We're going to stay in this remote place a 2nd night, to allow the racing yachts to vacate the next marina on our itinerary, so it's a relaxing day. Yay. Eric and Gary come over for a blueberry pancake breakfast. Then, a long beach walk, picking rocks and watching the oar boats pass by. A … Continue reading Whitefish Point (Day 8)
We leave Grand Marais and its drama behind us at 0830, after watching the Inland Seas Schoolship raise its anchor. She had anchored near us the night before, so close that we could hear the orders being "barked." I'm so grateful for the first calm seas of the trip -- so calm, in fact, that … Continue reading To Whitefish Pt (Day 7)
Yup, still here. Why? The biannual Trans Superior International Yacht Race, which begins in three days near Sault Ste. Marie ("The Soo," to locals.) That's where we're headed -- and many yachts too, who are competing with us for dock space. We've been traveling with some of them for days. We gave them the pier … Continue reading Grand Marais (Day 6)
Sometimes boats break, and sometimes people break - and sometimes both. I wasn't there at the time of this incident so don't know which here. Whatever the cause, at mid-day, I was underneath the sailboat to see if something was messed up down there. It was. Lines tangled around the crankshaft. Jeff knows I'm a … Continue reading Grand Marais (Day 5)
The pictures you see here suggest a perfect day on the water. And it was. Until it wasn't. That's how it is with boating. Expect the unexpected -- in this case, a injury emergency and then a mechanical one. The injury required a visit to ER, 50 miles away. (Keep in mind we have no … Continue reading To Grand Marais (Day 4)
Today was a welcome day in port (Munising), at least for me. As a stubborn north wind continued to blow, the sightseeing boats that take up much of the dock space here - and bring in lots of tourist money - remained in port, reminding us that even capitalism bows to weather. We did boat … Continue reading Munising (Day 3)
Second day under way and it already feels like a week! We ask each other what day it is. (Our "calendar" is now the weather forecast.) We try to establish an on-board exercise regimen - planks and exercise bands for me, push-ups for Jeff - to keep our upper-body strength. I learn to keep food … Continue reading To Munising (Day 2)
Destination: unknown. Well, not exactly. Jeff's dream is to do The Great Loop (look it up), which would take at least six months and possibly a few years if done in sections. "The Loop" doesn't begin, for us, until we reach Mackinac Island and enter Lake Michigan. How far we go this year, and how … Continue reading Many Moons Leaves Home
The waterfront path at my camp is the first thing I cleared after buying the land. It's lined with stumps, every 20 feet or so -- with foreign words on them. You may be stumped by this! Let me explain. Some people are content to look at a pretty scene. I want to feel it. … Continue reading Stumped? I’m Finnish!
Boo and Roscoe are my outdoor companions. They are so fun, and funny. I can't imagine outdoor life without them. Roscoe is a full-blood Siberian Husky who weighs 65 lbs. Boo is an American short-hair of undetermined pedigree who weighs 6 lbs. Both are about 11 years old but still full of energy and curiosity. … Continue reading Pets Need Nature Too
For Many Moons 