKcLKw2ZZ1qchhNhnWrE1M/s320/Meridian+on+Lake+Huron.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239659834377631170" border="0" /></a>Not that we're anything close to experts but in the three times we've been on Lake Huron, we've never seen it like this.<br /><br />On Tuesday, August 28, we had a good weather forecast and decided to <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/08/lime-island-michigan.html">move from Lime Island</a> down to Bois Blanc Island (pronounced locally as "Bob-Lo") which is four miles off of Cheboygan, MI. We had initially planned to go to Whitney Bay for another day of anchoring before moving to Bois Blanc but a very windy (20+ knots from the wrong direction) made us put Whitney Bay on a future cruise list.<br /><br />After the fog lifted from Lime Island and we felt safe venturing out into Freighter Alley, we headed out. Our plan was to fuel up and get a few provisions (coffee and fruit) in <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/touring-detour-michigan.html">Detour Village</a> then head over to Bois Blanc. We hadn't been out of Lime Island very long before this big guy started chasing us. "<a href="http://www.qnetwork.com/index.php?page=review&id=149">Who are those guys?</a>" we kept asking each other. As it turns out, it was the <a href="http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/cort.htm">Stewart J. Cort</a>, a regular St. Mary's River commuter. We slowed down even more than normal as we were afraid our wake might be giving him a rough ride. Hopefully he appreciated our gesture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsa-e7OGkyW7ah6G37o_jM1QxRLNXiJYo5LAEE5XKYANxJlNZO4Mbl6dDAglVkUkK7ICM2rb1mRGDTalDmCP1tGHOkLsnI8w1oDDsmAagwhUEpcRA7OkXPvuqtAyNJeOiQRruRfxYZwQ/s1600-h/Freighter+Alley+Traffic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsa-e7OGkyW7ah6G37o_jM1QxRLNXiJYo5LAEE5XKYANxJlNZO4Mbl6dDAglVkUkK7ICM2rb1mRGDTalDmCP1tGHOkLsnI8w1oDDsmAagwhUEpcRA7OkXPvuqtAyNJeOiQRruRfxYZwQ/s320/Freighter+Alley+Traffic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239753315761902242" border="0" /></a><br />We'd never been this side of Detour Village and saw an interesting sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZBb44vcGuLnyqZbT_ueDREeOeCWOu6Uxha6BRkbLaWjD5Zt22NLSXNLkY8AyaIIJDT5RkwNjkBdOdLNfk94uKKo1iNZUTb9i6cp0fve9ruLY8ya-liToZP3AcHWojhh8Z-qIH9sCGaI/s1600-h/Future+Freighter+B+and+B.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZBb44vcGuLnyqZbT_ueDREeOeCWOu6Uxha6BRkbLaWjD5Zt22NLSXNLkY8AyaIIJDT5RkwNjkBdOdLNfk94uKKo1iNZUTb9i6cp0fve9ruLY8ya-liToZP3AcHWojhh8Z-qIH9sCGaI/s320/Future+Freighter+B+and+B.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239751214763838578" border="0" /></a><br />We asked about this at Detour and they told us that a guy had purchased it with plans to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast. The original foundation, though, wasn't strong enough to hold it and it collapsed to the ground. The person is currently living in a tent on the property but says that the funding exists to turn his plans into reality. Go Big or Go Home. Good luck to him!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9xKq2D_stUbG0dZgtr7nEt_GL9t60ziqbYbM1AH1u2_6gYaBXipNeWfNCj-GL67oDfXXvsOR2TL8TRAYuJFG_9URMZAL5veNO1A7rmIflaoiRZk0zWEqK86iDFVEvKRDeNFF86C6GE8/s1600-h/Glassy+Lake+Huron.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9xKq2D_stUbG0dZgtr7nEt_GL9t60ziqbYbM1AH1u2_6gYaBXipNeWfNCj-GL67oDfXXvsOR2TL8TRAYuJFG_9URMZAL5veNO1A7rmIflaoiRZk0zWEqK86iDFVEvKRDeNFF86C6GE8/s320/Glassy+Lake+Huron.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239754281330907058" border="0" /></a>After finishing up in Detour, we headed out again to a very calm sea. It was, at times, difficult to discern the sky from the lake. At one point, a passing boat's wake created a false horizon line. It was pretty cool to see. Even in the North Channel, we never saw the water this calm (OK - maybe at 1:30am when Bernie was out watching the stars and saw them reflecting in the water).<br /><br /><br /><br />Before getting to Bois Blanc, we added three light houses to our list.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=719">Pipe Island Lighthouse</a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcbzDLN1o9saQTDi77MRmDN6QooV-JyCSe6Fcgx71D6YvseyimvxPxm4TQB86ezd572PggZcnsFdE_8yK4TcH8r6QUdkmbeHuFka-QnMflgTF13NNe4jWw_nBla7Z-NyDR5_AXUgWObY/s1600-h/Pipe+Island+Lighthouse.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcbzDLN1o9saQTDi77MRmDN6QooV-JyCSe6Fcgx71D6YvseyimvxPxm4TQB86ezd572PggZcnsFdE_8yK4TcH8r6QUdkmbeHuFka-QnMflgTF13NNe4jWw_nBla7Z-NyDR5_AXUgWObY/s320/Pipe+Island+Lighthouse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239754990049816754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michiganlights.com/spectaclereeflh.htm">Spectacle Reef Lighthouse</a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGUHSR0YMLjrPnDcfIAe9K5NqFW5Br9gldQifA6-71KGBh82XGUZhMcna9k-9i768H5cAMkQ1-leOSsU4EXTMH9CPkRb903C5pXKKyMbdbp9CRXpi1bA7ErCmjhpF64eIB4HSWTYY8X4/s1600-h/Scavenger+reef+Lighthouse.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGUHSR0YMLjrPnDcfIAe9K5NqFW5Br9gldQifA6-71KGBh82XGUZhMcna9k-9i768H5cAMkQ1-leOSsU4EXTMH9CPkRb903C5pXKKyMbdbp9CRXpi1bA7ErCmjhpF64eIB4HSWTYY8X4/s320/Scavenger+reef+Lighthouse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239755035186755666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/poereef.htm">Poe Reef Lighthouse</a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIlTsyO1bnDG7_xLq6SWtnCmtxTebPvAAXVTF3-of8_4qGEGh_X__U4ig6grzm-nvX0QY3bIMjEuB9R_dE-OmNYEMiw1X9jIovbMvyjFVGfprGM3t4UBsLj0ha7wz0_89Q2r6dCb0b-U/s1600-h/Poe+Reef+Lighthouse.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIlTsyO1bnDG7_xLq6SWtnCmtxTebPvAAXVTF3-of8_4qGEGh_X__U4ig6grzm-nvX0QY3bIMjEuB9R_dE-OmNYEMiw1X9jIovbMvyjFVGfprGM3t4UBsLj0ha7wz0_89Q2r6dCb0b-U/s320/Poe+Reef+Lighthouse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239755040200709122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ-vXq6Hlo7_BTrqerjHg0DPbZbFsf4uFXOUocl6UZgjIwIdXxAVr5j7Y3XTEuvMHCPQ48AX7noRgjT_n4cnmmtBX1kJyx0_AdwHtOUGXSXYBvnmio2P2Kb8Y6nbQxCZbHqZBiNnyA4o/s1600-h/flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ-vXq6Hlo7_BTrqerjHg0DPbZbFsf4uFXOUocl6UZgjIwIdXxAVr5j7Y3XTEuvMHCPQ48AX7noRgjT_n4cnmmtBX1kJyx0_AdwHtOUGXSXYBvnmio2P2Kb8Y6nbQxCZbHqZBiNnyA4o/s320/flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239760190814059682" border="0" /></a>At 6 cruising hours, it was a long trip (compared to the short hops we've gotten used to). But soon we saw the gigantic flag that marks the <a href="http://www.bois-blanc.com/phpBB2/portal.php">Bois Blanc</a> Dock. We pulled in by ourselves and even moved Meridian a little to ensure that we were not obstructing the ferry dock (marked by dark blue posts). We'd read in the GLCC notes that the Bob-Lo Tavern <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQsinnXgBx98rpw-UwpA6jfhyNWolRwFx3dljXqJpCTyEXN_kBc_jwaGCW12bN7qwscKU2hhuZSj-H2EjrM5Lb3BrVjle7SzQMI-gKiaq5zS3Uza9og40JuuPYjtcjrwuHItwlZW4_oE/s1600-h/bob+lo+tavern.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQsinnXgBx98rpw-UwpA6jfhyNWolRwFx3dljXqJpCTyEXN_kBc_jwaGCW12bN7qwscKU2hhuZSj-H2EjrM5Lb3BrVjle7SzQMI-gKiaq5zS3Uza9og40JuuPYjtcjrwuHItwlZW4_oE/s320/bob+lo+tavern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239760290529511794" border="0" /></a>was a good place to eat and that they kept a courtesy car named Hester, keys in ignition, in Slot 27 in the Township Parking Lot. Alas, Hester seems to be no more. She wasn't at the parking lot (and some pretty tall weeds in Slot 27 led us to believe she hasn't been there in awhile) and she wasn't at the Bob-Lo Tavern either. (We will do some updates to the Harbor Report for Bois Blanc.) So we biked over in time for Tuesday Taco night. Dessert was ice cream at Hawk's General Store (which also has wi-fi.)<br /><br />When we returned to Meridian at the Dock, we were just in time to meet the harbor master/deputy sheriff who stops by to collect marina fees each evening. We had a nice chat with him about boating adventures and the island. He gave us a recommended bike route and some general island information (including how to contact him in emergencies). It was a nice welcome!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-86758201039537038732008-08-28T12:58:00.001-07:002008-08-28T14:29:56.502-07:00Lime Island, MichiganAugust 25, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sDmzUc4KLbImzpY5vX7G8H-hn8m6L_f0YFNRp90jcG3hhawxMDQMNY1_JGH6sqb5EAyuSSSsu8RH9ba_tgY1_ec_7LnTtImCuy42-_4kPo46JOBz2-d_z_TrWDSO5HONiA4R296NPpM/s1600-h/Entering+Lime+Island+Dock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sDmzUc4KLbImzpY5vX7G8H-hn8m6L_f0YFNRp90jcG3hhawxMDQMNY1_JGH6sqb5EAyuSSSsu8RH9ba_tgY1_ec_7LnTtImCuy42-_4kPo46JOBz2-d_z_TrWDSO5HONiA4R296NPpM/s320/Entering+Lime+Island+Dock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239660694913796290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10369-149511--,00.html">Lime Island</a> is a little spot north of Detour Villiage, MI, on the St. Mary's Navigational passage. It has a long concrete dock, previously used as a refueling station for the big freighters. Now that the freighters have larger capacity for fuel, the pier is used for pleasure boat transients and as a gull conservancy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zwUZT9lFzKOih-omUfdq9dFUw5FVRTwvLfBRRBalUZWhYC8gxhZ6LMvXIZYATRS1-FMPiSVFVqDTBGppBa5On5NIU6qOZLB7vjDkKeoTztDZfeWVRMaRxeiJ4dUrrkSNX9tV2n7LfBs/s1600-h/Freighter+and+Gull+Habitat+at+Dock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zwUZT9lFzKOih-omUfdq9dFUw5FVRTwvLfBRRBalUZWhYC8gxhZ6LMvXIZYATRS1-FMPiSVFVqDTBGppBa5On5NIU6qOZLB7vjDkKeoTztDZfeWVRMaRxeiJ4dUrrkSNX9tV2n7LfBs/s320/Freighter+and+Gull+Habitat+at+Dock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239666834043988914" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.limeisland.com/timeline.htm">Lime Island has quite the history</a>. At one point there was a beautiful hotel that was frequented by Mae West. A Victorian house that now serves as a museum was moved to the island across the ice when the superintendent of the coal company that ran the refueling station needed a fancy house to live in. (It was such a traumatic transport that, legend has it, the movers needed to go to nearby Raber for whiskey after getting the house to the shore, leaving the final placement on the shore site to the next day. That's remarkably similar to a longstanding nautical tradition that we on Meridian faithfully keep after the more unpleasant rough water crossings.