Hello from Little Current Canada (eh?)

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).

Harbor Springs lighthouse when we left on Thursday...Nancy water for sure!

Passing under the Mighty Mac.
DeTour village marina...smooth water again!
Matt and Nancy's gas tank made it to the North Channel before they did!
A nice sunset in Turnbull

The "cut" through Beardrop.

Out of battery...gotta go now!

Boating 2009 is here!!!! April 17 Launch!!!

So after the launch crew fixed their flat tire on the hydralic trailer and launched a beautiful 75' Hatteras, they came to our building and retrieved Sum Escape.

They are very efficient. The time it took totaled about 25 minutes and we were floating.

Diesel price about $2 per gallon...way better than last year's $4 plus fuel all summer!!

The sunset was fantastic for our first night out for 2009!!!

Our first trip of the season was to the Grand Haven Municipal marina for Friday and Saturday for the Chilly Blues chile cook off and blues bands in all the pubs. The marina was not open but we were able to stay for the weekend along with a few other boats on Friday (we were the only one on Sat). We don't feel we were rushing the season as the weather was great! A few friends joined us for the festivities. We are looking forward to another great summer of boating adventure!

Last "Building Party" for storage season

So launch didn't work out this week so we went to the marina to place the dock box...pretty lonely (and chilly) out here.

Look at the new bottom paint and great wax job by my son Brett and nephews Adam and Matt! Almost don't want to launch ....NOT!

Last "building party" on April 11. Wanted to launch on Friday but weather just didn't look so good. Oh well gave us one last chance to organize and get those last minute preparations complete! The company was great and the sun was shining into the building. Planning to launch on Friday the 17th.

Later, we drove to Dockers by car (yuck!) instead of boat but at least we were by the water and enjoying the "Jimmy Buffett" party at Dockers. We will be traveling there by boat soon!!

Winter Blues D Dock Party

Here is Rick Hicks entertaining the group on January 31. The group shots follow. A good time was had by all and we really enjoyed seeing all our "summer friends" in mid winter. Only a little over two months to launch!!!!

The food everyone brought was great!
The lighting was almost bright enough to remind us of the summer sun!

See you all at D dock in just over two months!!!

Winter Home (Storage)

Winter time look of a lonely Michigan boat.....longing for April launch.

Skipper Buds Raft Up 2008

Our weekend began with a Sat night trip to the barge anchored in Smith's Bayou (Spring Lake) as guests of Skipper Buds. We had a dinner on the barge and "lights out" around 11 so none of the condo neighbors got too upset with the noise. Our "slumber party" included our friends the Rowladers and Kenyons as overnight guests.



This invite gave us a prime spot for the surprise band performing on Sunday, only one boat off the barges. Here are some pics of the crowd of boats and the surprise band (The O. C. Beach Boys) who are actually some of the original Beach Boys. They (and the local warm up band too) were great and the weather was very hot and perfect for a huge party! Also included is a pic of our group awaiting departure after the party...they all look like they had a great time!!!


This was a huge success for the 6th annual Raft Up!

Labor Day to Sept 7 Trip North

So after the huge raft off in Spring Lake we headed out of Grand Haven on Labor Day "first light".

S Manitou Island was so inviting we anchored out for the afternoon before heading into Leland for the evening. Not a lot of action late on Labor Day in Leland....and no cell signal. Kinda wierd that we could use our phones on S Manitou but not on the mainland in Lelend. So no blog updates.
Here is a pic of S Manitou Island lighthouse.

Here is "Fishtown" in Leland. It is now a few commercial fisherman, some charter boats and a lot of retail shops. It is being preserved as a historic area and really is pretty cool.

And sunset at Leland was fantastic.

The trip to Charlevoix was uneventful except for an electronics failure. Apparently (after a call to technical support) the hard drive is overheating and Windows is automatically shutting down. So we arrived using the back up handheld GPS and are "saving" the main electronics for radar (if we need it). We hope it works if needed as it sporadically does.

Anchored out in Lake Charlevoix for the afternoon on Tuesday....it was hot and the water was 75* so very refreshing. Staying at the Charlevoix Municipal Marina. Wow, I thought the state was out of money....I think the local money must have had some influence because the facilities are absolutely gorgeous. Internet in the lounge, excellent floating docks and Hal the Duckmaster (not a typo....there are so many ducks on the docks at night his first job in the morning is to hose all the docks down!) is very helpful.

Went to Boyne City on Wed. Nice town with a couple marinas. Had a great lunch at the Red Mesa Grill, a local Mexican place. Have eaten here a few times and it is great every time! Took a slow cruise back to Charlevoix. Note that we are now a dinghy. This is Kevin Costners 172 foot yacht "Battered Bull". Security guys pacing the deck and all. Habormaster said this was the largest yacht in for the season. Unbelievable....Spent Thursday taking a walk before the rains, reading, having a great bloody mary and going to the local grocery store for a deli chicken for dinner. Also went to the local farmers market for fresh sweet corn, cherries, squash etc. Hope to leave afround noon tomorrow and plan to stop for fuel in Leland (and to pick up my electrical adapter I left on the electric post!!!) May continue on further or stop in Leland for the night...we'll see. So far a great trip again!