Sum Escape: June 2009

Wow!!!! That really sums it up so far. We left Harbor Springs on Thursday morning (I'd like to say uneventful but Tom forgot to untie one line so we made a little spectacle) as Julie pulled out around 9 AM. But the water was "Nancy water" all the way (smooth as glass) and we crossed under the mighty Mac around 11 and arrived in DeTour village around 1PM. DeTour has real nice floating docks and they are already being replaced with new in Sept. A nice stop, but not much here!

Next destination was Blind River to check in with Canadian authorities. The Blind River marina staff suggested Turnbull Island instead of traveling all the way to Beardrop Harbor. What a great suggestion!! We were the third boat to anchor but by Sat night we had nine. Had a wonderful time dinghying through all the islands, Tom went for a swim and washed the Grand Haven green scum from the waterline....have to look good in Canada when flying the stars and stripes! Nancy L called to give a Lake Michigan "floating around" report and we reported back the same conditions. Water was just shy of 70, not bad for June in Canada. A beaver house , a mother loon "ferrying" her young across the harbor and an eagle soaring were the wildlife highlights. Two nights here were great. We awoke to rain on Sunday morning but we found a break in the skies and some two foot rollers for an hour trip over the Beardrop.

We arrived to sunshine and took a long dinghy ride to the very back of Beardrop and into some one footers in the dinghy back through the "cut" (which the guidebook says you can bring your big boat through...20 feet wide and 6 feet deep....not us!) and back to Sum Escape. Early evening, after a great tuna dinner, we got a call from Adiamo...but they were back in Farmington Hills, not looking to raft off with us unfortunately. Had some strong winds but the clay bottom was a great hold so we rested comfortably. One of the bulbs in the anchor light had burned out so Julie handed tools and new bulb to Tom on the hardtop after the rain stoppoed around 8:30.

Left for Little Current around 10, passed through Little Detroit (yielding to two loon families)around 10:40 and arrived Wally's Gas Dock in Little Current at noon.

After refueling, pump out and calling the town docks we tied up around 1. We are sitting in the Anchor Inn as we write this. Some pics are attached below. We wish you could all join us here!

Bob Stouten from N Shore Marina waving good by in Harbor Springs. He is our hero...84 and still going to the N Channel!!! (even though he sunk his 4o+ footer last year entering Oak Harbor).