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL4BFpFnjpv18kfinlqzN11uK_1tatDHdPKUzYLdfUl2yWRLs8vX3HEn62JYt6tFXTqW1I2qfpBIbqlYtT0ZwKB9CGNLDFJmlb3-CYvdO2E1ei14kL_4d-3Ngb47RAjk8MN6DdlidcX4/s1600-h/Lime+Island+Guest+Houses.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL4BFpFnjpv18kfinlqzN11uK_1tatDHdPKUzYLdfUl2yWRLs8vX3HEn62JYt6tFXTqW1I2qfpBIbqlYtT0ZwKB9CGNLDFJmlb3-CYvdO2E1ei14kL_4d-3Ngb47RAjk8MN6DdlidcX4/s320/Lime+Island+Guest+Houses.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239664392036259922" border="0" /></a>Currently Lime Island is managed by the Michigan DNR and the island caretakers, Howard and Janet, manage the island from May to September. And they work! Howard drove a John Deere tractor down to the dock as we were coming in and helped us with our lines. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMm6UbcTkmVuB-2L_Ds83zIt8gWPEl_a2q4QcDWkXbW9dArD_Ay2xEoDpF1ItnoRCDS_tcBxJ1jcFNh3RnstveFcAeKGhbIeMyeuXPFKpkudlcIIBJ7bbahZibDQkDkuCiJdWurvwvRs/s1600-h/Guest+House+Interior.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMm6UbcTkmVuB-2L_Ds83zIt8gWPEl_a2q4QcDWkXbW9dArD_Ay2xEoDpF1ItnoRCDS_tcBxJ1jcFNh3RnstveFcAeKGhbIeMyeuXPFKpkudlcIIBJ7bbahZibDQkDkuCiJdWurvwvRs/s320/Guest+House+Interior.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239664604302258530" border="0" /></a>Janet was working on fixing up the museum (scraping lead paint and repainting with non-lead paint). They always were working on projects when we were there. There are a number of guest houses on the island that rent for $65/night. (Dockage is $15/night which is the same as the nightly rate for rustic campsites.) The island is all solar powered: each house has solar shingles that power a bank of batteries at the caretakers house. The guest houses are wood-stove heated but do not have indoor plumbing. Guests use outdoor facilities and it is BYOS (bring-your-own shower).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ln_WXJDnjnXIQCEAfgTuKq1OpYcP3mK3ysqiNP1XBGnPbhLbRQHUMLXnvIoEv86SIrpe2FRieN00FjC-TcORlm7SD4r7548VKPT1ngaItPwxrVyvvoJnrF2hdevvj3VxczY7baNdxEw/s1600-h/Lime+Island+Map.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ln_WXJDnjnXIQCEAfgTuKq1OpYcP3mK3ysqiNP1XBGnPbhLbRQHUMLXnvIoEv86SIrpe2FRieN00FjC-TcORlm7SD4r7548VKPT1ngaItPwxrVyvvoJnrF2hdevvj3VxczY7baNdxEw/s320/Lime+Island+Map.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239665364658420290" border="0" /></a>There are several hiking trails, which don't require hiking boots but give you a great leg workout. One goes to the old lime kilns used by the old limestone quarry. The other path goes to Little Lime Island at the far end of Lime Island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxwhIetBXyMOU-epurE5pCa9urNNxzLlI3YYw_VZf7O8NyjDQcv5Oy6OFpGXqSRC7h0Uh9UIjjBouKRiKOhhG-WAKm-5G7wFHabwUVSJGsWipzoq_GLH_EU6UD1z1V6NR_dIJ3bnJtbo/s1600-h/Kiln+for+Lime.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxwhIetBXyMOU-epurE5pCa9urNNxzLlI3YYw_VZf7O8NyjDQcv5Oy6OFpGXqSRC7h0Uh9UIjjBouKRiKOhhG-WAKm-5G7wFHabwUVSJGsWipzoq_GLH_EU6UD1z1V6NR_dIJ3bnJtbo/s320/Kiln+for+Lime.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239665368657047634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtgVRdm6R1HzhDoDXtsIxTSvRXfqIsoAlI6HfdH9YjrXg8tZKR8IBkPE-x8BYj0kZuZECkuSYN-T8cWNIoP0lU0plREbIQKYLB1_IlqfUQEQ1uigelxPBxuEjeuveNEmsbr6fX6x4F_A/s1600-h/Lime+Kiln.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtgVRdm6R1HzhDoDXtsIxTSvRXfqIsoAlI6HfdH9YjrXg8tZKR8IBkPE-x8BYj0kZuZECkuSYN-T8cWNIoP0lU0plREbIQKYLB1_IlqfUQEQ1uigelxPBxuEjeuveNEmsbr6fX6x4F_A/s320/Lime+Kiln.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239665377863117666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivldihJD8kQ6s9ENwU8TUaPfj9EG4G1-eQ-byeyKpfwrTUuhUDCUbTkZ8qMPB1GtlWQtDtloUV-cKAS2P2PWh13LXQn82r56zql0l3jEhCd2UTpCB8vBt7-lJi6e4O-TZcROC5Dv7OZzc/s1600-h/Meridian+and+Freighter.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivldihJD8kQ6s9ENwU8TUaPfj9EG4G1-eQ-byeyKpfwrTUuhUDCUbTkZ8qMPB1GtlWQtDtloUV-cKAS2P2PWh13LXQn82r56zql0l3jEhCd2UTpCB8vBt7-lJi6e4O-TZcROC5Dv7OZzc/s320/Meridian+and+Freighter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239668464232422114" border="0" /></a>It wasn't too long before we remembered we were in Freighter Alley. Larger freighters passed by day and night. We didn't mind the southern-bound freighters. The wake from the northern bound freighters, though, create a little movement at the dock so we added extra fenders. It still is cool to watch the freighters go by. They are so quiet except for a subtle hum. Meridian looks so tiny -- like a little toy boat -- next to this freighter.<br /><br /><br />A cool front moved through overnight and the resulting dew on the spider webs were rather artistic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JsSKSoBRDIapwzcLGjq97ohaSvpuEhLkrxKrSjCIrR5ApW-tOs7ZEoFLNsNlEJWRZ8fXBmYJqUSVtbCmC0SCGyTGtzqjgJFs69RmjCHdJvtjRAVHwcCIRN2nijnfPmZcxRhaDq_Rui4/s1600-h/Cobwebs.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JsSKSoBRDIapwzcLGjq97ohaSvpuEhLkrxKrSjCIrR5ApW-tOs7ZEoFLNsNlEJWRZ8fXBmYJqUSVtbCmC0SCGyTGtzqjgJFs69RmjCHdJvtjRAVHwcCIRN2nijnfPmZcxRhaDq_Rui4/s320/Cobwebs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239669116966903922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We planned to leave early the next morning to stop in Detour Village for gas and a few supplies before heading on to Bois Blanc. The weather had other plans. Just about the time we were ready to leave, a dense fog moved in. We knew it would burn off fairly quickly - and we definitely didn't want to be out in the middle of the freighter traffic with zero visibility - so we just enjoyed our coffee and the surreal appearance of the shore line and sun in the fog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrED1fDFMYUKM8YtopG3q8Vd_KRg6ClkorAE84yqigymyuVtnozefnQhennpIJtFFOqX2GHszg80aOda3CxSSODS5LMPLT2VQ8-Yrg-YYhtMIh6c8Xg1Q7dEgZjSUu-ygQN9kbwpAFlU/s1600-h/Slide12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrED1fDFMYUKM8YtopG3q8Vd_KRg6ClkorAE84yqigymyuVtnozefnQhennpIJtFFOqX2GHszg80aOda3CxSSODS5LMPLT2VQ8-Yrg-YYhtMIh6c8Xg1Q7dEgZjSUu-ygQN9kbwpAFlU/s320/Slide12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239669576088394738" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-62496747165516035782008-08-28T12:20:00.000-07:002008-08-28T12:53:51.188-07:00Harbor Island, MichiganAugust 23-24, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR3QlUGg6G9lZWM4tTSLkCghNf-753gUIV4eVpYf3blfOclRzrqTqUbO0-FbcjBw9yJTjW6uBRHLC0X1PoWh1AYjDn3dClrWz328-KKrAD02gt1G2TG1Dt2d61jieyYnNgdnSGjPCh-E/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR3QlUGg6G9lZWM4tTSLkCghNf-753gUIV4eVpYf3blfOclRzrqTqUbO0-FbcjBw9yJTjW6uBRHLC0X1PoWh1AYjDn3dClrWz328-KKrAD02gt1G2TG1Dt2d61jieyYnNgdnSGjPCh-E/s320/Slide1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239657884965440434" border="0" /></a>We had briefly visited Harbor Island back in July and were enchanted with its wooded shores. We were looking forward to anchoring there. <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=31512">Harbor Island</a> is a National Wildlife Refuge so it wasn't surprising to see a deer grazing at the edge of the shore as we pulled in (just like the first time). We went to the inner harbor as it was forecast to be a bit windy and we wanted the extra shelter that it would provide. The first thing we noticed was that the inner harbor looked much bigger than the first time we were there. Guess all those smaller anchorages in the North Channel has changed our perceptions. We can just imagine how HUGE some of the upcoming places like Petoskey are going to appear to us in comparison to the bustling communities of Meldrum Bay, Gore Bay, Killarney, Spanish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qD4cjl0jDnSzFPJgdYWfhR3hXkmFzYj0hF7LrTC169kY7cYVcHJhaEJjpifl6RreEL2t3tmGJAub_kkRhOnFrXLq8XqzKGCHEyLk5aJuH0N1Fi-cMOFvxhBKx04LAQ3MxMr2xCec39g/s1600-h/fossil.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qD4cjl0jDnSzFPJgdYWfhR3hXkmFzYj0hF7LrTC169kY7cYVcHJhaEJjpifl6RreEL2t3tmGJAub_kkRhOnFrXLq8XqzKGCHEyLk5aJuH0N1Fi-cMOFvxhBKx04LAQ3MxMr2xCec39g/s320/fossil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239657436109410466" border="0" /></a>Taking advantage of the stormy-turned-summer day, we jumped in the kayak and paddled the circumference of the inner bay. We tried to go in the outer harbor but the winds were pretty strong for our little kayak. There is a clearing near the entrance that allows a short hike through the forest. We also walked along the cobbly shoreline. Many of the rocks there have fossils so we spent a little time breaking open rocks. Bernie found a very nice one on her first attempt ... then spent the rest of the afternoon cracking more rocks open. Phil finally convinced her to go back to Meridian after pointing out that it was too dark to see the fossils if she found one.<br /><br />We stayed two nights at Harbor Island, enjoying the peacefulness, before heading off to Lime Island.