2019 RV/Boat

Wednesday

We arose to grey skies and a light breeze.  The forecast rain overnight never developed and what was left in the area appeared to be breaking up so we decided to leave Spanish for an anchorage at Eagle Island.

Out through the well marked river channel we went. 

When we were here in 2002, this approach wasn’t possible.  The water was too low and we had to approach through one of the other river channels a bit up stream.  There’s  a depth of 6’ or more at the moment.

I plotted a course for Eagle Island.  It was a mere 8 miles to the southeast.

We zig-zagged through the islands and approached the pass known as Little Detroit.

This pass separates the Whalesback Channel to the west,from the McBean Channel to the east.  There’s even a billboard at the passage.

We motored at lower speeds as I wasn’t 100% confident in this route.

It doesn’t take much off course to get into trouble in these waters, but there are plenty of aids to navigation that help a bunch.

We arrived at Eagle Island without incident and anchored among a few other boats that were there.

The weather wasn’t pretty and the east breeze wasn’t forecast.  I anchored expecting breezes to be SW to NW overnight.

Near dinner time, the skies cleared and the light breeze did indeed move from the SW.

Thursday

Up at the crack of 7:00 am, I guess, but by the time we’d done breakfast and all the other morning chores, it was pushing 10:00 am or a bit later.  It was calm so I motored out of the bay and dragged a worm along the shore of an island across the bay.

Just like every other shoreline here.  It’s rocky, with an abrupt drop off.  On fly-in lakes I’ve been to, where there is stone rubble entering the water is where fish are likely to be found.  I can’t confirm that.  So far, the entire shore line of the North Channel has been equally unproductive. 

It was a nice spell on the water and dead calm.

I got a little warm and decided it was time to get out of the sun for a while.  Time to head back to home port. 

It’s the white speck in the center of the frame. 

It seems like there’s usually just enough chop to bounce around the inflatable.  Not so today.  Smooth as glass so I could race across the bay.

 The motor probably needed that after loads of time at an idle speed.

The skies clouded over after dinner and sprinkled a couple drops on our Eagle Island abode.  The wind forecast was for 15 kts from the east which would be straight into the bay.  That caused us to consider a move this morning. 

As you can see from the picture, that never developed.  Wind was west all day long and we were well protected from it, although it never did blow too hard.

Weather is supposed to close in tomorrow afternoon so we’ll beat a path to shore and a dock at Little Current.  The dinghy is all prepared to be flopped up against the transom for an early morning departure.

Friday.

Red in the morning, sailor take warning.

Don’t have to tell me twice.  The winds finally blew according to forecast about midnight making us a bit uncomfortable at our anchorage.  It was exposed to the wind, but the anchor held tight and we weathered the event.  By morning, it had calmed down a bunch but I was ready to leave post haste.

We plodded along at trawler speed (about 7 kts.) since we had left early and would get to Little Current before I figured anyone was out of bed. 

 This part of the trip is really quite scenic, but the conditions made for a drab scene.

We arrived at the Little Current Town Docks about 8:30 am and found a slip that gave us easy access and a nice view to the swing bridge.

The town docks stretch probably near a half mile along the waterfront here.  There’s two sets of finger piers on each end with a side tie wall that parallels the town main street.  It’s really quite convenient.  There was a steady stream of boats into the docks today…most dwarf our little ship.

The signature item in this town is the swing bridge from mainland Canada to Manitoulin Island.  The bridge opens on the hour. 

So we’re here for a couple days while some more weather blows through.  The promised thundershowers finally appeared and I’m happy to be at a dock.

Another day or two to the east, then the return trip to Mackinaw City along the Manitoulin Island coast which is the south shore of the North Channel.

More news as it becomes available.