Day 67 – Thursday, July 29, 2010

46° 24.798’ N
086° 39.185’ W
Munising, Michigan

Leaving Marquette

Today was a day of surprises! On return from one of my favorite donut shops, about 9am, we realized that a good weather window had presented itself and we should get moving. John and I did a quick car rental return, paid for last nights mooring and got underway by 10 am!

Abanded Lighthouse

We arrived in Munising, Michigan sometime after 2 pm as the seas were starting to build. Right now the boat is gently thumping the dock and there’s a possibility that we could have a rock and roll night. Good weather is predicted for tomorrow so were planning to get underway early - around 7 am - and head for White Fish Point. White Fish Point is 98 miles away from here and 35 miles away from the Soo Locks.

Everyone is looking forward to White Fish Point as there is an excellent museum and a working light house. Depending what’s at White Fish Point we’ll probably spend two nights there then move to the Soo locks and depart Lake Superior.

Day 66 – Wednesday, July 28, 2010

46° 32.591’ N
087° 23.038’ W
Marquette, Michigan (day 4)

There’s not much going on in Marquette, Michigan at this time. The weather is pleasant while in port but not so nice outside of the break wall. Small craft warnings are still posted, and tomorrow doesn’t look any better - in fact I think it will get worse. Friday looks like the day that we will get underway and most likely steer directly to Grand Marais.

Father Marquette

Standing - Jen & Tom Vear
Barb - Skip - Barb - John

The day started out with a car ride to the local donut shop! Then we located a famous statute of Father Marquette for photos. From there we walked to the local cathedral and visited the crypt of Bishop Baraga. By this point in time the excitement within was building and I needed something else to do that had a little more substance so we went for lunch to Donckers, which was very good! Donckers is the place where the owners (Tom & Jen Vear) he is the son of an old friend of Barb’s when she lived in LaGrange, IL. It truly is a small world!

Donckers

Inside Donckers

We also looked at a new real estate development on the lake front, which is very nice then returned to the boat.

Later in the afternoon we moved John’s boat to the fuel dock to get it ready for our Friday departure.

What will day five bring, possibly a mine tour!

Day 65 – Tuesday, July 27, 2010

46° 32.591’ N
087° 23.038’ W
Marquette, Michigan (day 3)

Last night we went out to dinner with the Flints and caught up with all the latest news. The good news is, Barb’s mom is doing well since her fall and is expected to recover fully.

For a while I thought we would get out of here today but a small craft warning has been posted with even worse weather predicted for tomorrow! Looks like were stuck in Marquette, Michigan again for a spell!

Tall ship we saw in Hancock/Houghton

The Flints still have their rental car so we did the next best thing to cruising - we found a donut shop and indulged in local cuisine! It’s been said on the street that I have a weakness for donuts ---- imagine that! After that five star event we took a ride to Wal-Mart to replenish.

Today was spent reading a book while watching the dark clouds passing over head! I can feel the weather building as the wind is/has picked up. The storm isn’t supposed to reach here until later this evening even thou it is churning up the lake right now.

Tonight we will drive to a small restaurant on the edge of town called CoCo’s. We had the pleasure to eat there before and know it’s worth a return visit.

Day 64 – Monday, July 26, 2010

46° 32.591’ N
087° 23.038’ W
Marquette, Michigan (day 2)

Presque Isle Rocks

Marquette Lighthouse

The big news today is the Flints have arrived back to their boat.

I took advantage of the time in port and serviced both engines. This boat continues to serve us well and is running like a top.

Tomorrow we will replenish the boat for our return trip to Lake Michigan. After looking at the long term weather forecast, we will probably not get out of here until Thursday due to a major weather front passing through.

When we do depart Marquette, we can be off the dock and underway in 30 minutes.

Day 63 – Sunday, July 25, 2010

46° 32.591’ N
087° 23.038’ W
Marquette, Michigan

Leaving Hancock/Houghton

Lower Entry of Keweenaw Waterway

Today was a five star day! We didn’t have any wind, waves, clouds, or rain. What we had was sunshine and flat water! We left the harbor in Hancock about 9 am and arrived in Marquette 8 hours later! It was one of those special days where everything goes as planned.

Heading to Marquette

Huron Island Lighthouse

We got a slip in Marquette at Cinder Pond Marina - the harbor we stayed at before. We were told that they were completely booked when we called this morning but when I radioed them that I was coming in for fuel and pump-out before leaving for another location; they told us they had space available. We will be here for three nights then move on with the Flints towards Sault Ste. Marie. The Barb and John left Williamsburg this morning and are driving back to Marquette to reconnect with their boat. If their trip goes as planned they should arrive late tomorrow afternoon.

