Drummond Island, MI USA

Here we are at Drummond Island, MI. We have passed over to the US with little note. Customs was very easy, we had all the necessary paper work for Shore Thing and ourselves.

It is with mixed emotions that we left. We had such a wonderful time and experiences. We did not want to leave without thanking all our friends in Canada for their help and encouragement to see their country from a great viewpoint--a boat.

Our thanks to Ted and Pat Larson for all their help, i.e. car, going over charts and showing us really great anchorages, Sue and David Allen for suggesting Hotham even though we never really had an opportunity to see you this year. Randy, Prime Time V, from Great Lakes Cruisers Association sitting with us and going over the charts in detail. Hope you are feeling better, Randy. Peter and Thais for going over charts with us and suggesting favorite anchorages. Odyssey was a great help to us in finding anchorages in Whaleback Channel.

Drummond Island, MI USA

46 01.515N

83 44.896W

This is the gateway to the US for boats coming from Canada back to the US. The water temp is 70.6. The water is clear. MI has the most registered boats of the all the states.

Blind River Marina

46 10.654N

82 57.969W

Just a couple of pictures of the Marina. Once again Odyssey came to our rescue for a place to stay out of the wind. We are getting short on islands at this end of the North Channel. The next trip will be exposed with no barrier islands for protection from the lake. We may have to wait a day because of predicted winds. We'll see.

Whaleback Channel, North Channel

One of the rocks named after humpback whale in Whaleback Channel

Bear Drop Harbour Anchorage

On our way to our next stop in Bear Drop Harbour we had to go through Little Detroit Passage (top photo). We had to call a Securite to let other boats know we were passing through. There is only room for one boat at a time. On the left hand side of the picture you can see the two range markers that you must line up to get the correct approach and not hit any of the rocks on either side.

46 09.659N

82 37.670W

The water temperature is 71.4 degrees F.

While we were traveling to our next destination we heard a call over VHF for any loopers and we thought someone needed help so we answered. It was Odyssey who had finished the loop last year, just wondering if anyone needed help. We talked to him and discussed the weather and he recommended that we go to Bear Drop Harbour (not sure how it got its name). We weathered the storm very well in this quiet protected anchorage.

Oak Point Anchorage near Hotham Island

46 08.665N

82 17.018W

Nice anchorage with few boats around. We saw Tom Turtle's brother here. The water is just a beautiful green color.

Little Current

All good things must come to an end. We had to say good by to our good friends at Little Current. We are taking a weather delay. We have met up with some loopers now and we had an info meeting last evening and are having cocktails on Our Time to night.

Between North and South Benjamin Islands

46 5.111N

82 15.162W

Duncan and Ed getting ready to Med Moor the boat. Later in the day we had a pop up thunderstorm with strong winds. The rainbow was so pretty and the change in the color of the rocks near sunset was beautiful.

Kagawong

45 54.611N

82 15.563W

Bridal Vail Falls, a short hike from the Marina. It was a great stop for a few hours and then we headed for the Benjamin Islands.

The church at Kagawong was interesting with different boat parts used inside.

Clappertan Harbor Anchorage

4600.166N

82 13.566W

Just another great sunset with good friends.

The Pool at the end of Baie Fine

46 02.689N

81 28.718W Baie Fine is like a fjord with white quartz rock. It is very different compared to the flat rocks of Georgian Bay. We got out some of our toys and paddled around to explore. The water temp here is 76.6.

Tom the Snapping Turtle

This snapping turtle is a fixture around The Pool at Baie Fine. People say he is there every year looking for a handout. Unfortunately, his eyesite isn't very good and when you drop something in the water for him, the little fish get it 9 times out of 10.

Spider Bay Marina, Little Current

45 59.196N
81 55.836W

Our wonderful next door neighbors from Mumford Cove, Lolly and Duncan drove 16 hours to enjoy our new experiences in the North Channel.

Spider Bay Marina, Little Current

The light house guarding Little Current Harbor. The current can run swiftly caused by the winds and it can change direction several times during the day depending on the winds.

Meeting new people along the way is so much fun. We were surprised that Sailboaters would even talk to us--anyway we met Peter and Thais in Killarney while we were both looking for internet and then again in Little Current and a few other places. Guzunheit (German for "God Bless You") is now on its way home.

Heyward Island Anchorage

----------------------------------45 56.046N

81 45.181W

The day started off with rain, fog but light wind. The moon rise was beautiful as you can see. The blueberrys are abundant. The water is very clear and a beautiful aqua green color similar to the Carribbean.

1100 miles down 4900 to go! But we are having fun.

Killarny, Gateway Marina

45 58.236N
81 30.895W

Very small town but the water was beautiful. It is the gateway to the North Channel. We stayed overnight and had fish and chips at Herberts "World Famous" fish depot. It was good. Unfortunately no pictures, the rains came.

No Name Island, Collins Inlet Mile 57.2

45 59.520N

81 22.735W

Top photo is a little bit of scenery in Collins Inlet. Middle photo - someone named this rock the Crabby Indian, can you see him? The bottom photo is an example of "Med mooring". Drop the anchor and than with a dinghy take lines from the stern and tie them to shore. The winds subsided for a few days so the trip was smooth.

Rapids at Bad River

People go up the rapids in their dinghy. The flow was stronger than normal. Our dinghy couldn't make it up but we got as close as possible. Even that was fun. Tied up to the shear cliffs.

The Bad River

45 56.085N

80 58.302W

Beautiful protected spot. Another wall tie up with company of a rattler. Linda was first off the boat and didn't realize there was a snake sunning itself. People have been very quick to say that the rattler is not deadly--but if you have an allergic reaction you need help.

Bustard Islands

We had a rough passage today. The winds were quite strong and we lost our loopers flag overboard. We came upon Obstacle Island which didn't give us much room to maneuver but with the encouragement of a nearby cottager we went through while some kayakers were watching. This area is wilderness and a lot of people go camping here. Linda was ready for a drink after this passage. We took a weather delay (winds) in the Bustards and met Glenn Buchanan from "There'n Back" who was interested in the Sideshifter bowthruster that Ed installed.

45 53.842N

80 53.664W

Rogers Island

45 30.832N
80 25.603W

Rogers Island had spikes in the rocks so boaters could just tie up to the rocks. People keep on=board mountain climbing equipment (pitons) to hook up to the rocks and attach their boats. This was such a beautiful spot we stayed two days and kayaked around the islands. Circle of stones is some local native artistry!!