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXhNlhOaJCuFIPAlWGhlH6y36-9ZiPbQPWTzfGuzBgQ6KR7coK80YANN_zsiAiTpMFZ1okhDmyShjcVqtzkueo3qCs4mk90c0Z1_K8pFcfPlYCLIcUpfcG98H70r-XElYmn4qTMbvo4E/s1600-h/Our+Anchor+Spot+at+N46+03+080+W83+45+570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXhNlhOaJCuFIPAlWGhlH6y36-9ZiPbQPWTzfGuzBgQ6KR7coK80YANN_zsiAiTpMFZ1okhDmyShjcVqtzkueo3qCs4mk90c0Z1_K8pFcfPlYCLIcUpfcG98H70r-XElYmn4qTMbvo4E/s320/Our+Anchor+Spot+at+N46+03+080+W83+45+570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239657684660378994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Harbor Island, Michigan<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">N46 03.080<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">W83 45.570</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-45810524005857673322008-08-28T11:24:00.000-07:002008-08-28T12:12:46.819-07:00Back in the US - Drummond Island, MIAugust 22, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rqG5an4Zlf0g6bEAqAEdBR_ooUjNrrQ2l3O60lsf6x7ckEYmTtFftqy3DJ34RLdZInhz1XVI1Cp7dtzRtlhKhUKEJP6xi61k6urYGOJjFmgrVJpaLPrpeWi4_7IP8HTa8Vpn91ssmKg/s1600-h/Meridian+at+Drummond.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rqG5an4Zlf0g6bEAqAEdBR_ooUjNrrQ2l3O60lsf6x7ckEYmTtFftqy3DJ34RLdZInhz1XVI1Cp7dtzRtlhKhUKEJP6xi61k6urYGOJjFmgrVJpaLPrpeWi4_7IP8HTa8Vpn91ssmKg/s320/Meridian+at+Drummond.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239638129821926098" border="0" /></a>After leaving Cockburn Island, we headed back to the US and checked in with US customs at <a href="http://www.diyachthaven.com/">Drummond Island Yacht Haven</a>. Checking in was a painless process for us. We think our infamous <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2007/08/our-rickety-old-boarding-ladder.html">rickety old boarding ladder</a> caused some anxiety for the US Customs agent, though. She was a little leery about climbing up even though we had assured her that it had been <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/gore-bay-ontario.html">"stress tested" by the Canadian Customs agent in Gore Bay</a>.<br /><br />Having checked-in and paid the $27.50 for the re-entry fee, we considered taking off for an anchorage on Harbor Island. That's when we realized that staying up all night with the Cockburn Island ghosts had been pretty tiring. We decided to take it easy and stay the night. Drummond Island Yacht Haven provides rental cars for boaters. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFl55kvuSo_q2Bg5xdfizdoQF3kPWWbHXRpE2Efvrn96Dkc48xqesJ1RPwqLRQxhFi9khUJe5yHi6WwiBD35greOhQJRyFedrmHaoy-fZaSgblWLCOvuDNqY4-4LdqRhzBYKtx6qeO4Y/s1600-h/Our+Jalopy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFl55kvuSo_q2Bg5xdfizdoQF3kPWWbHXRpE2Efvrn96Dkc48xqesJ1RPwqLRQxhFi9khUJe5yHi6WwiBD35greOhQJRyFedrmHaoy-fZaSgblWLCOvuDNqY4-4LdqRhzBYKtx6qeO4Y/s320/Our+Jalopy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239643877933848818" border="0" /></a>For $55 you can rent a car and wander the island. For $12, you can rent a car to go to the "Four Corners". Guess which one Phil picked. Four Corners is the main <a href="http://www.drummondislandchamber.com/businesses.htm">shopping area</a> of <a href="http://www.drummondislandchamber.com/">Drummond Island</a> and also has a nice little casual restaurant called <a href="http://www.drummondislandchamber.com/memberpages/northwood.htm">Northwoods</a>. The special was all-you-can-eat whitefish. So Phil and I ordered all we could eat! We had a very decadent chocolate torte dessert, too. While dining, there was a one man band playing a concertina in the next room. The dinner and service was good. It seems to be quite popular with the residents and visitors as well as it was quite busy and a line was forming as we finished.<br /><br />The next day (Saturday) we planned to leave for Harbor Island. The weather was a little iffy as thunderstorms were forecasted to come through. The Drummond Island Yacht Haven is quite accommodating, though. They told us we could stay as long as we wanted, if we stayed abother night then we could settle up tomorrow. The storms moved through by 1:30pm so we undid our lines and left for the short trip to Harbor Island.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-68787821701006238802008-08-28T10:37:00.000-07:002008-08-28T13:50:06.623-07:00Tolsmaville, Cockburn Island, Ontario -- A Lively Ghost TownAugust 21, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzLbNdSm9hQb5tRPjegSk8A51sJd8iosRY8Ycj-R02LCVT4-cq25sVor2KtfIB9MmMP030AygjLfn5VY8yCFWNv7uqXrVft6DUYBksWltO-PrwgNplQvUKN8DmKi1hyphenhyphenZGAXnbcbKae38/s1600-h/Meridian+at+Cockburn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzLbNdSm9hQb5tRPjegSk8A51sJd8iosRY8Ycj-R02LCVT4-cq25sVor2KtfIB9MmMP030AygjLfn5VY8yCFWNv7uqXrVft6DUYBksWltO-PrwgNplQvUKN8DmKi1hyphenhyphenZGAXnbcbKae38/s320/Meridian+at+Cockburn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239626811693389154" border="0" /></a>Sometimes you can't trust the guide books.<br /><br />All the guidebooks we read talked about Tolsmaville being a ghost town, with absolutely no businesses, many abandoned houses, old rusting jalopies parked by the marina, and a handful of former residents returning in the fall for hunting season. So we pulled into the Tolsmaville Dock on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockburn_Island,_Ontario">Cockburn Island</a> expecting to handle our lines ourselves (like we have to when at our homeport in Chicago but nowhere else). As we were coming in, though, a pick-up truck appeared out of nowhere, and a guy jumped out to help us with our lines. Another guy from a neighboring boat came over to help as well. Then, after ensuring we were secure, they quickly left, barely giving us time to thank them.<br /><br />OK so there were two people on the island.<br /><br />After we were safely tied to the dock, we settled in for what we expected to be a quiet and lonely afternoon.<br /><br />So much for expectations . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ta7S2MnDhidMUUkxW-vIgaso4GyKs55Fea2gSN6UC7fMl6q-tvJnCNZp9EFmv7c7dT-g4nxLgBRT542uQBOntI2tLT8n007r4e5JzSonoSbG8Jb__mRLfIUqFy0O5HXmFAU-AEBTyA8/s1600-h/Cockburn+Island+Jalopies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ta7S2MnDhidMUUkxW-vIgaso4GyKs55Fea2gSN6UC7fMl6q-tvJnCNZp9EFmv7c7dT-g4nxLgBRT542uQBOntI2tLT8n007r4e5JzSonoSbG8Jb__mRLfIUqFy0O5HXmFAU-AEBTyA8/s320/Cockburn+Island+Jalopies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239627061592753042" border="0" /></a>Throughout the afternoon, there was a steady stream of people driving down to the marina, coming and going in boats, canoeing and kayaking, sunbathing, and just generally enjoying the summer day. As for the rusting jalopies, well yes, there were a number of vehicles, mostly pickups and SUVs, parked by the marina but we are almost embarassed to say that most of them were younger than Meridian.<br /><br />After a while, we decided to take a walk through the "ghost town" to see all the deserted and abandoned buildings. Surprisingly enough, we couldn't find many deserted homes. Most were currently occupied and kept in good repair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEifrfD1bkq7tguOOkx6Ys6LYLdUh1Os_szJHajufHKCXVhoLBvGzYzwFJo-fD3z4BhVer6fDh_UHfBW_jQBOjlOd737WA6Yw5OM6yqfoQH0dp7pFH9SyXr613jGAU2UgOnwybtRN6Bw/s1600-h/Log+Cabin.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEifrfD1bkq7tguOOkx6Ys6LYLdUh1Os_szJHajufHKCXVhoLBvGzYzwFJo-fD3z4BhVer6fDh_UHfBW_jQBOjlOd737WA6Yw5OM6yqfoQH0dp7pFH9SyXr613jGAU2UgOnwybtRN6Bw/s320/Log+Cabin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239627326890499026" border="0" /></a>Some were getting new porches, new roofs, and there were various home improvement projects going on. And there were streetlights! There weren't even streetlights in Meldrum Bay.<br /><br />As we walked further into the island, cars kept passing by. And they all used their turn signals! We were wondering where they were all going. Then, as we passed by a very nice looking place, clearly someone's summer home called <a href="http://www.cottagelink.com/cottlink/ontario/on2/on20146.html">"The Last Resort"</a>, a bunch of people piled into a jeep and took off, waving as they passed. us by. We began to think maybe there was a WalMart or something further up the road.<br /><br />Finally, we just shook our heads, baffled by it all, and returned to Meridian where we continued to watch the parade of people and vehicles passing by the marina.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UZ9r8tfp65zgNm3UxitAV8LwvKQjsooRLSibrZBipMocIrZFDwA-ZSdcnYrTkzuPb3pLInbDYteHJdGlB6jXGq74gveaKwb-3hPds35iKE8Up8WzBw33_Tf1QLBHbTH9Ci_k7g37GPE/s1600-h/Water+Bird.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UZ9r8tfp65zgNm3UxitAV8LwvKQjsooRLSibrZBipMocIrZFDwA-ZSdcnYrTkzuPb3pLInbDYteHJdGlB6jXGq74gveaKwb-3hPds35iKE8Up8WzBw33_Tf1QLBHbTH9Ci_k7g37GPE/s320/Water+Bird.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239627652692518994" border="0" /></a>Then, in the early evening, things really started to pick up. A crowd of people came down to the marina and gathered out on one of the finger piers. One of the residents recently purchased the strangest water toy we have ever seen - a "water bird" - and they were trying it out. The best way we can describe a water bird is to say "think of a pogo stick on the water". It seems to be incredibly difficult to use and half the fun is laughing at the person who is trying it out. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafy_BU046Xl6p7-Vdjh0xIjeNfQOYow1v0Qc8PQjX2kjohsMjjmTrweupevY3p_-iMVEqFWuZqPPeCibnMLiFx3zILAXgSDEYIlOPBw-PCaSQClwxRoz5xIzQDoha1hM_3iWb9sPULow/s1600-h/Not+Mastering+the+Water+Bird.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafy_BU046Xl6p7-Vdjh0xIjeNfQOYow1v0Qc8PQjX2kjohsMjjmTrweupevY3p_-iMVEqFWuZqPPeCibnMLiFx3zILAXgSDEYIlOPBw-PCaSQClwxRoz5xIzQDoha1hM_3iWb9sPULow/s320/Not+Mastering+the+Water+Bird.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239627931114356866" border="0" /></a>We just had to go over and join in the fun, as did some of the folks on the catamaran that was anchored out in the harbor. Bernie took some photos, promising to email them to the brave souls who tried out the water bird. And that's when we met Joe, Beth and their friend Dave.<br /><br />After the fun at the docks, they were kind enough to invite us over to their cottage for the evening. And, as it turned out, they owned <a href="http://www.cottagelink.com/cottlink/ontario/on2/on20146.html">"The Last Resort"</a>. It is a beautiful log cabin - the oldest existing home on the island - that has been modernized. And the grounds are really beautiful.