Day 62 – Saturday, July 24, 2010

47° 07.505’ N
088° 34.342’ W
Hancock, Michigan

Abanded lighthouse

Leaving Ontonagon

Today was a very strange weather day but ----looking back six hours after arriving in Hancock it wasn’t all that bad. We departed Ontonagon early in the morning under cloudy skies and light rain. We were threatened all during the trip but nothing major happened, other than it got a little rough for a few hours at the end of the day. The sun didn’t poke its head out for the whole trip until we were tied up nice and safe in the harbor.

Lift Bridge in Hancock/Houghton

Once in the marina, Barb did the laundry and I took care of the routine chores on the boat. Then a walk over the bridge to Houghton for an early dinner.

Arriving at upper entry to Keweenaw Waterway

Tomorrow, weather permitting we will try to get to Big Bay and spend the night. Our goal is to arrive in Marquette, Michigan by Tuesday evening when the Flints are possibly arriving!

With luck we should be under way from Marquette Thursday the 29th of July. With good weather we should make St. Ignace around the 2nd of August.

Day 61 – Friday, July 23, 2010

46° 52.185’ N
089° 19.264’ W
Ontonagon, Michigan

Heading to Ontonagon

Today we started early and headed up the coast toward Hancock. The weather started to get a little ugly a few hours out, so headed for Ontonagon - half the distance. By the time we got past the break wall into Ontonagon we were very pleased with ourselves for making it in one piece!

The harbor is nice and quiet and we will spend the night here. Took the bus into town – walked around and went to the tourist information center and were offered a ride back if we were back there at 5 pm. Went and had an early dinner and were back at the tourist center to get our ride back to the marina.

Tomorrow our plan is to head for Hancock, Michigan. Depending on weather conditions now predicted for Saturday we should make the next leg of our journey into Hancock/Houghton.

Leaving Washburn

Day 60 – Thursday, July 22, 2010

46° 40.026’ N
090° 02.940’ W
Black River, Michigan
(No phone or internet service)

We were up and out of the harbor early! We headed straight for Black River where the water was more quiet that the open lake. This is a beautiful harbor that is part of the federal park system.

Arriving at Black River

Sunset at Black River

Barb picked some raspberries for her breakfast 100 feet from the boat. We have three otters playing next to the boat and when they see me they duck under the water to hide. This is a little like Disney World but all natural.

Tomorrow weather permitting we should make Ontonagon or even better get all the way to Hancock.

Day 59 – Wednesday, July 21, 2010

46° 40.056’ N
090° 53.280’ W
Washburn, Wisconsin

It’s been a great day getting here. North of here it was a little choppy but when we turned south every thing got better but not perfect. Our arrival into the harbor was windy and getting from the fuel dock to our slip was tricky at best. I attempted to back down the fairway from the gas dock for I could try a bow in approach to our assigned slip. It didn’t work as the wind blew the boat away from the slip. A few of the regulars came on to the dock to help if needed and I was able to spin her around and back her in on my first approach. The good part was when Dianne one of the local boaters came on the dock and held up a large #7 for my grade on docking. She said I would have done much better if I could have docked her on my first try!

Loading taconite in Silver Bay

We spent the rest of the day cleaning iron dust from the boat as we were close to where they load the supper bulk carriers when in Silver Bay. A little red dust goes a long way on a white boat.

We dined at a great restaurant called The Steak Pit.....great food and drink!

We plan to depart from here tomorrow am and proceed east to Black River Harbor in Michigan. We are planning to rejoin and continue cruising with the Flints in the latter part of the month. We talked with Barb and John tonight and their arrival date at their boat is the 28th of July. Even with weather as a possible factor, I think we will be there on time or close to that date.

Day 58 – Tuesday, July 20, 2010

46° 56.024’ N
090° 49.324’ W
At anchor in Raspberry Bay, Apostle Islands

Crossing the Lake

We awaken to light rain and a fog bank across the lake. Around 10am the fog lifted over the coast of Wisconsin which I could see from the marina in Minnesota 23 miles away. We cast off and slowly moved across the lake to the Apostle Islands. Barb wanted to photograph and see as many of the historical Lighthouses that she could in the Apostle Islands. To date we have seen three of five. We made two attempts to dock the boat at one of the lighthouses and couldn’t because of wind and choppy seas. After the last attempt we located a quiet bay and dropped the hook for the night.

Raspberry Lighthouse

Devils Island Lighthouse

We had a nice dinner after cooking it on our gas grill that sits at the back of the boat. It’s new this year and we are enjoying it every time we use it!

