DE TOUR to ST. IGNACE

On Saturday we made a long 40 mile Lake Huron crossing. Originally we planned to anchor remotely on Saturday night, but the weather forecast was for very strong wind (25 knots with higher gusts) on Sunday. Therefore we took advantage of ok weather on Saturday. 

The crossing was a long day, but we were happy to dock in ST. IGNACE, safe and sound! Once at the dock we learned that the town has a firework display every Saturday night during the summer :)

ST. IGNACE is now a tourist town (with lots of history) that has ferry boats continuously running trips to Mackinac Island. 

The weather prediction was correct!!! There was lots of wind and rain on Sunday. We decided to stay in ST. IGNACE for two nights and wait for the wind to calm down. 

On Sunday we played tourists and took a ferry boat to Mackinac Island for the afternoon. This will be our next port once we have acceptable departure weather :)

A diesel fill up for Thistle on Saturday morning in DE TOUR. 

Our course from DE TOUR to ST. IGNACE -  7 hours.

Happy to see the ST. IGNACE Lighthouse.

ST. IGNACE history.

Saturday night fireworks!

Our ferry boat trip to Mackinac Island...it poured rain on the way back and we saw a funnel cloud!

😎😎

TURNBULL to BLIND RIVER & DE TOURS

We set our alarm for early on Thursday morning to check for a weather window for travel to BLIND RIVER Marina. Windy and rain...(20 knot gusts), we agreed an 8 AM departure looked OK :) 

We pulled anchor with cloudy skies and a chill in the air. After two hours of bouncy water we were very happy to dock in the BLIND RIVER Marina.

BLIND RIVER is considered "The Heart of the North Channel". French explores named the area because the mouth of the River was very difficult to see from shore. 

Here in BLIND RIVER, Ontario we are at Latitude N 46.1, we can't wait until Key West, Florida at Latitude N 24.5 (The furthest points North and South on the Great American Loop!).

After a good nights sleep Friday morning, we went out to breakfast at A17 in BLIND RIVER...Their toasted homemade rye bread was a treat :) We brought our charts and IPads to decide on our planned journey for the day (A17 has good free wifi :).

Friday morning Lake Huron had a few white caps (nothing like the last two days)  and the wind was predicted to diminish during the day! We decided to make the big crossing to Drummond Island, Michigan and clear US Customs. 

We departed at 9 AM and cleard US Customs by 3:30 PM. We motored another hour and docked at The De Tour Goverment Marina. The Marina is sparkly new with courtesy bikes and unbeknown to us, the town was hosting their first annual summer concert (a nice surprise after a long seven and a half hour day!).

Since early times the Indians and European Explorers traveled around the Upper Michigan Peninsula, carrying their furs, supplies and trade goods. Originally the Chippewa Indians named this area "Giwideonaning" meaning, The Point We Go Around In A Canoe. Later a French Explorer named the area "DE TOUR", The Turn.

Looper Tip: As of today you can now clear US  Customs in DE TOUR!!!!

We were up at sunrise on Thursdsy in TURNBULL to check our weather window.

Thursday's journey from TURNBULL to BLIND RIVER. We departed after the rain cell cleared.

Cloudy skies and bouncy water! 

Jessica our friendly Dockhand at BLIND RIVER Marina. We purchased 100.8 liters of Diesel (did not want to chance running out of fuel).

BLIND RIVER Marina had complementary bikes :) Can you find Thistle in the Marina picture?

The town of BLIND RIVER was hosting a Thursday night concert by the fountain.

Sunset our last night in Canada ... The talk of the town is that summer is over :(

Friday's journey from BLIND RIVER to Drummond Island & DE TOUR  Marina - Red Line. Stopping at US Customs - Blue Star.

Back in the USA 🇺🇸!

Thistle crossing the International Border on our navigation chart.

The water was glistening behind our waving USA Flag.

Clearing US Coustoms at Yacht Haven on Drummond Island, MI. Our Boating Buddy's on Patriot and Blue Willow were there at the same time!

Lots of interesting boat traffic in DE TOUR Harbor.

Great Friday Night...White Fish Dinner at Shipwreck's in DE TOUR.

The First Annual DE TOUR concet. The band had a drone? 

Thistle docked at DE TOUR Marina...can someone please explain these posts?