<br /><br />We enjoyed a lovely evening around the stone fire pit, staying much longer than we should because it was one of those nights that flew by because of the fascinating conversation. Joe had lived in Meldrum Bay either full time or summers since the 70s. He told great stories about summers "back in the day" when there would be 60 boats in Meldrum Bay (hard for us to imagine). His father still lives in Meldrum Bay and is the owner of the rooster we heard in the morning when we were at the marina.<br /><br />Suddenly, though, at the stroke of midnight the fire went out and Joe, Beth, and Dave magically disappeared without a trace leaving us alone in the silent stillness of Cockburn Island with only the basket of freshly picked oyster mushrooms that they had given us as a hint that maybe it had been real. We looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and said, "Well, I guess the guidebooks were right. It really is a ghost town."<br /><br />The next morning, Darren the Harbormaster - the guy who drove down in his pick-up to help with our lines - appeared out of nowhere again to help us with our lines again. As harbormaster he also collected the dockage and we bought a Cockburn Island Flag to remind us of our great stay. He faded away waving us a farewell (even now, we aren't sure he was real), as we headed off for Drummond Island.<br /><br />Dockage at Tolsmaville is $0.85 per foot, and electricity is available (new this year) for $6.00 or $8.00 per night depending on boat length. Not many people come here when cruising the North Channel but we found it to be a delightful stop. The people we met were incredibly friendly and hospitable and it was definitely a stop full of pleasant surprises.<br /><br />Cockburn Island is the smallest "organized township" in Ontario. "Organized" means that the tax money they collect is all budgeted and spent locally. They are very proud of that. And, from what we saw, they have reason to be proud. It was a wonderful place to visit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DJkCpOXplfNH4jzQxhH7lkawWmrMny8TIPsVzjuz8UEmpQBqtA3VM-ciWr47rhcuIp9Uesmxw1z4ZwCucppahSXJd9kz76UfpiSWzqJh4bdetix80B9LMgYbO9-1UuebVYA-Yl7v_Pg/s1600-h/Cockburn+Island+Poem.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DJkCpOXplfNH4jzQxhH7lkawWmrMny8TIPsVzjuz8UEmpQBqtA3VM-ciWr47rhcuIp9Uesmxw1z4ZwCucppahSXJd9kz76UfpiSWzqJh4bdetix80B9LMgYbO9-1UuebVYA-Yl7v_Pg/s320/Cockburn+Island+Poem.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239628382643966130" border="0" /></a>Click on image to read the Cockburn Island Poem<br />that is posted on the Telephone Building<br />(a public telephone - one of two telephones on the island)<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-8159563796813985662008-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:002008-08-28T10:36:01.675-07:00Must ... Have ... Butter TartsAugust 20, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDL0E8ro0oqxLF48leqZJNLDMrMZ0hUSxMYpiQuwF9a-QgNOd0Ej5DjR2MmyvK31-7nOjCYZNkPfX-YDcbXL66vWF8SNYuAchRU_qdpC-P17q9vX3AyAxRAt1zyrT9OWFBdTlBIk-QO0/s1600-h/Meridian+at+Meldrum+bay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDL0E8ro0oqxLF48leqZJNLDMrMZ0hUSxMYpiQuwF9a-QgNOd0Ej5DjR2MmyvK31-7nOjCYZNkPfX-YDcbXL66vWF8SNYuAchRU_qdpC-P17q9vX3AyAxRAt1zyrT9OWFBdTlBIk-QO0/s320/Meridian+at+Meldrum+bay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239619624161255410" border="0" /></a>Despite Bernie's admonishments about fuel consumption and gas prices, Phil raced to Meldrum Bay - repeating, over and over like a mantra<br /><br />Butter Tarts ... Butter Tarts ... Butter Tarts ... Butter Tarts ... Butter Tarts ... Butter Tarts.<br /><br />He didn't even notice that they were starting to construct a breakwater around the Meldrum Bay Marina!<br /><br />He wanted Bernie to call in and say<br /><br />Meldrum Bay Marina. Meldrum Bay Marina. Meldrum Bay Marina.<br />This is Meridian,<br />We'd like overnight dockage and Butter Tarts to go.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />The big news in Meldrum Bay since <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/meldrum-bay-eh.html">our last visit</a>, is that a 700 foot limestone breakwater is being constructed for Meldrum Bay Marina. Marina staff already noticed a difference during a recent northerly storm from the partially constructed breakwater. They are looking forward to protection from the ice that the breakwater will provide in the winter. They also have requested funding to remove the big cassons that are at the end of the marina docks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvn1MqLZFaXkAWk6IqsdEv-Ehhq_cMs0TaK0j9ZtPdgWgdrjWmq3yQWVBbTIRqaNo0Kw-uVzr6v-pLyc5tSmJoZShBMfHHeitoHnkyOkkMaqqeMpnrOfy-xL7DE2o0XOgvYwu2pu7B2w/s1600-h/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvn1MqLZFaXkAWk6IqsdEv-Ehhq_cMs0TaK0j9ZtPdgWgdrjWmq3yQWVBbTIRqaNo0Kw-uVzr6v-pLyc5tSmJoZShBMfHHeitoHnkyOkkMaqqeMpnrOfy-xL7DE2o0XOgvYwu2pu7B2w/s320/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239620312569721682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMI8sXyocBkO324gqEnrBhCpEuGTwVBVDFlcmrEqhzOJXm7T4pdnOqkrS0v1WyXIM-3R6r63D-a9wxViZ2uWe72EyX9jxzWm-UTpOKNcQ2l5RVcSuAoROSoSlV-KE4wY35lu3aXDcj0I/s1600-h/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMI8sXyocBkO324gqEnrBhCpEuGTwVBVDFlcmrEqhzOJXm7T4pdnOqkrS0v1WyXIM-3R6r63D-a9wxViZ2uWe72EyX9jxzWm-UTpOKNcQ2l5RVcSuAoROSoSlV-KE4wY35lu3aXDcj0I/s320/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239620315903975714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7J0VqYloPYN6X4OcKuS3rP6CCpkkW1IpsIMcqGX6dBjMiyzaJxgUtlfLX8EW_y3IbDgHLUXk0_FiFKKjT8NxCJy775M0AzZV4JPZvO74sSkk6x1KJVT7ud87zEHTPZ-ZLT-CBZLEJ7Q/s1600-h/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7J0VqYloPYN6X4OcKuS3rP6CCpkkW1IpsIMcqGX6dBjMiyzaJxgUtlfLX8EW_y3IbDgHLUXk0_FiFKKjT8NxCJy775M0AzZV4JPZvO74sSkk6x1KJVT7ud87zEHTPZ-ZLT-CBZLEJ7Q/s320/Meldrum+Bay+Breakwater+Construction+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239620351378771202" border="0" /></a><br />Our second visit to <a href="http://www.manitoulin.ca/TIM/gbmeld.html">Meldrum Bay</a> enabled Bernie to visit the <a href="http://www.meldrumbaycottage.com/attractions.html">Net Shed Museum</a>. It has many artifacts from Meldrum Bay's earlier days and large books of newspaper clippings concerning Meldrum Bay life, which are neat to look through.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOFpJOL-Pj3_2s_mbQIErX3gD53JIiTuqDklgMv6TtW3arL6bKZI3e7PvuUsKZy5S691xFiVO3GmSPeIbxJFLQAue8vKQP5O0Xt5jb7GeqUF5T4c-jwZUzg-LoUk-X3tdqRY1prpYmK0/s1600-h/cockburn+Island+glow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOFpJOL-Pj3_2s_mbQIErX3gD53JIiTuqDklgMv6TtW3arL6bKZI3e7PvuUsKZy5S691xFiVO3GmSPeIbxJFLQAue8vKQP5O0Xt5jb7GeqUF5T4c-jwZUzg-LoUk-X3tdqRY1prpYmK0/s320/cockburn+Island+glow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239620763406617922" border="0" /></a><br />We dined at the Meldrum Bay Inn and took the Butter Tarts to go. There is an interesting story about the current owners of the <a href="http://www.meldrumbayinn.com/">Meldrum Bay Inn</a> that we learned about while on Cockburn Island. The current owners, Shirin and Bob, bought the Inn last year, sight unseen, based on the internet ad that was accidentally left on the real estate website after the Inn was sold two years ago. They plan to keep it open all year this year -- hoping for the snowmobile and winter sports enthusiasts. We hope they are successful because the people are great and provide a welcoming atmostphere. The food is great, too. If you ever find yourself in the Meldrum Bay area, we highly recommend the Meldrum Bay Inn.<br /><br />Butter Tarts safely stowed away, we headed off for Cockburn Island and the Tolsmaville Ghost Town.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-87959025683735485372008-08-28T09:55:00.000-07:002008-08-28T11:24:12.814-07:00Returning to the Beginning in TurnbullAugust 19, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZkjnACn9nqiJBXXt8X3f1aDe2jatBihEwglJNSd7pubMPwIfrX1bbtTn9q8p4oVTcWb1xMVvYFg3cO_CWMSLJX3iKK0e4Mo5h6_2ot35wR-5NVsQ-k_3l3Z-iYnIefPfRnHxvMnG8d0/s1600-h/Turnbull+Coves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZkjnACn9nqiJBXXt8X3f1aDe2jatBihEwglJNSd7pubMPwIfrX1bbtTn9q8p4oVTcWb1xMVvYFg3cO_CWMSLJX3iKK0e4Mo5h6_2ot35wR-5NVsQ-k_3l3Z-iYnIefPfRnHxvMnG8d0/s320/Turnbull+Coves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239616034444774386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Turnbull was <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/turnbull-island-are-we-there-yet.html">our first anchoring stop</a> in the North Channel so it seemed fitting to revisit it on our way back. The first thing we noticed when we came back was that the two deadheads had been removed. The deadhead police had apparently removed them while we were gone. They must have read our blog, saw there were deadheads lurking about, and rushed to Turnbull, lights blazing and sirens blaring, to remove the dangerous deadheads. Although that didn't mean that all the obstacles were cleared. After setting our anchor, Phil noticed some long dark ominous looking projection just under the surface and well within swinging distance of Meridian. Armed with the handy-dandy boat hook, he attempted to figure out what it was and remove it. Try as he might, he wasn't able to snag it -- </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkxEUnrFlZb0K7v547AYETdy4JPtfWa8TGz-k_AnWK6NF6HmJT2sHqWhyphenhyphenmQkgux32ld08S-rhz5ifFh2Pb80YBBHGEY_W1Uoor_sMSsBUInFsPt4ls5Vv5wnj4xdY16uzwXMH0peBHro/s1600-h/Something+in+the+water+at+N46+09+281+W82+45+679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkxEUnrFlZb0K7v547AYETdy4JPtfWa8TGz-k_AnWK6NF6HmJT2sHqWhyphenhyphenmQkgux32ld08S-rhz5ifFh2Pb80YBBHGEY_W1Uoor_sMSsBUInFsPt4ls5Vv5wnj4xdY16uzwXMH0peBHro/s320/Something+in+the+water+at+N46+09+281+W82+45+679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239617164696144690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">well actually he was able to snag it but it kept freeing itself from the boat hook. Whatever it was was both bouyant enough and flexible enough to be moved with the boat hook which seemed to indicate that it wouldn't be a major hazard. Satisfied that Old Sam Peabody, a North Channel cruising legend who was also in Turnbull, wouldn't shake his head in despair and disgust at the novices, we settled in to Turnbull.