Beaver Island, we have arrived! At one of the numerous public beach accesses in the harbor |
No, we didn't pick up a case of the dreaded beaver fever from the water (something I followed up on regularly back in my working days, and something I know way too much about ;)) But we did find an island that we could spend a lot more time on.
After waiting out some dodgy weather and taking the earliest window we could, we finally made it to Beaver Island. The weather wasn't really cooperating and for a little while I didn't think we'd be able to make it but, alas, we did! The forecast was calling for some wind and waves building across the lake but instead we were faced with some decent rollers from all the wind the day before and not even enough wind to keep the sails full. I think Ron unfurled and furled the headsail at least five or six times trying to see if it would help even a little bit but in about 10 minutes he'd be rolling it back in mumbling about the incessant flopping of the sails. So we motored. And motored. But we made it.
I was excited to check out the (free) museums talking about the island's interesting, and even strange, history. Ron was not. He made it through the museums in record time by "looking at some of the pictures".
Main Street along the bay, watch out for traffic! |
The museum is the white building down at the far end. |
Ferry to the mainland |
Whiskey Point coming into the harbor, complete with the Whiskey Point Lighthouse and and old Coast Guard station that is now part of a biological research facility for Central Michigan University.
We spent a lot of time walking around but really there was just a bunch of houses and businesses. Fun to gawk at as we walked by but not photo-worthy. So what was photo-worthy? If you've seen any of my photos on our Facebook page you might guess that it's the water. And you'd be nothing but right, and it just keeps getting better the farther North we go (just wait 'til we get to the North Channel)!
And, for the first time on our trip, we were able to see our anchor 20ft below us! Trust me, going from water where we couldn't even see our whole rudder to all of a sudden seeing our anchor laying on the bottom is pretty darn exciting!
Our Mantus anchor nicely dug in to a sandy spot... even though winds were so light at the time that our chain was holding us in a totally different direction |
Ron braved the cold to catch this picture. He be crazy. |
I have spent many a week on Beaver, Garden, High Islands - thanks for the memories. Doc T
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures but darn you; now I have to add Upper Lake Michigan to our future itinerary. Dana loves clear, cold water. Did Lexie get to swim? I bet she loves cold water.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely should add upper Lake MI to your list! Lexie is a swimming fool, even in the chilly water. We usually have to make her stop :)
DeleteMy boyfriend is the same way with museums - in & out! And I take a good hour or more...
ReplyDeleteLove the water pics!
Great pic of the Mantus dug in!
ReplyDelete