It is a bright sunny day as we pass under the Little Current Swing Bridge. We pass by the lighthouse on Strawberry Island. The closer we get to Killarney, the smokier it gets. This map of the wildfire smoke explains it all as we head right into the center of the red eye! This is…
Anchorages to Little Current, ON
We arrive to Little Current, named as such due to the swift currents of the water running between the narrow passageway which connects the North Channel and the Georgian Bay. Little Current is the largest community on Manitoulin Island, which just happens to be the largest freshwater island in the world measuring 1068 square miles….
Blind River, ON to North Channel Anchorages
We find a small cove by Dewdney Rock which is already inhabited by two other boats. We drop anchor and are good for the night. The views in this little cove are just beautiful! We dunk the dinghy for the first time. The performance and stability is not quite what we expected. It will get…
Harbor Island, MI to Blind River, Ontario Canada
So, back on board, we could only view our destination by looking out our windows into the marina. Finally, after several hours, the border patrol agents arrive. Apparently, they had to drive 1 1/2 hours from Sault Ste. Marie to confiscate our contraband. 😱 Our last experience with Blind River was watching the sun go…
Hessel, MI to Harbor Island, MI
We cruise through Lake Huron, pass De Tour Village, up the St. Mary’s River into the Potagannissing Bay. While close to Canada, we will still be in U.S. waters. From here, we will enter the North Channel and spend a week, or more, exploring the waters. On our way, we pass several wooden boats on…
Mackinac Island, MI to Hessel, MI
We will spend two nights in Hessel. On our first night, we are lucky to score a reservation at the Les Cheneaux Culinary School, which is located right across from the marina. We spend our one day in Hessel actually leaving Hessel on bikes. We rent bikes from a great outfitter near the marina and…
Mackinaw City, MI to Mackinac Island, MI
Mackinac Island is most famous for not allowing any motor vehicles on the island. (Although we did see motorized emergency vehicles.) Since it is beautiful weekend in August, the island is super crowded. So crowded in fact that NO rental bikes are available. This is our third visit to Mackinac Island and the busiest. Bicycles…
St. Ignace, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
At the somewhat larger Mackinaw City, we hope to stock up for our future travels into the remote areas of the North Channel. Mackinaw City, like St. Ignace, is a gateway to Mackinac Island. Mackinaw City is 3 times busier with visitors than St. Ignace. With the advantage of being on the lower peninsula side…
Beaver Island, MI to St. Ignace, MI
We continue north heading toward the Mackinac Bridge. It is the weekend of the Chicago Yacht Club Race, the annual longest fresh water sailing race and we are fortunate to pass by the lead boat, Eagle One, followed closely by White Hawk. White Hawk ends up clinches the line honors by overtaking Eagle One and…
Fayette State Park, MI to Beaver Island, MI
We pass by South Fox Island and North Fox Island. While a dark grey cloud hangs low over South Fox Island this particular day, a perpetual black cloud exists over North Fox Island. North Fox Island, the smaller of the two islands, was once the site of unfathomable monstrosities. In the 1970’s, a child pornography…