Day 78: Mackinac City to Traverse City

30 June. 97 miles. 9.5 hrs. Well, this is it. Day 78 of what was expected to be about a 60-day trip from Florida to Upper Michigan. This is the last day of Phase 4 of this portion of my expedition. Today we'll run for around 10 hrs down into Traverse City, the end of my 'Loop Journey' until October, when we'll commence the homeward portion down the western rivers and back to Florida.

We're away just before 0700, into a calm, cool morning with a high overcast. Within 20 min we're passing beneath the iconic Mackinac Straits Bridge, defining Lake Huron from Lake Michigan, and heading west to get around the shoals before we can turn to a more southerly heading. This is the last bridge my guests will see on this trip, and the last one I'll see until I reach Chicago in October.

We pass by White Shoal Light to starboard--the first of several navigational aids we'll encounter--and soon the old Waugoshance lighthouse to port. By 0910 we've made a turn to the south and are abeam Grays Reef Lighthouse,

The lake is flat and we see a few fast cruisers doing what fast cruisers do... powering along from gas station to gas station. We cruise on. Preston attends to paperwork, we keep a watch, and we commence to pack our bags ready for tomorrow. When we arrive at TC, Preston will go home and we'll remain on board for the night. I'll get a rental tomorrow and we'll drive down to Caledonia, MI, to visit 2nd cuzzy Roger Moffat and his family before we go back across to Luddington, where Graeme and Lorraine will stay overnight to catch the 0900 Wed ferry across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc. I will return to a hotel in Traverse City to live a little and to decide on my next move. I'll be vacationing in the US until October, and I've not decided where I'm going. Plenty of time to work on that.

By about 1330, we enter the broad entrance to Grand Traverse Bay and around 1500 we again cross Latitude 45 North, this time in the opposite direction.

By 1600 we're throttled back and are 'drifting' into the Central Point Marina in Greilickville, just north of Traverse City. There's a couple of people and a frantic English Springer Spaniel on the dock to meet us! Preston spins us around and comes against the wall in a location and in a dance he's done plenty of times before, and our northbound journey is complete.

Preston activates his ceremony of presenting a 'Fleming Yachts' burgee to the departees, so Graeme and Lorraine get one to take home (Jan got hers in Cleveland). Lorraine had knitted a winter beanie for Nina and had stitched the silver fern onto one for Preston. She also gave them a NZ tea-towel, which I think is destined for the boat.

I'll add another Footprint after tomorrow, and then... who knows? Thanks everyone, for coming along with us. We've really enjoyed reporting on our voyage and activities. Once I commence my US summer vacation, I'll probably relate some of my movements. One thing I'll have to do is get some practice on my drone.

So, for now, it's goodnight from him and it's goodnight from me.もっと詳しく