Beautiful moon tonight XO.

BENJAMIN ISLANDS to BEARDROP & TURNBULL

Tuesday morning we went on a paddle to double check for submerged rocks, on our planned exit course from the picturesque BENJAMIN ISLANDS. We also said bon voyage to our boating buddy's on Patriot and Blue Willow. Starting today we are taking slightly different courses. Captain Greg swam to shore to remove our 200 foot stern line from the pine tree. We pulled our anchor and started today's journey. 

As for our weather, the heat wave was definitely over...with clouds, possible rain and increasing wind gusts predicted the next few days. When we departed our plan was to anchor remotely on Tuesday night and stay at a marina on Wednesday night (due to the weather forecast). 

The "Big Picture" plan is to continue on The North Channel the next few days to Drummond Island and clear US Customs. But, remember it's always weather dependant :)

Looper Tip: Always monitor Channel 16 on your radio for weather security announcements! Channel 21 has constant weather updates. Be aware, above Latitude 46 conditions change quickly on The North Channel. (Reminder - Internet service is extremely limited).

The "Big  Picture" ... We are the Blue Dot and the Pink line is the Canadian / USA Boarder.

Navigating out of the BENJAMIN ISLANDS...avoiding granite rocks!

Tuesday's journey from BENJAMIN ISLANDS to BEARDROP - 4 hours.

Navigating through the narrow Little Detroit Channel into Whaleback Channel. 

Whaleback Island in the 17 mile long Whaleback Channel.

Thistle anchored in BEARDROP Harbor. There were about 12 other boats anchored, with room for many more.

Our view from Thistle's stern...just love the name BEARDROP XO!

Captain Greg practicing Yoga...Namaste.

Sunset at BEARDROP... Sending all of you a Big Goodnight Bear Hug 🐻❤️!

Our planned course for Wednesday (Red Line) from BEARDROP to Blind River Marina. But, due to strong winds and squall warnings being broadcasted over the emergency radio... We looked at our charts and made an unplanned stop and anchored for the night at TURNBULL ISLAND (Yellow X) - one hour.

It was a wise choice... With strong wind gusts at 40 knots! TURNBULL ISLAND was very protected (still windy?).

The weather calmed slightly at sunset with a rainbow!!! We were anchored with 6 other sailboats. In The North Channel sailing is very popular. 

Enjoying  a BBQ at sunset ... Early to sleep tonight, hoping for a decent good weather window early tomorrow morning!

BAIE FINE to LITTLE CURRENT & SOUTH BENJAMIN ISLAND

On Sunday we pulled up our anchor and "Buddy Boated" to LITTLE CURRENT. The big news of the day is that there is a heat warning in this region of Canada today! It will be 37 degrees Celsius... A hot one.

LITTLE CURRENT is on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, it is the largest fresh water lake island in the world. 

After one night in LITTLE CURRENT we pushed off the town dock after breakfast and headed for The BENJAMIN ISLANDS. It was still warm, so the breeze underway on Thistle was very pleasant :)

We are at Latitude fourty-six degrees North here, closer to the North Pole than the Equator!

Buddy Boating out of BAIE FINE.

Our course from BAIE FINE to LITTLE CURRENT - Three hours.

Strawberry Island Lighthouse...

LITTLE CURRENT Swing Bridge - It opens on the hour (we increased speed to 12 knots for 20 minutes) and made it at 10:58 :) 

The town of LITTLE CURRENT.

We joined the Little Current Cruisers' Net in person on Monday morning. Eight five boaters from the North Channel checked into the "Boaters Helping Boaters" show this morning.

Roy has hosted the net for 12 years.

Monday we traveled from LITTLE CURRENT to BENJAMIN ISLANDS - Three hours.

We anchored Mediterranean Style (Our bow anchored and stern tied to a pine tree) for the first time!     

Thistle at anchor in the beautiful BENJAMIN ISLANDS.

We went on a long paddle (Red Line) from Thistle (Yellow Dot). 

The water here is clear and clean ... A beautiful tropical blue/green color.

Our SUP's with Thistle in the background. 

The pink granite rocks of the BENJAMIN ISLANDS.

Enjoying a "Rocktail" at sunset in the BENJAMIN ISLANDS.