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Revisiting our first anchorages help us realize how much better kayakers we are now as opposed to the first time through. We did a lot more kayaking through Turnbull's islets and coves than we were able to do the first time. We also found the time to do a shore party, weighing the dinghy down with wine, grill, food, and campfire materials. Bernie tested our her new fish on the propane grill recipe creation with rave success.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5DXJIyNlf9eAZ0vHmRsjgWHdeK3YW7oyBZ-NeBISsNA5tM9kryeD2UU1sotbR_6DNJbLyW6WJCrlZed91WZRY08sbRvHmfOnDti3wZxbIrNUWMmRx3jgjTMpZdG2v838PGQe0lfhMMI/s1600-h/Turnbull+Islets.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5DXJIyNlf9eAZ0vHmRsjgWHdeK3YW7oyBZ-NeBISsNA5tM9kryeD2UU1sotbR_6DNJbLyW6WJCrlZed91WZRY08sbRvHmfOnDti3wZxbIrNUWMmRx3jgjTMpZdG2v838PGQe0lfhMMI/s320/Turnbull+Islets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239615723828831570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpziqUoptKk2IdZseFUKS9CZrDd79McR-lRwp18YEg5q9OL1doIfNCdd595aJmYCmLrzGhEz_e47yOme7oGu3cf_6BX6w5kltJzyU93Z7u4Hsw38h6rL3k1xlwNGXAY0JxCJstncNSu8/s1600-h/Phil+Relaxing+at+Turnbull.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpziqUoptKk2IdZseFUKS9CZrDd79McR-lRwp18YEg5q9OL1doIfNCdd595aJmYCmLrzGhEz_e47yOme7oGu3cf_6BX6w5kltJzyU93Z7u4Hsw38h6rL3k1xlwNGXAY0JxCJstncNSu8/s320/Phil+Relaxing+at+Turnbull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239615820693194050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">All this reminiscing about our first North Channel anchoring spots got us thinking about our first Canadian port.<br /><br />Which got us thinking about Meldrum Bay.<br /><br />Which got us thinking about the Meldrum Bay Inn.<br /><br />Which got us thinking about the Meldrum Bay Inn Butter Tarts.<br /><br />So the next morning we wasted no time, hauled anchor, and headed off to Meldrum Bay for a Butter Tart Run.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1u1yJHwhQCiz1U0216J9lhm5wvX5RhB0VbAgWWUBMhyphenhyphen1dM06HrcTvr5cu-yCc54plLWNt6dLTrhkbLxfK2XnS07rO2CsXZYvgETZO7VsH3DaEqqCeiKYGxOSes_b8HCthJ2Eqt773xc/s1600-h/Campfire.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1u1yJHwhQCiz1U0216J9lhm5wvX5RhB0VbAgWWUBMhyphenhyphen1dM06HrcTvr5cu-yCc54plLWNt6dLTrhkbLxfK2XnS07rO2CsXZYvgETZO7VsH3DaEqqCeiKYGxOSes_b8HCthJ2Eqt773xc/s320/Campfire.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239616411490913538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Turnbull Island<br />N46 09.281<br />W82 45.679<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-89419718020719270122008-08-23T09:09:00.000-07:002008-08-23T10:37:55.485-07:00Re-tracing our steps to Long Point CoveAugust 17-18, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1FDysWcxRExq6gTiiFvbyR3KuOCBScjbK4_lGH1-ZVDegMDavwIh9EKXo0l40W51kV6-XM5atMwSOBEKH9Jv8psVbKqir01bYh4ZjBZd3D1mGRWbkRsSXbIzP-I4W_oFylDV5S06hd4/s1600-h/Slide13.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1FDysWcxRExq6gTiiFvbyR3KuOCBScjbK4_lGH1-ZVDegMDavwIh9EKXo0l40W51kV6-XM5atMwSOBEKH9Jv8psVbKqir01bYh4ZjBZd3D1mGRWbkRsSXbIzP-I4W_oFylDV5S06hd4/s320/Slide13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237750123018680466" border="0" /></a>It was easier to find <a href="http://greatlakescruising.blogspot.com/2008/07/long-point-cove-north-channel.html">Long Point Cove </a>the second time we visited. We knew that in addition to the the secret password, you also had to release the lever (cleverly disguised as a spike) on the top of Navy Rock to get the entrance to Long Point Cove opened.<br /><br />There were about eight boats in Long Point cove when we arrived. It surprised us a little as we expected most of the other cruisers to have left the area already. As we later discovered, a few of these hardy souls were just starting their North Channel cruising. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZBh6TT0jpAObs9Ltx-0UToj1gFXbv4gvQX406Ib121PjrTGY8PrYfEx_gAaUQPUir8HST7HvYHf6wEN1exE71zeHqqQ7Dvxda28L6LLl_P2S24f56v3JbsBaoyvu3j0o40oC7SF3CZY/s1600-h/Slide1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZBh6TT0jpAObs9Ltx-0UToj1gFXbv4gvQX406Ib121PjrTGY8PrYfEx_gAaUQPUir8HST7HvYHf6wEN1exE71zeHqqQ7Dvxda28L6LLl_P2S24f56v3JbsBaoyvu3j0o40oC7SF3CZY/s320/Slide1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237752688817486738" border="0" /></a>In any event, due to the "tight quarters", we dropped anchor near shore and tied to a tree. This reduces the circle that Meridian swings around our anchor in so we don't get too close to other boats. One of the things we've learned on this trip is that most of the North Channel cruisers use more chain than line for their anchors so they have less anchor rode to swing around. Next time we come here, we're going to be adding more chain so Meridian doesn't swing as much.<br /><br />Having safely set our anchor and tied to shore we took a kayak ride around the harbor. Actually, last year's marathon bicycle rides have evolved into this year's marathon kayak trips and hikes. We kayaked almost 6 miles -- checking out the neighboring Teschereau Bay to see its anchoring potential (somewhat open and exposed but would be nice and scenic in dead-calm weather).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuB2bau0v-zoEck-3SybETd4ZWOwK_1_A1q32Fh_sj3IfRyxDna2FtgY6XEqmKyCykSY9NtVbdCE5TANoOal1gnRxFgtLy-xrJ0IyI1o18BEAmlFNxx3CJQLGnBiRusum9AcrraZeozg/s1600-h/anchor+spot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuB2bau0v-zoEck-3SybETd4ZWOwK_1_A1q32Fh_sj3IfRyxDna2FtgY6XEqmKyCykSY9NtVbdCE5TANoOal1gnRxFgtLy-xrJ0IyI1o18BEAmlFNxx3CJQLGnBiRusum9AcrraZeozg/s320/anchor+spot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237760045692642338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ9i0nARRW6eknWwpn8BDW2sTNkyCkOFF7lCBbt45e8MabOq1_Ahd3P3g2YFfKku4zPS2yPd8aQnHunYQ4ePUD5yE7quMPHsd_6H1NKc4pc5R1BN_dqIxPjq1itZiiVML7r0sHxNk7Fo/s1600-h/Slide3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ9i0nARRW6eknWwpn8BDW2sTNkyCkOFF7lCBbt45e8MabOq1_Ahd3P3g2YFfKku4zPS2yPd8aQnHunYQ4ePUD5yE7quMPHsd_6H1NKc4pc5R1BN_dqIxPjq1itZiiVML7r0sHxNk7Fo/s320/Slide3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237753840964433922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O6MOeSQZbIgMDFaloyt9C51eIyH1v0GOnkvzo9zlnB_d9KbaML8pZPWKZG3Ir0lqM_q7zPkQ9e1hjChz00BvRWk8kIA9fg-6TtARAYTxLsFAeAmLugJUfVu-BRGQDCwDiPqwymx-CX0/s1600-h/Slide4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5O6MOeSQZbIgMDFaloyt9C51eIyH1v0GOnkvzo9zlnB_d9KbaML8pZPWKZG3Ir0lqM_q7zPkQ9e1hjChz00BvRWk8kIA9fg-6TtARAYTxLsFAeAmLugJUfVu-BRGQDCwDiPqwymx-CX0/s320/Slide4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237753842075333234" border="0" /></a><br />The second morning we were there, a beaver swam to the shore behind the boat and had a breakfast of reeds.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHllWTE47BSQsDLOdbY8QU4TqGzHeULeTPPtjR-W5vUVfTya3YD1ysassVUWWe43-8o9wgh9jb1ECoR3KsQS9GdxD14Z7uA0fiJlcGUB9TWCbpvFR62Yzy-XMC8vR5lY5KsoU1C-uubNo/s1600-h/Slide17.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHllWTE47BSQsDLOdbY8QU4TqGzHeULeTPPtjR-W5vUVfTya3YD1ysassVUWWe43-8o9wgh9jb1ECoR3KsQS9GdxD14Z7uA0fiJlcGUB9TWCbpvFR62Yzy-XMC8vR5lY5KsoU1C-uubNo/s320/Slide17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237761264585130738" border="0" /></a>Click on the picture to read the beaver's thoughts ;)<br /><br /></div><br />We also took a hike up the bluff that was right in back of our anchoring spot. In addition to great <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6dIhOSFKhvZjnfDjqLor_o0tGfW-vFJ1oO4z467qanoTN_hBahw-PucSbK1DDbwgUkRD_6Lnpj2TBq-eawY0OIQOfrNsERUitdiwPDE_cHNuSrnhi88EKsyznky3MZMh0FO3msoQjgE/s1600-h/Slide8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6dIhOSFKhvZjnfDjqLor_o0tGfW-vFJ1oO4z467qanoTN_hBahw-PucSbK1DDbwgUkRD_6Lnpj2TBq-eawY0OIQOfrNsERUitdiwPDE_cHNuSrnhi88EKsyznky3MZMh0FO3msoQjgE/s320/Slide8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237756835165759986" border="0" /></a>views of the area, we got a good view of the Reuss Lime Company quarry operations. The first time we were here we would hear the quarry operations and think it was either helicopters or thunder. We kept forgetting about the quarry operations. This time, though, there was thunder in the background, too. You can vaguely make out some of the storm clouds building in the quarry picture. We hurried back down the bluff and luckily made it back to Meridian minutes before the rain came.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlSMnjXA5fBtshr4DCrJ6o6aItw1vGqY6S3tTY3qZxtWj_abLi_jksjdA32xyz3ufVnW7iQECNpLwVAvfZNLYUQV6vz2ADjxpf7OpwiJz-JY83hrXAHviWKRIm2FXkunWmdDCkd4PtyE/s1600-h/Slide9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlSMnjXA5fBtshr4DCrJ6o6aItw1vGqY6S3tTY3qZxtWj_abLi_jksjdA32xyz3ufVnW7iQECNpLwVAvfZNLYUQV6vz2ADjxpf7OpwiJz-JY83hrXAHviWKRIm2FXkunWmdDCkd4PtyE/s320/Slide9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237756155265273602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyw7AVz0VxNfsOcF0TY17Lj4mCyQPCNmIYci7A8RovVDhbsPY_bBCfTn2krUd6RY8SnwyFzgqKd0Uf9uwMhNjTlP2Qyq2OHAoVjla9MsS3xZFmxi5LkNP3cDkN_EEmuFpe9CceGAV9J8/s1600-h/Slide10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyw7AVz0VxNfsOcF0TY17Lj4mCyQPCNmIYci7A8RovVDhbsPY_bBCfTn2krUd6RY8SnwyFzgqKd0Uf9uwMhNjTlP2Qyq2OHAoVjla9MsS3xZFmxi5LkNP3cDkN_EEmuFpe9CceGAV9J8/s320/Slide10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237756632544458322" border="0" /></a><br />After the rain came through, the wind picked up a bit. A particularly strong gust blew through the cove and suddenly we noticed we were almost on top of a bunch of rocks. Big, solid, propeller busting rocks. Where did THEY come from ?!? Suddenly tying to shore didn't seem like such a good idea. So we cast off that shore line, let Meridian swing around re-set the second anchor so we'd stay off those rocks and away from the other boats. It's always something!