At anchor in Raspberry Bay

At present it’s very quiet with the boat rolling ever so slowly with water splashing the hull from time to time. We expect temperatures in the low 60s so will probably need a blanket! The anchor alarm is set in case we start dragging our anchor and the boat moves out of position in relation to other boats at anchor. We have no worries at this time and will sleep well!

Sunset

 

Day 57 – Monday, July 19, 2010

47° 16.284’ N
091° 16.512’ W

Silver Bay, Minnesota

First of all “HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH” – Barb’s son!

We were up early and under way by 5:45am. As we were leaving the marina we were forced to lay off for an underway bulk carrier could pass under the lift bridge and enter Lake Superior. We let the ship move ahead a few hundred feet then slipped into her wake and followed her into the lake. We knew her destination was the same port that we were going to so we followed her north to Silver Bay. She pulled away from us but we kept her in sight for the whole trip that lasted 5 hours and 20 minutes.

After arriving in Silver Bay, (pic on left) I called Betty Richards the widow of a Minnesota Game Warden and friend that I worked with, forty years ago. She called a couple of her grown and retired kids to tell them I was in town. Turns out that one of them is the Commodore of the Silver Bay Yacht Club and his boat is a stones throw from our boat. This is truly a small world we live in! He came to the marina to welcome us then drove us into town to purchase groceries and other “essential” supplies. After he left his brother (and wife) showed up for another nice visit. It sure was a great day reliving all the adventures we had together.

It’s late and Barb and I need to decide if we are going to cross the lake tomorrow, to the Apostle Islands, or stay another day and continue the reunion!

Pictures above on left and right - northern shore of Lake Superior, center is Split Rock Lighthouse

Day 56 – Sunday, July 18, 2010

46° 46.477’ N
092° 05.513’ W

Duluth, Minnesota (day 3)

Yes, the weather is good and no we didn’t leave! We decided that we hadn’t seen enough of Duluth so we got an early start and jumped on the trolley. We had a great day just doing fun things. We got off the trolley at “The Depot” and went to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and Duluth Art Institute. We then walked to the Great Lakes Aquarium and then along the waterfront back to Canal Park near the Lift Bridge.

Around dinner time we received a call from Eldon and Dianne Morrison loopers that were moored across from us in the marina on their boat “Maine Visions.” We had talked earlier in the day about getting together for dinner so we met at a local Italian restaurant for a most enjoyable evening.

We were stopped by the lift bridge on our way back to the boat as the ship James R. Barker was arriving in Duluth to load coal.

Tomorrow we plan to get underway early and cruise to Silver Bay, Minnesota.

Day 55 – Saturday, July 17, 2010

46° 46.477’ N

092° 05.513’ W

Duluth, Minnesota (day 2)

Barb and I were up very early to move the boat from the fuel dock to our assigned mooring location. There was no wind or waves so the location switch was a no brainier! We quietly made the move then went back to bed.

We spent most of the day in Duluth visiting the cities water front. First we visited in the Army Corp of Engineering Maritime Museum a major site for tourists located by the lift bridge. It’s free and well worth the time spent.

Next we visited the bulk carrier S.S. William A. Irvin the flag ship of US Steels Great Lakes Fleet during her hay day! She was built in 1938 and saved from the cutting torch later in the 1960s. She is a wonderful example of the opulent VIP treatment as extended by the corporate executives of US Steel. She was built to be a show piece and she definitely was! A modern day bulk carrier that replaced her carries 5 times the cargo with half the crew.

We jumped on a Park Town Trolley and toured the city for 50 cents - each. It’s a great way to see a city especially one that you don’t know.

Tomorrows schedule is up in the air. A major weather front is moving in and the last place we want to be is with ugly weather all around us in Lake Superior! Tomorrow we will assess the weather early on and make the decision to move on or stay put. My gut feeling is we’ll stay put for one more day.

Day 54 – Friday, July 16, 2010

46° 46.477’ N
092° 05.513’ W
Duluth, Minnesota

Barb and I moved our boat from Superior, Wisconsin to Duluth, Minnesota six miles within Superior Bay. We are walking distance from the lift bridge that passes most of the large lake ships from this harbor into Lake Superior. The wind started to build from the time we left Superior to arriving in Duluth. As we entered the harbor in Duluth the wind was blowing at 25 mph and we had to work at getting the boat into the gas dock. It could have gotten ugly but we were able to get the boat secured at the gas dock and leave it there until the wind declines. Tomorrow morning, we plan to move Moor $tuff, to our assigned slip until we leave port.

This evening we met Mark and his parents for dinner in Duluth at Grandma’s Saloon & Grill. It was a great visit and as always good to see them again. Marks parents have a summer home close to Hayward, Wisconsin about an hour drive from here.

