June 4-6, 2009 - Tobermory, Ontario

We crossed the 100-mile width of Lake Huron in very favorable wind conditions. The lake water was 38 degrees, and the air temperature was not much more. Out came the long underwear!



We decided to spend a couple nights in South Cove Harbor, one of our favorite anchorages.












We were the only boat in the anchorage, not surprisingly, as it is very early in the season.












We launched the dinghy, dressed warmly, and headed to our cottage on Stag Island, just two miles away. We started the refrigerator and pumped up the water tank, to get a head start on Wednesday’s planned opening and dock launching.








Back at South Cove, we were tucked securely within this “hurricane hole” harbor.













From the bow we could see “The Gut”, which is the back door to this harbor, accessible only by rowboat or canoe.











Saturday morning, we headed in the short distance to Tobermory, and docked in our slip for the season. Winds were moderate, but still cold with nighttime temperatures in the 40s.








Until early July, we will be at our cottage. Stay tuned for further blogs of our planned Lake Superior trip, which will extend from then until mid-August.

June 3, 2009 - Harbor Beach, Michigan

Once again, we are off north, under sunny skies with 53 degrees.












The current is as strong as ever under the Blue Water Bridge, which connects Port Huron with Sarnia, Ontario. But with our twin 400 Cummins engines, we noticed how much faster we could transit this, than we used to in our sailboat!

The day was predicted to have moderate breezes with 1-2 foot waves. But as soon as we were in Lake Huron, we were in 2-4 foot waves, with an occasional 5 footer! However, as the day progressed, the wind moderated and things calmed down to the more comfortable, predicted conditions.











We anchored for the night at Harbor Beach, MI. In 1874, Congress authorized the construction of this port, the largest man-made freshwater port in the Great Lakes, as a safe harbor for shallow-draft lake freighters.

June 2, 2009 - Port Huron, Michigan

Departing early this morning from the Detroit Yacht Club, we headed north.












We were surprised to see these huge homes on the banks of the Detroit River, on Detroit’s east side. These had been built since we left town 18 months ago, and we were glad to see this new development, which we took as a positive sign.









The Sombra to Marine City car ferry crossed our wake in the St. Clair River.













Further up the river, we passed the Bramble, a Coast Guard cutter. When we raced the Mackinac Races, she accompanied the fleet across Lake Huron. Berthed in front of her was an impressive sailboat.









At Port Huron, we turned in to the Black River at the Great Lakes Maritime Center, which is decorated with flags from the many steamship companies that ply the Great Lakes.








We berthed at the Port Huron Yacht Club. Coincidentally, Ed Schwanz, the commodore of the PHYC the same year as Jerry was commodore of the DYC, stopped by our boat for a chat. He gave us the grand tour of their 1996 clubhouse, built since we had last visited. It is beautiful, constructed with a great deal of member’s “sweat equity.” We were welcomed with warm hospitality.

And we finished the day with a beautiful sunset.