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipc_Qn-txfMtAQv7_GYyyuwz2L5C7pU3c5DU3_a6kpRa1go9N7BC0awyIbEnoTcsgL8Vx5gfOpwBemlD1yV9Gb7R68s9UeAakgQ4iR5bT5I0VfjGVGiZ5iQJiCqpltRstF47vKqMKvEA/s1600-h/cast+off+shore+lines.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipc_Qn-txfMtAQv7_GYyyuwz2L5C7pU3c5DU3_a6kpRa1go9N7BC0awyIbEnoTcsgL8Vx5gfOpwBemlD1yV9Gb7R68s9UeAakgQ4iR5bT5I0VfjGVGiZ5iQJiCqpltRstF47vKqMKvEA/s320/cast+off+shore+lines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237759844454566978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R1-l3aUYrghbgQsB56k8rTQFuq7BjjcKrAPistrzxyyClUqcGtuujyK2GuA3OlR-7_jljrEakelgP1m1fyBkD0uFyyx0ACv-I2k2c5oscOQCW3fFCo_vmqxrhtPtpmQsWgJagKb7PEI/s1600-h/Slide6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R1-l3aUYrghbgQsB56k8rTQFuq7BjjcKrAPistrzxyyClUqcGtuujyK2GuA3OlR-7_jljrEakelgP1m1fyBkD0uFyyx0ACv-I2k2c5oscOQCW3fFCo_vmqxrhtPtpmQsWgJagKb7PEI/s320/Slide6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237762064599265922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymxNoq5meR5GHxghGqg9eh2Jkq19PDBEHCGSxo7HCya49MXFCjc-iYuaChjRl7b1FcOwV-V8N7qt0dB3-eQVKAWIqxi_Fz_ttRNBQE00Iwzfhi-y0VlF9nrHmu9uIDN0_I97owECh7gU/s1600-h/Slide12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymxNoq5meR5GHxghGqg9eh2Jkq19PDBEHCGSxo7HCya49MXFCjc-iYuaChjRl7b1FcOwV-V8N7qt0dB3-eQVKAWIqxi_Fz_ttRNBQE00Iwzfhi-y0VlF9nrHmu9uIDN0_I97owECh7gU/s320/Slide12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237762299024810162" border="0" /></a>Undaunted by our little anchoring adventure, we packed up some wine, old newspapers and set off to make a fire in a little fire pit we found in the rocks on shore. While there, the beaver returned for dinner (or dessert?) The beaver didn't seem too thrilled when Phil made fun of his noisy eating habits because the beaver slapped his tail on the water and swam away.<br /><br /><br />The next morning we took a short hike down the center of the cove. You can hike pretty far <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsmVI2EirJa_diK_XxmO4rexLwnbxl-vhbe-r_VyBBGoIwkEU91-3acX1rxH7_9pAyk7tydn-HiTsrFoAXIkXgX5y31LqjkFDx0FD-iWURYmIq3x7ebjBTRGhjVOqy-bgL3HHOzxNB-g/s1600-h/Slide7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsmVI2EirJa_diK_XxmO4rexLwnbxl-vhbe-r_VyBBGoIwkEU91-3acX1rxH7_9pAyk7tydn-HiTsrFoAXIkXgX5y31LqjkFDx0FD-iWURYmIq3x7ebjBTRGhjVOqy-bgL3HHOzxNB-g/s320/Slide7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237763083380067218" border="0" /></a>along the rocks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As we left Long Point Cove, setting off to re-visit Turnbull Island, the loons continued to taunt Bernie - staying just out of camera range and laughing like a ... like a ... like a crazy loon!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA2QUfuVk9zJ_WxVt_3IS9v7xz6B63H6ZHAbc7vsukpa2SaP-QVlh-9hFF7XO7aVXxILIo5zbX3CVt4KUZ-tG4rCHGg_D31KrRgJ3WvqffZpnc8m6UEWYj2nO-qgFNv2DeAz-kKegjT0/s1600-h/Slide15.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA2QUfuVk9zJ_WxVt_3IS9v7xz6B63H6ZHAbc7vsukpa2SaP-QVlh-9hFF7XO7aVXxILIo5zbX3CVt4KUZ-tG4rCHGg_D31KrRgJ3WvqffZpnc8m6UEWYj2nO-qgFNv2DeAz-kKegjT0/s320/Slide15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237767792861896530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />Long Point Cove<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">N 46 10.589 W 82 41.321</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCLc0156su4CpW4ETnexkXxCEf6RzXUEMdXbsnpFj7_F4XWXE_t9geWA_-sVi4oPsJ45UXRjtr5KOsa2v8X6WRyG7JzK_lYAGE2Dmfz29FmY8FZsHL2iRAC7uD_hlGWmSEdxqjb44cJo/s1600-h/Slide5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCLc0156su4CpW4ETnexkXxCEf6RzXUEMdXbsnpFj7_F4XWXE_t9geWA_-sVi4oPsJ45UXRjtr5KOsa2v8X6WRyG7JzK_lYAGE2Dmfz29FmY8FZsHL2iRAC7uD_hlGWmSEdxqjb44cJo/s320/Slide5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237764056536217970" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-47423443056944566232008-08-20T17:03:00.000-07:002008-08-20T18:56:58.708-07:00Beardrop Harbour, North ChannelJuly 19, 2008<br />August 15-16, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlP9xwBzwd-jLBHX1pmph_AXjIA1Y8NwZaLvpVFk5JijcW3qQBK8ccAFYcZT0AvlMfOIvWELokMyhEgtYWzkSxkAS1iymlu_PPwFFH6K-agdKB46W6ESh5I5epZESISpSUEW8CFNeQaQ/s1600-h/Meridian+at+Beardrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlP9xwBzwd-jLBHX1pmph_AXjIA1Y8NwZaLvpVFk5JijcW3qQBK8ccAFYcZT0AvlMfOIvWELokMyhEgtYWzkSxkAS1iymlu_PPwFFH6K-agdKB46W6ESh5I5epZESISpSUEW8CFNeQaQ/s400/Meridian+at+Beardrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236756588534968706" border="0" /></a>We accidentally forgot to post a blog about Beardrop Harbour when we were there the first time through. This blog will combine both visits as well as some pictures from the Whalesback Channel. We will mainly let the pictures speak for the area as words just don't do justice to the scenery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7P1n078rBCpAqADy_kyFsgZPWV-4LjOWMJCcTBqNNz-PGlKQevzEqoEViE8bnfh2hxAMO45efcaOmXHROnxenqMG77YTqyOunRmgiohRTmPkQyCrEKE1kULBWTAEjZl6cF4RI3TCKj4/s1600-h/Entrance+to+Beardrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7P1n078rBCpAqADy_kyFsgZPWV-4LjOWMJCcTBqNNz-PGlKQevzEqoEViE8bnfh2hxAMO45efcaOmXHROnxenqMG77YTqyOunRmgiohRTmPkQyCrEKE1kULBWTAEjZl6cF4RI3TCKj4/s400/Entrance+to+Beardrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236758375812094018" border="0" /></a>Beardrop is a very well protected harbor. Our second visit was under much windier conditions than our first visit, so we were the beneficiaries of its protective elements: small islands surrounding the entrance and a natural breakwater at the entrance. As soon as we passed the entrance, the waves died down.<br /><br />Both trips included hikes and kayaking throughout Beardrop Harbour, Bear Fall Cove and Bear's Bottom Bay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hiking in Beardrop Harbour</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidmL_gjAg8Bhb1eAdeOsQGQm7jMXlrdWhvCx9WmECR0CnFA11oP9CMHTwB_LroxBe2pwkrbfjXHFOVsHnmItj4zR0vVhYqD5upw113fq4Lz3leJy64qEBrNDKvpRBku8pWn6YNvPjVoI/s1600-h/Hiker+Bernie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidmL_gjAg8Bhb1eAdeOsQGQm7jMXlrdWhvCx9WmECR0CnFA11oP9CMHTwB_LroxBe2pwkrbfjXHFOVsHnmItj4zR0vVhYqD5upw113fq4Lz3leJy64qEBrNDKvpRBku8pWn6YNvPjVoI/s320/Hiker+Bernie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236771296087219714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ki16U4ORqq-FPTGWE7URQghtoentXAAfQ5SHR5ViS_-KapipNbZQHOKQo1Spd5_FGn-ZDsr8fNm3mp4RNNUV2d0pAe0zGNBmRAePVfmoedfNjMlWujqjCoAvVQhHWNn4A63rH7Y5klo/s1600-h/Hiker+Phil.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ki16U4ORqq-FPTGWE7URQghtoentXAAfQ5SHR5ViS_-KapipNbZQHOKQo1Spd5_FGn-ZDsr8fNm3mp4RNNUV2d0pAe0zGNBmRAePVfmoedfNjMlWujqjCoAvVQhHWNn4A63rH7Y5klo/s320/Hiker+Phil.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236771301814672306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beardrop Harbour (from Beardrop)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Di_seCghb0JQra6cp5-ZbKJMIflYNIh28BFzTbltx7KOxe1G6CJ2sLeFayl_TLXjKtAWRlX5jFIoEz4UOa_a5IdZIy2qntSVfAEIg01z1NS-03p8E8srTP3dpuEuhwrWtUopiGveGk/s1600-h/Beardrop+Harbour.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Di_seCghb0JQra6cp5-ZbKJMIflYNIh28BFzTbltx7KOxe1G6CJ2sLeFayl_TLXjKtAWRlX5jFIoEz4UOa_a5IdZIy2qntSVfAEIg01z1NS-03p8E8srTP3dpuEuhwrWtUopiGveGk/s320/Beardrop+Harbour.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236759318886907970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beardrop Fall Harbour Shoreline</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaGr6S4d_uY1rh4Hs5bRFpIk3thfX1yczLc4xkaox53bbA4lxod_JJp_ZxYUAtMnk7kpbTQ9PbkS7svYDNoGH8sLXWmL2K2-HmQHXF3VjTWDj_A-fC5DcB-Usa7kQwv8rKqr4_DG9ZwE/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaGr6S4d_uY1rh4Hs5bRFpIk3thfX1yczLc4xkaox53bbA4lxod_JJp_ZxYUAtMnk7kpbTQ9PbkS7svYDNoGH8sLXWmL2K2-HmQHXF3VjTWDj_A-fC5DcB-Usa7kQwv8rKqr4_DG9ZwE/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236759989623721842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4IdbLl0zsZjVQH7Keiyb5Hj5fdciIk6VSnlqRU-fDry9kcvqlqUgKHcEI4vZeIjIfEcy_n_OAX5b3XYaz7TPGv_ILn_PdZSzeNi2CYMIdLwfaf0tbYz8iDS1ypsTgQihllapOv_qLkk/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4IdbLl0zsZjVQH7Keiyb5Hj5fdciIk6VSnlqRU-fDry9kcvqlqUgKHcEI4vZeIjIfEcy_n_OAX5b3XYaz7TPGv_ILn_PdZSzeNi2CYMIdLwfaf0tbYz8iDS1ypsTgQihllapOv_qLkk/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236760979424791554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNB_cbs9PAqZ_jDRk0puhHwiIKejsZsurv9_tjElWatpkz3LPtMLvCCtFeazXo4tF_6V34X2HDJd8KOa3bM2HDi88dadsmNs5U82hiS4WhUdQThwgb5bLzxIe8SEB-vldYfVxB3nt3Mc/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNB_cbs9PAqZ_jDRk0puhHwiIKejsZsurv9_tjElWatpkz3LPtMLvCCtFeazXo4tF_6V34X2HDJd8KOa3bM2HDi88dadsmNs5U82hiS4WhUdQThwgb5bLzxIe8SEB-vldYfVxB3nt3Mc/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236762006149695906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUDj68eqJ1fnwgSv-z47rAerGRQqj8vpixYhFLJ4YfMZ-AjU4mhFGHs5Ot3CAKUcwanGOqbhQrEv0nfNOknJ8kEAm6M9miJJzzjjB_32rDPAwex8GJKTlT6MXP55FO1VL_MtBtfkMH3g/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUDj68eqJ1fnwgSv-z47rAerGRQqj8vpixYhFLJ4YfMZ-AjU4mhFGHs5Ot3CAKUcwanGOqbhQrEv0nfNOknJ8kEAm6M9miJJzzjjB_32rDPAwex8GJKTlT6MXP55FO1VL_MtBtfkMH3g/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236760981643417682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-B8-Diftqef4Bj-9Zi-W8J8dBM1zadXHNzTuaVcNmvpA1i3d5IEXOGmoUwMW57qbJP-oiZ9j056Lw9ANgXhgbmhGoslwDw1CN3BG7IMi_B8_ISrAkwoFS86n4rHk17CrsqdoiDC6e6Q/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-B8-Diftqef4Bj-9Zi-W8J8dBM1zadXHNzTuaVcNmvpA1i3d5IEXOGmoUwMW57qbJP-oiZ9j056Lw9ANgXhgbmhGoslwDw1CN3BG7IMi_B8_ISrAkwoFS86n4rHk17CrsqdoiDC6e6Q/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236759987050742498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-EAUDosKFgIJGfptLi253fJZXxj22qPVlqIS-pRrt_erQ2Alce55M3OE7K6Im2v6jd0nJkdUiWnpgFjGw17m5EdYCunH3fOUjI_dHZZNAtGgdvjVxDL2kgDnzXmvfXz6_ZN8SSzHsMI/s1600-h/Beardrop+Rocks+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-EAUDosKFgIJGfptLi253fJZXxj22qPVlqIS-pRrt_erQ2Alce55M3OE7K6Im2v6jd0nJkdUiWnpgFjGw17m5EdYCunH3fOUjI_dHZZNAtGgdvjVxDL2kgDnzXmvfXz6_ZN8SSzHsMI/s320/Beardrop+Rocks+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236760974521483218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Two