Good Morning to all you Cruisers!!  The weather window is open.  Get your life vests on.  Get your coffee mug ready to take to the fly bridge.  It is a cool cloudy morning around 63°F.  Light jacket is all you will need.  Here we go!!

Sunrise leaving Drummond Island, MI

I was so excited about moving along that I forgot to get my “leaving the marina” picture.  I do think I was watching for channel markers for Wayne as he guided us from Drummond Island Marina through Sturgeon Bay into the DeTour Passage.  We were on the lookout for large ships and barges.

Today’s journey will be slightly over 50 miles.  Does this look like that far?  Looks like just a couple of inches to me!  Up and around the corner, through the De Tour Passage, across the water, through Mackinac Island Inlet, and finally into the Straights of Mackinaw.

Drummond Island Marina to Mackinaw City Marina

DeTour Village Marina is just across the DeTour Passage and where lots of boaters stop after checking in at Drummond.  That is where the ferry goes.  A popular hangout from what I hear.  What does it look like in the light of day?  Probably not enough light?!

DeTour Village Marina

As we passed the DeTour Reef Light, we are officially in Lake Huron for these 50-53 miles.  I cannot tell you how many pictures I had to take until I timed the light just right!  The light is 74 feet tall according to the charts.  We must be quite a bit away for it to look so small.

De Tour Reef Light

The water was very nice.  See?

8am Smooth Lake Huron – over 100 foot deep

9.30am Still smooth sailing for us!  – still over 100 foot deep

Then we got close to the Straights of Mackinaw the water got a bit rougher.  Still, less than 2 feet waves.  About an hour of rough water.  I was holding on and keeping watch for ferries and other strange objects on the water.  We don’t know why, but everyone we talked to had the same experience.  Smooth water that changed abruptly to bouncy.

We saw this “rooster tail” ferry go by in the distance so we knew we were getting close to Mackinaw Island.  We stayed out of the Ferry Lane and just followed their trail to Mackinaw City Marina.

Rooster Tail Ferry going to Mackinac Island

We found the breakwater and entrance without too much trouble.  The wind was beginning to increase, as it always does in the afternoon, and we were hoping that the water would quiet down as we got into the marina basin.  Luckily, the dock attendants were right at the finger pier when we entered.  Wayne had to back up and try to get into the slip at a different angle because the wind gusts were pushing us away from the slip.  He compensated and we slipped in without incident.  Whew.  Within an hour, we had gusts up to 15 mph or higher.  Glad we got here when we did.

Mackinaw City, MI

Nice marina.  Since I had made reservations on line, the attendants said they hit the button and Always Home is already checked in.  They gave me the bathroom and WiFi code right at the boat.  I didn’t have to go to the main office to check in.  How cool is that?

Under the boat?  In the slip next to us?  River Weed!  Water plants!  Sea Weed. Everywhere.  I wonder…is there such a thing as a swimming goat?  Something to eat all these plants so they don’t attack the boat, clog the intake vents, or tangle fishing lines?  It seems a bit chilly for Manatees, don’t you think?

clear water below the boat

We settled in ( got the lines set, power plug connected, checked the lines again, got water, and took a quick nap ) and then went for a walk around downtown Mackinaw City.  It is a touristy downtown.  We counted at least 6 fudge shops.  Yes, I had to get some.  The first ingredient on the label?  Sugar.  My tooth ached just with from smell alone.  We settled on a double scoop of ice-cream.  Dinner.  ( I saw a KFC down the street.  Don’t tell Wayne.)

Across from the Mackinaw City Marina is Mackinaw Crossing.  A shopping area with all sorts of stores.  It almost reminds me of the Village in Gatlinburg, TN.  Brick winding path between quaint little shops selling T-shirts, moccasins, gifts, candy, and more candy.

By the way…. so you don’t sound like you are a tourist…
Mackinac Island is pronounced the same way as Mackinaw.  Both have the “aw” sound at the end of the name.  Just so you know.

Sunset at Mackinaw City, MI