Half way through Lake Superior
22 July 2009 | Marquette, MI
Sylvia/gray and cloudy
July 20, 2009
We left Houghton/Hancock after dropping off Rich and Marba and I proceeded to accidentally unclip the line for one of the fenders so we had a buoy pick up exercise. It was being carried by the current and went too close to shore for us to pick it up. Instead we docked again where we had before and waited for it come close to us and picked it up then. Then away again to the lower entry to the waterway for the night.
July 21, 2009
We cast off at 6:15 (early for Bill as you who know him can attest to) and motored out of the Keweenaw Bay for 2 hours. The wind had picked up so we set the main and jib and motor sailed at 8 knots for 2 hours. The sky was blue with lovely white clouds and it was a fine close reach with winds that sped us along at 6-7 knots under the full set of sails after turning off the iron wind. The seas were one to two feet so it was a grand sail. Everything was on the tilt, of course, but it helped us start to get our sea legs back after all of these years of building rather than sailing. After a 3 1/2 hour sail we had to drop all of the sails and motor into the wind in order to make Marquette, MI. We docked at the Cinder Pond Marina in Marquette at 6:15. A solid 12 hours on the water. What fun.
There were no problems. Eos did beautifully and while motoring in we got to check out our fix to the diesel tank. The fix worked so now we can get diesel from that large tank.
July 22, 2009
With rain and thunderstorms predicted we decided to take a lay day here in Marquette and ease ourselves into this cruising life. Tomorrow looks good for a long day to Grand Marais, MI and then the next day - weather permitting - on to Sault Sainte Marie, MI and the St. Mary's river and into Lake Huron.