Pictures: top left is leaving Marina in Superior / on right crusing to Duluth in Superior Bay / bottom left Duluth skyline.

Day 53 – Thursday, July 15, 2010

46° 43.035' N
092° 03.452’ W
Superior, Wisconsin (day 3)

Today was a great day. We did a walking tour and visited three local historical tourist destinations. The first was the S.S. Meteor Maritime Museum. The ship was called a whale back built here in 1896 and returned here to be preserved in 1972. The Meteor was designed to be a bulk carrier then modified to carry oil in her last years sailing the Great Lakes.

Our second stop close to the S.S.Meteor was the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center. It honors Richard Bong and other Metal of Honor recipients. Richard Bong was called the Ace of Aces having downed 40 enemy aircraft in WW II while flying a P-38 Lighting fighter plane. I would highly recommend a visit to the museum to any one passing through Superior.

Our third stop was the Fairlawn Mansion. It’s a grand old 42 room, Queen Anne mansion built in 1890 for $150,000. In 1963 the city of Superior decided to save it from the wrecking ball and has completed restoration of the first floor while work continues on the rest of the building.

Sherri’s husband Mark is in Superior for two days and we took the opportunity to have dinner with him at our marina. As always we had a great visit.

Tomorrow we will move the boat to Duluth a few miles from here.

Day 52 – Wednesday, July 14, 2010

46° 43.035 N
092° 03.452’ W
Superior, Wisconsin (day 2)

The last 24 hours have been nothing but violent weather. For a short period last night I thought we were going to be blown free of the dock. Today it’s been rain and more rain all day – sever weather warnings – tornado watches. All of that great weather added up to staying on the boat and doing general house cleaning - nothing else. It’s 9 pm now and the weather just blew out of here. The clouds are quickly moving out over the lake, leaving behind blue skies.

Tomorrow should be a great day and we will fill it with all of the things we didn’t do today!

Day 51 – Tuesday, July 13, 2010

46° 43.035 N
092° 03.452’ W
Superior, Wisconsin

Today started out fairly typical. We were up early had breakfast then logged on to the computer and checked the weather - there was nothing of any importance going to happen, until later this evening. We departed the harbor (pic on left) in Cornucopia at 8am and entered the flat calm water that we expected. About two hours out we noticed the weather was starting to build. An hour later it was getting uncomfortable and a little ugly. At that point we were past the point of no return as there is no place to hide. The fourth hour was just ugly and the last hour took forever to get through. It started with a small chop and built to solid 3 to 4 foot rollers that were breaking in the opposite direction to the direction of the roll. The last two hours we had a following sea which pushed us into the harbor. (Picture below left is entering the harbor basin - on the right we are in the Superior Harbor Basin)

The harbor is well protected and we got into a slip without any problem. We have now doubled up all of our lines and are anticipating a major storm later tonight that is going to last for another day or so! The wind has started to blow and the boat is rocking and rolling at the dock.

Depending on the severity of the weather, tomorrow it appears there’s much to do here, either inside or out.

Day 50 – Monday, July 12, 2010
46° 51.502’ N
091° 06.148’ W
Cornucopia, Wisconsin

During the day yesterday the weather was less than perfect so Barb and I stayed on the boat and made cruising plans for the next few weeks.

This morning we fueled up and headed out into a very calm lake to cruise to Cornucopia. We plotted our course yesterday to snake through a group of the Apostle Islands and some of there rocky shoals. We saw two of the five major light houses in the Apostle Islands which are still in use. Barb and I plan to anchor out close to the lighthouse on Raspberry Island (top right pic Raspberry Isl. - Sand Island LH underneath) after starting east next week.

The harbor in Cornucopia reminds us of a New England port. “Moor $tuff” is tied to a sea wall under the shade of large pine trees. We can look across the lawn of a private residence out into Lake Superior. At one time this town was a major fishing port and harbor for the lumber industry. The old barn where the fish were delivered and nets repaired, is now a bed and breakfast. The work sheds are now used by local artist to pursue their craft. Main Street is one block long and claims to have the northern most US Post Office in Wisconsin. There is a general store with groceries, clothing, liquor and attached lumber yard / hardware store.

Across the street is Fish Lipps the local restaurant, bar and pool hall suitable for family gatherings. We had dinner there and it was very good, at a reasonable price.

Enjoyed a beautiful sunset and looks like it is going to be a cool night.

Tomorrow we will cruise to the port of Superior, Wisconsin. Our plan is to stay there for three days then move to Duluth, Minnesota seven miles away behind the same break wall.