08/15/2008, Put In Bay, OH
Hey..... finally no real incidents to report! We left Algonac a little before 0800 and headed south to cross Lake St Clair. Aside from sharing the channel with some HUGE ships, there was no real excitement.
We crossed the lake and entered the Detroit River. The current there boosted our speed to about 8.4 kts. We motored past Downtown Detroit and GM Headquarters then through the industrial area then into the "sticks."
Dave did most of the navigating while I manned the helm. Partially thanks to the current, we made it all the way from Algonac to Put In Bay, Ohio in Lake Erie! A pretty good haul if I do say so!
We got in and got tied up at the City Docks just before dark. It felt good to get ashore for a shower and some dinner. Norma seems to be enjoying her third Great Lake.
Here's a pic from when we passed through Detroit.
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08/17/2008 | Steve Hough (stevecch att otbnet dott com)
Glad to see you are having a great time! We landlubbers are very jealous!
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08/18/2008 | jim d (jdudds att hotmail dott com)
mike, got to meet former swabbee mike at the benefit for St. Mmalachy's in rantoul..what a great guy!!anyway..wishin you more good weather, smooth sailing and be safe!!
jim and marla |
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08/19/2008 | Andy (awg93 att yahoo dott cmo)
Make sure to say hi to the management team at the PIB Brewing Company!
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08/19/2008 | Sound man Todd (twlindsey12 att comcast dott net)
Don't forget to say hi to Mr. Ed for me!!!
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08/13/2008, Algonac,MI
Well.... we left Port Sanilac and did the usual "Lake Huron Shuffle" to get the plant life off of the keel and proceeded to motor in flat calms to the St Clair River.
As we passed under the Blue Water Bridge that divides the US from Canada, Norma Fay accelerated to 10.4 kts over ground. Ths exhiliration was soon replaced by another kind when the thunderstorm we had been watching on the western horizon scored a direct hit on us as we passed through Port Huron.
This time we had over 50 kts of wind, rain, lightning and even, yes, hail. I say "golf ball" sized, Dave says "dime." Either way, it lasted for about 20 minutes and broke two of the windshield panels in my dodger.
Anyway, nothing like having your visibility reduced to zero in a river crowded with container ships. Somehow, we made it through with the only damage being to the dodger and our nerves. We arrived in Algonac several hours later, still wet but OK.
Anyway, I seem to be getting plenty of heavy-weather practice! Here's a picture of one of our travelling companions.
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08/12/2008, Port Sanilac, MI
As my alleged mind with its limited education recalls, I believe the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the original seven wonders of the world... If I'm wrong, just let me keep believing that because it (sort of) ties my last two ports of call together.
After the huge low pressue system finally moved east from Ontario and left Lake Huron in relative peace, Big Brother Dave and I headed out to cross Saginaw Bay. With the slop left over from the previous days' storms, Saginaw Bay lived up to its reputation for being a bit on the bouncy side.
Things did settle down as the day progressed and we arrived safely (if a little jostled) in Port Austin. As we were leaving the harbor, I noticed that we were only doing 4 knots even though my engine was turning at 2800 RPM's. To give a little perspective, I should have been doing about 6.5 to 7.
In assessing the situation, I noted the engine was running steady and the transmission didn't appear to be slipping, consequently I wondered if we were dragging something..... All lines and fenders accounted for? Check!.... Dave still on board? Check! Jimmy Hoffa?? Nahhh......
We got into the open and I stopped the boat and reversed her...... and viola... about 3 big clouds of "seaweed" surfaced. Suddenly the boat was handling properly again.
Then we motor-sailed to Port Sanilac without incident until we entered our "trainsient slip." We came to a dead stop halfway in, even though my depth sounder said 8.9 feet. Sure enough.....more "seaweed"... As we backed out, I could tell by the way the boat was handling the we were carrying another "hanging garden." Despite this, I was able to get into a less occluded slip.
Afterward, on a hunch, I cleaned two small "dinner salads" out of the raw water strainers for my engine and air conditioning intakes. Note to self....transient slips that don't get used a lot tend to get bottom growth in them...... BEWARE.
Anyway, the people in both harbors were great and the harbors we also very nice.....(if a little on the weedy side)
Rather than include pictures of the aforementioned offending flora....I'll throw in another rainbow picture. Judging by the emails, that was a popular submission.
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08/13/2008 | Spooner. (spoonershows dott com)
LOL!!! "Funny how? How am I funny? I'm a clown? I amuse you?"
"No it ain't like that. The way you tell the story...it's funny." Thank you Mike for making me laugh today! Contrary to popular belief, drying out the seaweed and ...oh nevermind. Continued prayers to the Tiki Gods for your safe travels!! |
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08/13/2008 | Former Swabbie Mike (mlk att mchsi dott com)
I guess I left at the right time. Something tells me I would have been selected for salad removal. Just wanted you two to know that I made it home after a rather uneventful 12 hour bus ride.
