St Mary River

07.25.2010 we reentered the USA at Drummond Island which is on the St Mary River. We had a short wait at Yacht Haven Marina for the custom’s officer. Once cleared, we were able to get off the boat. Tut was happy to be on U.S. soil again. He rolled around in the dirt which is a sign of joy, or when female felines are within view, self advertisement. There were no other cats in the area.

Linda and Dave, Perfect Timing, were at the marina with two of their grand children who we met in Marathon, Florida.

07.26.2010 – day 2 at Yacht Haven

The 1^st stop on our bike tour of Drummond Island was the U.S. Post office. Postage in Ontario Canada includes 13% harmonized sales Tax. It coat $1.13 to mail a post card or a letter. I was happy to pay the U.S. costs to mail a package to our granddaughter. I’ll still complain when I have to wait in line for service but no more

Next we went to the hardware store, clothing shop and grocery. All three retail businesses are owned by the same guy.

Our last stop was a gourmet store. Andrew purchased sorghum and pasties, two items he had searched for throughout the trip.

07.27.2010 we docked at St Ignace Marina. We took the ferry to Mackinac Island which may be the fudge capital of the world. In a ½ mile strip there were at least 12 fudge shops.

No automobiles are allowed the island. You can walk, ride a bike or take a horse drawn carriage to get around. We chose to take our bikes so we could ride the 8 mile coastal trail.

It was hot and humid which enhanced the downtown town area’s aroma of steaming horse excretion and fudge. People crowed the sidewalks while hoards of bike cyclist, with varied degrees of skill, shared the main street with horses.

We started the trail at the finish marker to bike opposite the traffic. Although there were fewer riders on our side of the road there was danger. Hazards included: children racing their parents on the wrong side of blind curves; elderly, on bicycles built for two, losing the capacity to peddle uphill swaying into our path; lane jumping riders using cell phones; people making emergency stops forcing the traffic into our lane; bikers pulling dog tent trailers, dogs trying to escape the trailers, people carting children in overloaded carriers with reduced steerage; and the intermittently spaced manure obstructions.

Mackinac Island is beautiful. The water is two toned, aqua close to shore and dark blue as the depth increases. We past the Grand hotel (featured in the movie Somewhere in Time) and Arch Rock before returning to historical downtown. We had an early dinner at Mustang’s Tavern then rode the ferry back to St Ignace.

Ship carrying bales of hay to Mackinac Island for the horses

Mackinac Island Marina

Mackinac Island Coastal Trail

Me riding my bike

Arch Rock

Me waiting for the ferry on the dock - Mackinac Island

Andrew waiting for the ferry

Downtown Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel

Photo taken from ferry

Ferry Captain watching clearance

07.28.2010 the wind was steady at 20 knots with gust to 30. We stayed another day at St Ignace. Andrew found another pasties shop. We now have a freezer d full of them.

Back in the USA

07.24.2010 Thessalon Marina

Canadian Coast Guard

The crew was friendly. They went out every night regardless of the weather to patrol.

07.25.2010 Tut prepares for re entry into the USA.

Our first U.S. sunset in 36 days - Yacht Haven Marina

U.S. grade sea gulls on Drummond Island.

07.26.2010 the crew is on alert for a quick departure. The captain is checking the weather to determine if we should stay at Yacht Haven Marina another day or move on.

North Channel Continued

Another storm

07.18.2010 it rained on and off all day. We stayed at Little Current Marina. I did three loads of clothes, defrosted the refrigerator and cleaned the interior of the boat. The captain hosed down the exterior of the boat. Then he was called to an urgent male captains meeting where he drank beer and shot pool for three hours. Fair is something you take your children to.

Tut and I had Chinese food for lunch. The egg drop soup was beef based. It was unusual. The mushroom fired rice was good. The Vegetable Delight was not delightful.

07.19-20.2010 we spent anchored in the southern Benjamin Islands. It was windy and the boat rocked during the day light hours (0600 –2030). The islands were good for hiking. The water was clear. You could swim off stone ledges or in areas where there were large pebbles forming a sort of beach.

Storm clouds

Sea Gull begging for food

07-21-2010 sightseeing at Kagawong was the first thing on are agenda. The trail to Bridal Vail Falls hugged a shallow creek. Listening to the water babble over the bedrocks was peaceful. The falls were disappointing because of the low water. I know people who installed tranquility falls in their houses that trickle faster on the slowest setting.

The wind was raging from the Northwest 15-20 knots. The bay was slashing over our swim platform and holding us to the Kagawong dock. There were no slips available at the marina so we had to move on. We sought shelter at Oak Bay 18 nautical miles north.

Freedom rocked and rolled for about 2 hours as the 3 foot waves hit her beam. Then we turned and the wind was at her bow. This allowed us to ride the swells which reduced our toss by 60 %.

We anchored and watched a storm come at us from the west. Blue Yonder had just anchored when it hit. There was a 10 minute torrential downpour followed by a horizontal rainbow ascending from the hills and valleys to the sky. It was amazing.

The crews aboard Monkey Girl and Blue Yonder joined us for happy hour. We agreed it was time to get back to the U. S. We all missed things we were use to in the States. For instance, cheaper food prices and free pump outs.

The photos did not do the rainbow any justice. It really was awesome.

07.22.2010 Andrew and Bill play horeshoes at Blind River Marina. They do not have WIFI.

Blind River had an LCBO (liquir Store) Tut likes their bags.

07.23.2010 we went htrough a narrow pass on our way to Thessalon Marina.

07.24.2010 Andrew searched the entire boat for Skipper Bob's Michican book. He was unable to find it. Tut enjoyed the search because it allows him access to the settee locker. Taking an nap in this area was a dream come true.