The Adventure REALLY Begins

Tuesday, July 29

After saying so long to Jeri and Patti, Waterford and Day Dreams left the harbor promptly at 8 am.  The sun was in and out with temp of 58!  But despite a breeze, waves were less than 2 ft -- a nice ride.  Our journey of 40 miles would take us past Mackinac Island into the mouth of the St. Mary River to the Detour State Harbor.

"Tall Ship" in the harbor on Mackinac Island

Passed this sailor "flying the chute"   

Waterford and Day Dreams together again!

Arrived safe n sound in Detour by 2pm.  After boat wash and a nice walk, we did a little trip planning over cocktails on Day Dreams.  We'll head out early Wednesday for the North Channel.  Since wifi will likely be scarce, it may be a few days before we can catch everyone up.

July 24 - July 28 Straits State Harbor, Mackinac City

On to Mackinac -- the adventure REALLY begins

Although the winds were still brisk, we left Presque Isle at 6:45 am under blue skies.  Talk about a traffic jam!  Waterford is represented by the red boat on the chart to the left.  The 6 blue triangles represent freighters on the move!


Waterford was beating into 2-3 footers most of the morning, but then, again as predicted, the waves began to subside.

Along the way, Garry had a chance to catch up with his great friend Walt, from the Chicago area.  The two were college friends who have kept in touch all the way through retirement.  A very special connection!

Dodging the ferries, we pulled into Straits State Harbor by 4 pm.  Once secure, we took a quick walk into town to locate the post office --- we had several packages shipped to the marina, but they don't have a  post office address!  So anything sent by USPS has to be picked up at the post office ---- live and learn!  We'll check in the morning.

Time for a light dinner and early turn in --- chores to do tomorrow!

Friday, July 25

Off to the post office first thing to pick up 3 packages that had arrived there.  It was perfect timing for a great breakfast at the local pancake house while we opened all the mail.   By the time we finished, the marine store was open, so we made a stop there for supplies on the way back to the dock.  Garry needed a trim, so we located a salon/spa where he got a haircut and I got a pedi -- what a treat!

Wifi wasn't working out on the docks (common situation it seems), so I took my computer and a load of laundry up to the marina office.  Our sister ship, Day Dreams, with friends Doug and Jan aboard was just pulling in as I finished.  

There were several trawlers in the harbor including C.A.R.I.B just across the dock from Day Dreams.  Lon and Pat were out of St. Petersburg, FL going the opposite direction from us on the Loop.  Before we knew it, we were enjoying cocktails and sharing intel.  No better info than from someone who's just been where you're going and vice versa (makes sense, right?)!  A good time was had by all.

Saturday/Sunday/Monday

A chilly, gray, windy, rainy day!  That was the theme for most of the weekend.  We slept in, did a lot of reading and a few little chores.  Garry changed the oil and in between showers, we managed a trip to the grocery store to stock up the the North Channel.  We put the Burley cart to the test!  

Sunday we got to connect with our daughter Laura and grandsons Zachary and Evan --- lots of catching up to do.  Even got a 3-way conversation going with Great Grandma Millie, who continues to do quite well even after suffering a stroke a year ago.

Also Sunday, Doug and Jan welcomed visitors Jeri and Patti for a couple of days.  Cocktails aboard Waterford followed by dinner in town --- great times.

Monday started out gray and very windy.  While the Martin crew set off for Mackinac Island, Garry and I headed off on bikes for a late brunch followed by a 4 mile ride south of town to Mill Creek campground.

A view of the Mackinac Bridge from the campground .

When the wind finally settled down, we left the harbor to go "next door" to fill up where the fuel price was significantly more attractive.  Back to Straits Harbor for a pump out and back to the dock.  Now we're ready for the North Channel --- provisioned up, fueled up and pumped out!

July 22-23, 2014 Presque Isle

With the forecast for wind and waves building during the day, we left Harrisville at 6:30 am.  As predicted, winds had increased to 20 + knots and still building by the time we pulled into our slip in Presque Isle Harbor at 1:15 pm.

THE Most Beautiful Harbor on this side of Lake Huron !

Water just like Tahiti -- crystal clear, blue, green or blue green!  I just don't remember sweatshirts in Tahiti.

Friends from Toledo Beach, Svain and Elaine on "Falkor" pulled in about 4 pm.  That beautiful blue sky disappeared as they were tying up and a nasty storm blew through.

Another trawler that arrived just moments later reported fighting 8-10 ft waves on their way across the lake from the North Channel ..........yikes!  Glad we got moving early!

The Cocktail Cruisers all arrived safely along with several sailors returning from the Chicago/Mac Race.  It was really nice to see the marina so busy.  

We enjoyed dinner at the Portage Restaurant right on sight -- fresh whitefish, mmmmmmmm.

Wednesday July 23

Wind and waves expected to persist, so we'll just stay put (awwww).  The Cocktail Cruisers held their awards ceremony at lunch time, so we had to get some photos.  What a fun group!

While they celebrated with a pizza party, we enjoyed a lovely lunch looking out over the harbor.

The rest of the day was spent socializing.  Since no one was leaving, it was the perfect time to meet and greet.  Just about cocktail hour, a Jeanneau pulled in to the slip next to us.  No mistaking a "Bob Reed" boat --- Bob sold us our sailboat and you can always tell by the impeccable canvas, cockpit cushions and the teak cockpit table.  Of course that was an instant intro and before we knew it, we were having a cocktail and tour of "Eye, Eye, Capitan" (an eye doctor of course).   Which, of course, was followed by a refill and tour of "Waterford".

