Great Loop Day 018 Sept 15, 2016, Seeing the Mackinaw Bridge

Rogers City to Cheboygan MI

Nov 03, 2022

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Day 18 Thursday, Sept 15, 2016. The breeze blowing from the north is still warm as I sit on the back of the Sea Marie at the Cheboygan County Marina. Watching a flock of geese on the grass and concrete wall peacefully grazing and preening themselves. A turkey vulture quietly swooped down near them as one goose honked a warning. The Iroquois Indians named these Canada geese Ga-Honk. A much more fitting name I think. From a distance, I hear the engines of a powerboat as it makes its way upriver. From here I can't see them only hear the sound.

Today's journey was on a flat lake the entire distance. A couple of lake carriers in the distance, a 50+ft sailboat, and one powerboat. Covered the 39.8-mile distance in a little more than 6 hours. Once I left Rogers City it was making small turns to port all day.

Leaving Rogers City for Cheboygan MI

The weather in the morning is starting to get a bit nippy.

But it warmed up by afternoon.

The town is a good mile down the road so decided to stay close to the boat and walk down to the end of the road to a park overlooking the lake.

I think at this point I enjoy looking at the straights on Mackinac. The place where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. I've read the lake levels of these 2 great lakes are the same. So there shouldn't be much of a current between them.

Cheboygan County Marina is literally a one-urinal marina. Seriously 3 covered stalls and one of them is the only urinal. 2 nice large shower stalls. It is funny how a week ago I relished the thought of entering an air conditions restroom. A respite from the scorching heat of the day. The last 2 days I wished they were heated instead.

Want to know what I had for dinner this evening? I closed my eyes and scrounged thru the grub box and pulled up a nice big can of Dinte Moore's Beef Stew but it was from Brookdale. Tastes the same. While it was heating in the microwave I made a sammich of pepper jack cheese and sandwich dills. I would have added the Ketchup but that was buried in 10 lbs of ice from Rogers City Marina. I wanted and paid for a small bag but Wayne the Dockmaster said to take the big one. Nice guy. Topped off this meal with tapioca pudding and 3 Amish molasses cookies. I wanted only 1 but got 3 stuck together pretty tight. What's 3-cookies? I have 6 more or 2 if they are still stuck together in the bag.

Today at noon I got a glimpse of the Mackinac Bridge in the distance thru my binoculars. Measured the distance on my nav program and found they were 27 miles away.

The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac, connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the 26,372-foot-long bridge is the world's 26th-longest main span and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Wikipedia

Hearing the splash of a kayak paddle and behind this large cruiser comes Mike a local out for a paddle in his Hobie sit upon with Hobie drive. We chatted a bit, has family in the Broadview Hts area in Cleveland. Not a Facebook fan but his wife is. Gave him my boat card. Marina has become deserted again. Just Mickey and me watching more ga-honks.

Mickey taking a nap, again.

Tomorrow the island of Mackinaw, horses, and bikes oh my...Fair winds and gentle seas...

Just wanted to wish my daughter Jennifer a Happy Birthday! You know I love ya!

Where does this lead to?

Acres of marshes

Nice boardwalks like this get people out in the middle where you can appreciate the beauty of it all.

My old glasses finally had enough bending and broke. This new pair wouldn't grab the strap so using an ancient mariners trick whipped lashings to the ends of the frame. Had lots of time on my hands today.