Saturday, July 14 & Sunday, July 15

Arrived back at the boat Friday night at 11:30 p.m. after a delay at the airport because of  a thunderstorm and then a quick stop at the grocery store.  Slept in a little on Saturday and started our voyage north on Lake St. Claire by 10:00 a.m.

Captain Dave enjoying the voyage out on Lake St. Claire (which connects the Detroit River from Lake Erie to the St. Claire River to Lake Huron).

Check out the color of the water in Lake St. Claire {wondered if we got off course and were in the Caribbean? :)}

As we were leaving the lake and entering the St. Claire River, we were greeted by this large Coast Guard boat.

Entering the St. Claire River.

The St. Claire River was full of homes on the U.S. side, but it was pretty natural on the Canadian side as this picture shows.

There's a bridge to cross from the U.S. into Canada in Detroit (the Ambassador Bridge on a previous page), and then there isn't one until you enter Lake Huron.  So on the St. Claire River, we saw two ferry boats transporting people and their vehicles.

To our boating friends:  we thought this reminded us of "Goose Poop Island" :)

Approaching Lake Huron.

As we cruise under the bridge to enter Lake Huron, we see this in front of us:

And behind us:

Okay, the speed boat isn't exactly what I wanted to capture.  But, there were people jumping off the pier and floating down stream to the bridge.  However, two people passed the bridge and were continuing downstream on floaties in a VERY turbulent and congested area!!!  Dave called the freighter to notify the captain!

After the bridge area, a lighthouse greeted us as we entered Lake Huron.

Just as we were getting ready to pull into port for the night at Port Sanilac, Michigan, we saw over one hundred sail boats.  When I talked with the dockmaster, he confirmed what I had read.  This was the Port Huron to Mackinac Race; Lake Huron's mid-season extravaganza. 

Great, right?  Only problem, Mackinaw Island Harbor is closed to the public as that's where all the sailboats will be for the next few days!  We quickly called Mackinaw City (on the mainland) and found that they will have room for us Monday night.  So much for the island fudge :(  Thanks to Sally, we still have a little fudge leftover in the freezer from Put-In-Bay!!!

Sunday, July 15, turned out to be a bonus day of cruising, as the forecast was a good chance of thunderstorms.  We wanted to get to Alpena in Thunder Bay, Michigan, but about 3 hours before we were to that point, the Coast Guard gave a mariner warning to seek shelter, as storms were over Lake Michigan and heading to the southern part of Lake Huron.  We were about three-fourth's the way crossing Saginaw Bay (which to the south makes the "thumb" of Michigan"), when we got the warning.  The seas were rough simply because of the large bay waters joining with Lake Huron.  We certainly didn't want to be in even rougher waters!!!  Even though we thought it was early to end our day of cruising, we played it safe, not knowing what might come of the warning.  We made it to the very beginning of Thunder Bay, Michigan, to a small port called Harrisville.  While a few thunderheads popped up here and there, there never was a storm where we ended up staying!  :)

Captain Dave is already asleep, and that's where I'm headed now, as we are beginning our Monday with a bright and early start of 5:30 a.m. to make up for our loss of time today!  Mackinaw City, here we come!!!