Great time, Great Harbor!

July 21 - Harrisville

It's Monday, I think!

Next stop, Harrisville, a harbor we know well and always enjoy.

We left the dock at 7 am for the 63 mile trip.  With phone call and freighter delays, we arrived about 4:30 pm.  We pulled in next to "My Fair Lady", a 46 ft Beneteau sailboat, one of the Cocktail Cruisers group.  It turns out we had met Bob and Linda before we switched from sailboat to trawler!
Catching up, seated in their cockpit sure brought back many great memories.

As the rest of their group arrived, we moved back to Waterford for cocktails and dinner aboard.

Swan Family
They weren't excited about Garry taking their picture!

Since the forecast for Wednesday is for high winds and waves 5-8 ft, we'll move on in the morning.

Continuing north on Lake Huron

.

July 20, 2014

Pulled out of Lexington just before 8 am for the 38 mile jaunt to Harbor Beach. With waves less than 

2 ft, we cruised into our slip by 1:15 in the afternoon.  They had completed dredging, so the entry was a little easier 

 Not a lot of boat traffic on the lake, but we shared the dock with a group of 7 sailboats doing the "Cocktail Cruise Race".  This is a port to port race --- race during the day and in a dock for the night.   Our paths would coincide all the way to Presque Isle.

July 19 - 

Since we have another full week to make it to Mackinac City, we stayed a second night in Lexington. Garry was wakened at 8 am by the start of the Lexington Triathlon.  The swimming portion took off from the beach adjacent to the harbor, followed by the biking and finally the run which brought the athletes back through the park and past the marina again to the finish.  It was quite an event with about 200 participants.

 Who knew???

We spent the rest of the days doing a few chores, taking a nice walk and enjoying the evening.

July 16, 2014

                A NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS

Of course no journey can begin without a proper send off!!  Our great friends, the Erikssons arrived from California on Saturday July 11 to help celebrate.  On Sunday, the Bellino's, Laura and the boys joined the party.  We missed Aaron and Mike, who both were working that day.  No party would be complete without a "Cakes by Stephanie" cake........

It was a wonderful day filled with grandkids, dinghy rides, pool play and lots of hugs.  Skype and FaceTime will be getting a workout!

Bon Voyage!

After a long winter and several months of preparation, we are "live aboards".  The house is rented, the truck is gone and we are off on our dream adventure.

We left Toledo Beach for the last time at 8 am under clear blue skies and favorable winds.



Paul and Joan, also houseless for the first time, were kind enough to help us out with the photo.

The first leg of our journey will be up the Detroit River into Lake Huron and on up to Mackinac where we'll meet our sister ship, Day Dreams.  Together we'll head east with a goal of NY City by mid September and then head south.  Our ultimate destination will be Florida by early December.

Had to break out the champagne and Waterford crystal (the real thing) to celebrate this event!


This first day we traveled 44 miles to Kean's Marina, located just at the mouth of Lake St. Clair.  Clouds caught up with us, but no rain.  We were secure in our slip by 4:30.  This is an older facility on the north end of Detroit with a spectacular view of the city skyline and Detroit Yacht Club across the way.  We enjoyed walking the docks before cocktails and dinner aboard.  Now that we're both retired, we've vowed to take our time --- no more 70 - 100 mile, 12 hour days!!

Day 2    July 17, 2014

Another beautiful day!  We departed Kean's at 7:45 to cross a very calm Lake St. Clair, then into the St. Clair river.  Just a few ferries and freighters to dodge before arriving at St. Clair for the 3 pm bridge.  This is familiar territory, a marina we always enjoy.  Once secure, we set off on a 3 mile walk  to a hardware store (gotta hit every one!), grocery and liquor store (already?).   Back at the dock, it was cocktail time, of course.  While we were sipping, Charlie White, one of a group of 3 yachts from Sarnia Yacht Club, "couldn't take it any longer".  He just had to check out Waterford. Before we knew it, we were having our second cocktail aboard Terry and Sue's Grand Banks trawler with the whole gang!  After cocktails, we made our way to Murphy's for pizza and music, but  promised a tour of Waterford in the morning before departure.

The Sarnia Yacht Club crew - from left, Charlie, Jan, Sue, Tim, Jacque, Kathy, Terry and Garry.
Charlie and Garry REALLY like orange!

Day 3    July 18, 2014

9 am -  The Sarnia gang joined us for a tour and then invited us to join them for breakfast.  What a lovely way to spend a morning!  We were treated to a wonderful ham and eggs breakfast (Charlie cooks a mean egg!) and still made the 11 am bridge opening.  We look forward to connecting with this group again, perhaps in Florida.

What a beautiful day!  We took advantage of the sun and spent the majority of the 29 mile trip up on the bridge.

The "bridge" from the bridge!  29 miles later, we arrived in Lexington safe n sound by 4 pm.  We hadn't been here in many years due to low water and a tricky entrance.  Now that dredging has been completed, no problem!  We did a brief walking tour of the "downtown", followed by cocktails and dinner on the back deck.  Though there were clouds, the sunset was beautiful...............