Devils and Sand Islands

Last night was quite calm and peaceful at the Basswood Island dock. After breakfast this morning, I headed out to Devils Island. The NPS is finally starting to rebuild the small boat harbor on the south side that was wiped out by a storm a number of years ago. This will be a nice protected harbor when it’s done. Continued around the west side of the island seeing the smaller sea caves, and then around the north and east sides where the larger sea caves are. Also a good view of the light house. I was here last year, and it was flat calm, so I was able to dock my boat at a rock outcropping, and take my kayak through the sea caves. And then walk up to the light house. Today it was 1 foot waves, and a little too bumpy to even think about putting C-Traveler on the side of that rock again. Left Devils and headed over to try trolling some around Bear Island. Still no luck on catching anything. There were more commercial fishing nets I had to maneuver around, and one time didn’t see the flags in time so had to quickly raise my downriggers. Seems like a lot more nets in the water this year! Headed over to Sand Island as the winds picked up a little bit again. So much for the “light and variable” forecast… The Sand Island East Bay dock is L shaped, and with the winds and waves coming into it, I did manage to go on the inside so at least the boat wouldn’t be bouncing into the dock. This is a nice dock, but like the one at Michigan Island, sand is settling on the inside of it, so not much depth of water. Hiked another 5.5 miles today, walking out to the light house, and also the Hansen Farm. Sand Island has a really nice board walk that they are extending all the way out to the light house. Still about ½ mile walk on the ground, but also flat and level, so a rather easy hike, other than the distance. Met the local volunteer out at the light house and chatted for a bit while resting. He’s from Tucson, Az and worked for the Park Service before retiring and becoming a volunteer. I wasn’t sure where the Hansen Farm was on the way out, so asked him. It was at another boardwalk turnout that had a no hiking sign across it. But like the ranger yesterday, he said it would be ok for me to just go around it, as it’s because they are working on the boardwalk and the Hanson Farm, but not this weekend. Back at the boat, and I was planning to anchor on the west side of Sand Island, but winds were suppose to shift more southerly / westerly after midnight and not more than 6mph by 7am. However, they were already coming more out of the SE and I don’t trust the lighter wind forecasts anymore! Lol. So I’m back in the Little Sand Bay harbor this evening at the dock, and it’s calm, and should remain that way overnight.Читать далее