I again want to thank you for allowing me to tag along on the beginning of your journey. I had a great time and would do it again. Good luck and smooth sailing on the rest of your trip. Mike |
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08/14/2008 | Bob (zimvg att mchsi dott com)
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
- African proverb |
08/10/2008, Alpena, MI
Yes, Yes, I know that's the nickname given to the Indian Ocean but it also seemed to fit in this case. Despite all that I know about sailors getting into trouble trying to keep a schedule, we left Rogers City between two rather large squall lines enroute to Alpena so that Mike could catch a bus (ugh!) home.
The weather looked dicey but the trip started out ok. About 3 hours into the trip we noticed a very organized squall line that seeemed to be chasing us down the coast. Well, it caught up with us just outisde of Presque Isle.
We were in a full-blown gale for about 15 minutes. We had 35 kt winds, cold rain, lightning and building seas. Then the sun came back out and everything was back to normal, aside from some left-over swells... until we rounded the Thunder Bay Island Light enroute to the Thunder Bay Shores Marina in Alpena.
We turned and saw that we were entering the bay with a large container ship so we gave him lots of room. We had just passed the shoal marker when a second squall line with some rain and bigger winds (but no lighting) hit us. Since we had turned to enter the bay, the 40+kt winds were now on the nose. This knocked our boat speed down considerably.
This time, the gale lasted for about 30 minutes before leaving us with 20 kts of wind still on the nose. When we finally made it into the marina, we were greeted with this rainbow. Pretty cool after all that.
I think we're staying an extra day here after Mike leaves to give this weather system time to move on.
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08/11/2008 | janetmarie (pjwade att sbcglobal dott net)
Patrick thinks a Social is in order after rough seas and heavy winds.
Great docking! |
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08/12/2008 | jim d (jdudds att hotmail dott com)
mikey...great pics. we were at cheeseburger fest in caseville, and i think we drove thru the same storms on the way there. smooth sailing and godspeed
jim |
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08/13/2008 | Spooner. (spooner att spoonershows dott com)
WOW! GREAT pic! GREAT report! Call me nuts but I have always wanted to be in that type of weather. Kudos on maneuvering through all of it!!
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08/08/2008, Rogers City, Michigan
Well.... all good things must come to an end. We left Mackinac Island this morning, but not before saying goodbye to a member of the crew. My cousin Cole had to get back to start school at SIU so he took a ferry to Mackinaw City to catch a bus to catch a train to....well you get the idea. Anyway, it was really great getting to hang out with Cole this week. He was great crew and great company and he's welcome back anytime!
It's now down to Dave, Mike and me. We headed out after breakfast and motor sailed (**sigh**) in building winds and swells right on the stern. Better than on the nose but still impossible to really sail in.
We met a really cool fellow traveler before leaving named Jeff. He is from Maryland and has sailed single-handed to Mackinac Island on his way to Milwaukee. Since he just passed through many of the waters in intend to cross, he had charts and cruising guides for those areas that he gave me. How cool is that?
Anyway, we just arrived in Rogers City and are chillin' at the marina. Actually Dave and Mike took the "courtesy car" to the grocery while I'm catching up on internetting.
I haven't taken any pics here so I'm throwing in a pic of a mega-yacht that anchored behind us on M.I. over night. It's British-flagged vessel named "Cracker Bay." Not bad.....for a stink boat. ;o)~
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08/09/2008 | Mike (mike3318 att hotmail dott com)
A lot of us from UPD have been following your travels and are very envious. We look forward to reading your new posts and are glad to hear of no major problems. Hopefully the wind will start cooperating so you can start sailing again. Keep posting the updates and Godspeed.
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08/11/2008 | Jano (WetLuau att oawl dott net)
We are cruising up to Milwaukee for the weekend with the R.Y.C. cruising fleet.
That 27 mi. ea. way (ya-I know that's a day trip for you). So with the 7 degrees of separation in mind I'll have to find Jeff from Maryland-------- Wonder if he knows Kevin Bacon........ |
08/07/2008, Mackinac Island
When we came back from sight seeing today, I had a post-it note on my boat from a friend from my home town. I literally grew up across the street from Terry and we were friends through and past high school. It just so happens that he and his wife were on M.I. on vacation and he heard I was here.
I called him on his cell and they stopped by the boat before taking the ferry back to the mainland. Here's a picture of me with Terry and his wife Juanita.
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08/09/2008 | Terry Romine (tdr17 att msn dott com)
MIKE! WOW What a place talk about going back in time. The fort was Great ! Enjoyed our time with you! Went to the Pink Pony!!!
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08/12/2008 | Neal (ndavis att sbgnet dott com)
Romine... are you kidding me? Terry, is that you? I shoulda thought to look on an island off the coast of Michigan. Mike, looking forward to your long stay in NC. Call sometime - maybe I'll catch you for a piece of NY too.
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