Aug 21
Finally all caught up with posting to the blog now that we're back to getting decent cell service.
Another longer travel day covering about 6 hours and 50
miles from Meldrum Bay, Ontario, Canada to De Tour Village, Michigan, USA where
we checked through customs using a very cool video conferencing app that the US
Customs and Border Patrol calls ROAM. No
inspections, no waiting. Just a couple
clicks on the phone, a conference call, a video hook-up so they can see your face
and compare it to your passport, a couple basic questions and they send you an
approval notification. Of course, they
could always tell you stay on board, they’re sending a customs agent, but
I haven’t heard of that happening to
anyone yet.
Early rise as boats started leaving at first light. Caught
the sunrise and was reminded of that old sailors saying about “Red sky in the
morning….”
We finally left Meldrum Bay at 7 AM figuring we should get to De
Tour by 1PM. Calm winds as we left but
as forecast, they continued gradually building.
Made it a little sloppy the last hour or so but we still made it to De
Tour before the stronger afternoon and evening winds arrived. We even hit our furthest northern point coming around the top of Drummond Island. 46 06.47degrees!
Sitting on the boat now in the security of a
protected marina slip listening to it blow and watching the whitecaps out on
the water. Good Planning!! De Tour is a pretty small village. A small IGA grocery, a gas station, and 3
restaurants (best one with a bar and the blue prints for the Edmund Fitzgerals hanging on the wall is closed on Wednesdays) so we wound up with
pizza. We did see this boat go by in the channel that is of the same design.
I’ve talked about how clear the waters were in the Georgian
Bay and North Channel but once we turned the corner heading towards the USA and
Lake Huron proper, we were surprised by the sudden color change. With the sun shining down it becomes the
azure blue color that reminds you more of the Caribbean. Extremely eye appealing.
Aug 22
We spent an extra night
in De Tour. No real reason other
than timing our arrival to Charlevoix for Sunday after the weekenders
leave. Not much to do but chores so
gave the boat a long overdue washing and
defrosted the freezer. Had a good
batch of loopers here so of course
docktails were in order. No craft
brewery here site but found this really
nice dark beer at the grocery. Dinner
on board.
Journey for Aug 21
Some years ago, in my dad's bass boat we were fishing around Drumond Island. Beautiful day. Then the wind changed. The trip from Drumond to Detour Village was more than I ever want to handle again. My dad had my grandfather lay down in the boat as he labored to keep the small boat headed in the right direction. Toby
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