Views of Beardrop</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BpIyiI48vLriOZVirs7iKkNVAvY607OOYhE7zbuaDHgVmEhcBFHCmzT_pl5aORbQRSfJIM9TAsBa8WmMgajxlZ9QZQIpz8n1HkmZtD0Dl4MY5sogdhvQ-oU3txE-7gBIPkct6e5L9gs/s1600-h/THE+Beardrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BpIyiI48vLriOZVirs7iKkNVAvY607OOYhE7zbuaDHgVmEhcBFHCmzT_pl5aORbQRSfJIM9TAsBa8WmMgajxlZ9QZQIpz8n1HkmZtD0Dl4MY5sogdhvQ-oU3txE-7gBIPkct6e5L9gs/s320/THE+Beardrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236771803023110402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdRZ6JFqK_S7F-9C1c7-DGaBtizyY76yo8jPP-vMJJCRtDyuIh-fsriIG3fBvE9L3YYkFgZ336OOZcOEVxbv0NrT2l6alRByqG93t4HM2nWYR8pSJST-8q278dj6Keo-kq922yAhXhDc/s1600-h/Beardrop+Side+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdRZ6JFqK_S7F-9C1c7-DGaBtizyY76yo8jPP-vMJJCRtDyuIh-fsriIG3fBvE9L3YYkFgZ336OOZcOEVxbv0NrT2l6alRByqG93t4HM2nWYR8pSJST-8q278dj6Keo-kq922yAhXhDc/s320/Beardrop+Side+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236771806648940018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Whalesback Channel<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Abigail Island</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfLyRVbQ22iBFx7jbW4kODa0WMN0XipAOy4gUqOlqPhBifV6f9IdnJrfGllk514BKtd8H0ULDUeX2qc4R_7d-lM-iHyShk4J7j7F6CT4-JpCQmWRxW-rFQx1oUQs3HEAszByyjlPSly8/s1600-h/Abigail+Island.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfLyRVbQ22iBFx7jbW4kODa0WMN0XipAOy4gUqOlqPhBifV6f9IdnJrfGllk514BKtd8H0ULDUeX2qc4R_7d-lM-iHyShk4J7j7F6CT4-JpCQmWRxW-rFQx1oUQs3HEAszByyjlPSly8/s320/Abigail+Island.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236764787371843506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Frasier Rocks</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkHe-GxxlaGjyjOuWJILnJ22fk_Hbfq0qNk8rVWm0Gcussdhe91AZ0keZls6bJ2BD3cm0FwLkjlPRsrF_7FqkStv8Trb2N3s-vsHPv9mRlC3y07Q6CZXO4Y7BjuAgvW_9cns77a79uQM/s1600-h/frazier+rocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkHe-GxxlaGjyjOuWJILnJ22fk_Hbfq0qNk8rVWm0Gcussdhe91AZ0keZls6bJ2BD3cm0FwLkjlPRsrF_7FqkStv8Trb2N3s-vsHPv9mRlC3y07Q6CZXO4Y7BjuAgvW_9cns77a79uQM/s320/frazier+rocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236764793684715874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Whalesback</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGql-ly6LuNuq6n7eHTjKCnkbgBP3vSH6a4QzNLCUYbeR6Fe0sVgtOpaVFlVM3DlAD33QjHAJxAAd4RZgqilVhOkAE_QJr8lT4PGT6OyHpwaxaWrGLj_y8eDPkRyuL-y1etDcsC6J_A_A/s1600-h/Whalesback.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGql-ly6LuNuq6n7eHTjKCnkbgBP3vSH6a4QzNLCUYbeR6Fe0sVgtOpaVFlVM3DlAD33QjHAJxAAd4RZgqilVhOkAE_QJr8lT4PGT6OyHpwaxaWrGLj_y8eDPkRyuL-y1etDcsC6J_A_A/s320/Whalesback.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236764794028173970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Turtle Rock</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99aVaH4DLTbeP7J12aOsZAj33Ttw2NWNpbOfIiwsic6ecBRNwnnwUr2VBlQioViBWVKeiG8EfnMX-EVAYPF_abB4VApw9hUCT8vLFdVolqEhDAVPpBn3NGvCAuZhMM3GudyWZTAbf08w/s1600-h/Turtle+Rock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99aVaH4DLTbeP7J12aOsZAj33Ttw2NWNpbOfIiwsic6ecBRNwnnwUr2VBlQioViBWVKeiG8EfnMX-EVAYPF_abB4VApw9hUCT8vLFdVolqEhDAVPpBn3NGvCAuZhMM3GudyWZTAbf08w/s320/Turtle+Rock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236765134712941634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Berrypicker Rock</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFa9RhmqEgfWWhKubaJzlDWKDtWlbMJDsU5lzmn9d1iMxFKet1GP376b_wxoRoqisNOfg1M-fxIQKS3nRhKO1FgACBoTbV-kd4qEojMWvByZkayfEb38EN296mWgWGrIUu4dUBjykwPU/s1600-h/BerryPicker+Roc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFa9RhmqEgfWWhKubaJzlDWKDtWlbMJDsU5lzmn9d1iMxFKet1GP376b_wxoRoqisNOfg1M-fxIQKS3nRhKO1FgACBoTbV-kd4qEojMWvByZkayfEb38EN296mWgWGrIUu4dUBjykwPU/s320/BerryPicker+Roc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236767152870026562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Abundance of Blueberries</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxOA2BxLirh2LywhcSRRlt41BhXGIP6WWU1NyupCEKZhyphenhyphenE8OXzAqzVg9YEOQmkD-kgX4itCuX6USazsvh010LWdyuIj5wg4bv3IbE5HBQraVXXeVt2A1UKgxHAgjUeb3OKSJe3oz9zxs/s1600-h/Blueberries.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxOA2BxLirh2LywhcSRRlt41BhXGIP6WWU1NyupCEKZhyphenhyphenE8OXzAqzVg9YEOQmkD-kgX4itCuX6USazsvh010LWdyuIj5wg4bv3IbE5HBQraVXXeVt2A1UKgxHAgjUeb3OKSJe3oz9zxs/s320/Blueberries.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236767640070336514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sunset at Beardrop Harbour</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MtZLB6giSkKE6UlAswU9T1nLWFyT6V4xsYkOPMWQVj1jhWpNsbNMH30jndAG6cA_6lIZ5gTg_XfHEIW9CPeV6Rv0o94ytxV1nBk573pKCDlPx1Dds4JQ-ZSHKK9Xp4PZJ5LaA-zev0k/s1600-h/Sunset+at+Beardrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MtZLB6giSkKE6UlAswU9T1nLWFyT6V4xsYkOPMWQVj1jhWpNsbNMH30jndAG6cA_6lIZ5gTg_XfHEIW9CPeV6Rv0o94ytxV1nBk573pKCDlPx1Dds4JQ-ZSHKK9Xp4PZJ5LaA-zev0k/s320/Sunset+at+Beardrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236767646369149474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UA6Smkc_GAbazUNy2DwQnv7G23axMBNb90Fwsgq3jI-VGKoXu2ZrWnuyKtpahsla-Lr_mRb-QYIPbSgVH4q6MIjOfN0y2IG8ArLrD-HW_aSd49L-1jHdPMMESjQKJB4cn4OI2xVaLhk/s1600-h/Phil+at+Beardrop.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UA6Smkc_GAbazUNy2DwQnv7G23axMBNb90Fwsgq3jI-VGKoXu2ZrWnuyKtpahsla-Lr_mRb-QYIPbSgVH4q6MIjOfN0y2IG8ArLrD-HW_aSd49L-1jHdPMMESjQKJB4cn4OI2xVaLhk/s320/Phil+at+Beardrop.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236767651435044898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beardrop Harbour<br />N46 09.650<br />W82 37.696<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-48635708014656047402008-08-20T12:48:00.001-07:002008-09-21T09:17:21.727-07:00References for North Channel Cruising<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here are some of the references we discovered along the way that may be helpful to others planning trips to the North Channel.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br />Boating and Cruising References</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.glcclub.com/">Great Lakes Cruising Club</a><br />As novice cruisers, joining this club gave us a wealth of information about the North Channel, Georgian Bay, and all the Great Lakes. Their Harbor Reports, with technical and informational coordinates and summaries, are key guides to finding anchorages, safely navigating passages, and learning about marinas and ports. We also received much valuable information, tips, good advice and great stories simply by talking to members that we met along the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.richardsonscharts.com/">Richardsons' Chartbook and Cruising Guide: Lake Huron including Georgian Bay and North Channel, 6th Edition</a><br /></span>Charts for US and Canada. Distances, depths, and navigational aids<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.seafevergear.com/north.html">A Well-Favored Passage</a><br />Originally by <span style="font-family:AdLib BT;">Marjorie Cahn Brazer</span><br />Updated b<span style="font-family:AdLib BT;">y Pixie Haughwout and Ralph Folsom</span><br />Although not a technical reference, this book presents a long-time cruiser's perspective of different anchorages and ports in the North Channel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.portsbooks.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ports Cruising Guide: Georgian Bay, The North Channel and Lake Huron</span></a><br />Detailed information on what services and facilities can be found in each port. Includes phone numbers and other basic information.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Factual Fiction and Fictional Fact</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The North Channel and St. Mary's River: A Guide to The History</span><br />Andrea Gutsche, Barbara Chisolm, and Russell Floren<br />Lynx Images 3rd Printing, May 2008<br />A great book to get a feel for the history of the area. Stories about the towns and the people who've lived The North Channel way before you discovered it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mysterious Islands: Forgotten Tales of The Great Lakes</span><br />Andrea Gutsche and Cindy Bisaillon<br />Lynx Images 5th Printing, August 2004<br />Great stories about "Island Life" on the five Great Lakes.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Great Lakes Lighthouses: Ameerican and Canadian<br /></span>Wes Oleszewski<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998<br />Organized by Lake, lists name, construction, status, location, style, access, and a summary of the light. Space provided to record the date the light was seen or visited by you. Includes a schematic of the location of each light on each lake. Also has a good narrative tale about one of the lights on each of the lakes.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Flora and Fauna</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Up North: A Guide to Ontario's Wilderness from Blackflies to The Northern Lights</span><br />Doug Bennett and Tim Tiner<br />McClelland & Stewart, Ltd. 1993<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Detailed</span> descriptions (everything from size and identifying marks to scat descriptions to trivia and statistics) of the types of flora and fauna you may encounter in the North Channel area. Categories include: Amphibians, Birds, Creepy-Crawlies, Fish, Mammals, Reptiles, Plants, Trees, Day Sky, Night Sky, Mother Earth.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Up North Again: More of Ontario's Wilderness, from Ladybugs to The Pleiades</span><br />Doug Bennett and Tim Tiner<br />McClelland & Stewart, Ltd. 1997<br />More detailed descriptions (everything from size and identifying marks to scat descriptions to trivia and statistics) of the types of flora and fauna you may encounter in the North Channel area. Categories include: Amphibians, Birds, Creepy-Crawlies, Fish, Mammals, Reptiles, Plants, Trees and Shrubs, The Heavens. Also includes a Nature Almanac, Field Checklists, Recommended Readings, and additional Resource Guide<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous</span><br /><br />The grocery stores up in the North Channel tend to sell milk in plastic bags. You need a container to put it in.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359891621538614424.post-33112207068772085352008-08-15T08:36:00.000-07:002008-08-15T10:02:16.469-07:00Spanish, OntarioIt's Friday morning (8/15/2008) in <a href="http://www.town.spanish.on.ca/pages/welcome.asp">Spanish</a>. We've stayed here for two nights now, and it's a beautiful day - warm, sunny and calm. But instead of being on the way to our next anchorage (probably a return to Beardrop Harbor), we're spending another morning in Spanish. We'll get to the reason later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K3JGVYSfI5vB7AiFnjyqkbuR8Vwg7M9oWNBtA2NrjSKgx4-LT3GsNqMGJd6SYgqEByWT4WyLHIketmenWlyGxMGAOmjyQhunV6UuEPpOjxLDy_w7-S2XgK3OMX_Yx5L5JnRuibsi_zw/s1600-h/P8140013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K3JGVYSfI5vB7AiFnjyqkbuR8Vwg7M9oWNBtA2NrjSKgx4-LT3GsNqMGJd6SYgqEByWT4WyLHIketmenWlyGxMGAOmjyQhunV6UuEPpOjxLDy_w7-S2XgK3OMX_Yx5L5JnRuibsi_zw/s320/P8140013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234771429012651394" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.town.spanish.on.ca/pages/welcome.asp">Spanish</a> is a nice place to spend a couple of nights, although it's pretty slow here and the marina is a half-hour walk from town. But it's very scenic, with the marina situated just beneath a large bluff (stairs lead up to a scenic overlook), and they have very nice facilities. We also <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> have good internet, and the short layover is allowing us to completely catch up with our blog, email and news/financial matters. Now, if we only had cell phone . . .<br /><br />[In case anyone has been trying to call us, our cell phones have been virtually useless since entering Canada. Phil's is nothing more than an expensive timepiece, while Bernie's works sporadically but costs an arm and a leg. Luckily, we have a few bandages left from Traverse City.]<br /><br />As you can see from the photo, the marina has a large wind generator at the top of the bluff. We had read that it is used to provide electricity to the marina and adjacent complex, but we have yet to see the blades turn. When Phil inquired about that from marina personnel, he was informed that "it's broken, out of warranty, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSVcInfbsOVwAkGI3gHYMBSsT8DmmdMmPPKoHuQ5Hf_uVmkrhlwlKhyRiMXQ76gZu_O06fbeQs7BbiqpfU6pCqWUiFE-KVZcCbP5a0D5g1ecEmq9a18wfJZGMoeNrddJeMPjZABB0fHk/s1600-h/P8140016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSVcInfbsOVwAkGI3gHYMBSsT8DmmdMmPPKoHuQ5Hf_uVmkrhlwlKhyRiMXQ76gZu_O06fbeQs7BbiqpfU6pCqWUiFE-KVZcCbP5a0D5g1ecEmq9a18wfJZGMoeNrddJeMPjZABB0fHk/s320/P8140016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234773101857078162" border="0" /></a>and the current owners likely will not pay to fix it because the marina complex is for sale." In case anyone is interested, they seem to be asking $2.4 million. You get a marina and a "Four Seasons Complex" that includes a health club, lounge area, various space that could be used for retail, and conference/meeting facilities. The laundry facility has large, new machines ($2C/wash; $2C/dry) that dry quickly. The showers are great as well. On the one hand, while anchoring, you realize how little water you really need to use for non-drinking purposes. On the other hand, you really appreciate a real shower! The laundry and shower facilities are available from 6:00am to 9:00pm daily.<br /><br />Unfortunately, when Bernie tried to use the health club, she was quickly informed in a matter-of-fact tone that it is "for members only and marina guests are not members. Goodbye now, off you go."<br /><br />Our only negative experience here.<br /><br />Well, except for Meridian's starboard engine, which is acting up again. When attempting to leave our slip yesterday, and after having let all lines go, the engine died and would not start. Luckily, we hadn't really moved away from the slip yet, so we were able to reattach the lines safely.<br /><br />After repeatedly failing to start the engine, we called a mechanic in Spanish, Tony Diodati of Motive Power, who came out to Meridian yesterday and pronounced our distributor cap unworthy of further operation. He should have new ones (we're replacing both as well as doing more tune up work) today and, if all goes well, we should be on our way later this afternoon. Otherwise, we may be here through the weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A8QNXx_3r8vNPNl36NlZd1EVHtcqi3atuuCst8QRjPg-16CiuH25CkxARTctY-TIKGJGjKmp0sS2YXN7KlSnzrWGkTmq-jgDr3aWKtVaEB6yVBwbzxI7dvtDn-DouRh0DJU-R6zt5M8/s1600-h/P8140012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8A8QNXx_3r8vNPNl36NlZd1EVHtcqi3atuuCst8QRjPg-16CiuH25CkxARTctY-TIKGJGjKmp0sS2YXN7KlSnzrWGkTmq-jgDr3aWKtVaEB6yVBwbzxI7dvtDn-DouRh0DJU-R6zt5M8/s320/P8140012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234775563879628002" border="0" /></a>Our stay here has been very pleasant though. We've walked into town a couple of times, and eaten twice at <a href="http://www.brchamber.ca/vancesmotorinn/">Vance's Motor Inn</a>. We also had ice cream (quite ample portions) at a small stand while in town. To work off the calories, we took a hike along the <a href="http://www.town.spanish.on.ca/pages/shoreline.asp">Shoreline Discovery Trail</a> that is located at the top of the bluff. It provides some great views looking out over Spanish Harbor and the Whalesback Channel, and it also has a number of interpretive signs that provide information about beavers - their important role in Canadian history and their habitat and activities. Bernie also got to FINALLY shop at an honest-to-goodness <a href="http://www.400eleven.com/farmers-market.html">Farmers Market</a>! She purchased a box of tasty plums, strawberries, green beans, some creamed honey, and dill pickles. Also, Bernie took advantage of our time here to replenish our cookie supply (an oven is a wonderful thing to have on board!), while Phil did some much needed cleaning down in the engine room.<br /><br />Yesterday morning in the marina, we experienced something new . . . a seaplane landed and came into the marina, pulling into a slip very close to us. We've seen seaplanes tied up to docks along the shore, and we even saw one land outside of Killarney. But we've never seen one motor into a marina and tie up in a slip just like a boat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3om5iuvmIYyAe8btVnrhz9R-y5c88Fk26w-Hs4PFgBD_XiZbL5Entxv6hk_qQaYYSr5A_SCJ6VDXl4tyqMLKAgNkpyjU-eyhB9Jw4n_9f_ORcmzev_L6KTzfBqiBO1j7B45O5NUX6m4/s1600-h/P8140821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3om5iuvmIYyAe8btVnrhz9R-y5c88Fk26w-Hs4PFgBD_XiZbL5Entxv6hk_qQaYYSr5A_SCJ6VDXl4tyqMLKAgNkpyjU-eyhB9Jw4n_9f_ORcmzev_L6KTzfBqiBO1j7B45O5NUX6m4/s400/P8140821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234788601870720034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_CDJLxJL_MyHgnJkq-bO9xdBlkJrcUoeB2PCiEBE2EuYjetgQzuDQw_d1h048EsjrhpZMhq3MbEE3L8HlRhbd-n4bdvkFbIYp6QSzQMgYnqBn63SYjHZoEb-q0IMXjmMks6BasSejK0/s1600-h/P8140011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_CDJLxJL_MyHgnJkq-bO9xdBlkJrcUoeB2PCiEBE2EuYjetgQzuDQw_d1h048EsjrhpZMhq3MbEE3L8HlRhbd-n4bdvkFbIYp6QSzQMgYnqBn63SYjHZoEb-q0IMXjmMks6BasSejK0/s400/P8140011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234776372973221554" border="0" /></a><br />The other bit of excitement here was the hailstorm yesterday. A thunderstorm came through and although it wasn't particularly severe (no wind to speak of, and not a lot of lightning/thunder either) it started hailing REALLY hard. It was pea-size and did no damage, but it bounced all over the place. It would hit the toe rail along the aft deck and come bouncing in under the canvas all the way to the companionway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsJBD5jYpTS-BBLN4G17iRmT60pWV_0g7PK551HW1ExDTFrmq-LMnZg09cjeaK8eX6kb4B-GUrorUw_qamsGuKTEAZPh2bfmvD3FUsutS3yHWTm3eBSDA8OkqrO1QnyPfbKVIhfpXE60/s1600-h/P8140018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsJBD5jYpTS-BBLN4G17iRmT60pWV_0g7PK551HW1ExDTFrmq-LMnZg09cjeaK8eX6kb4B-GUrorUw_qamsGuKTEAZPh2bfmvD3FUsutS3yHWTm3eBSDA8OkqrO1QnyPfbKVIhfpXE60/s400/P8140018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234777162729804306" border="0" /></a><br />Well, that's about all for now from Spanish. If we don't post for the next several days, that means our engine problems have been solved and we're off doing the "anchoring thing". Otherwise, we'll be posting daily about life here in the slow lane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvCMgS6h6Ee_Kjhbu57jklZVh2xsEQqIl-2C31pFybIAGIoWi97uhThs-_DZJCphyphenhyphenL0PdrRDjSFmvbSU7fhRyZR0sHC3jUgvdUc_Sq2FKV3kxpWTsMHIBD9e-wi5EY57rqKtDbRwLNEE/s1600-h/P8140829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvCMgS6h6Ee_Kjhbu57jklZVh2xsEQqIl-2C31pFybIAGIoWi97uhThs-_DZJCphyphenhyphenL0PdrRDjSFmvbSU7fhRyZR0sHC3jUgvdUc_Sq2FKV3kxpWTsMHIBD9e-wi5EY57rqKtDbRwLNEE/s400/P8140829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234788606335886306" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0