Log 1 - Arcadia to Boyne City
Our fun began last Saturday and Sunday in Arcadia. We awoke at 6:00 AM to thunder storms and 25 knot winds with gusts as high as 37. Little Arcadia Lake has 2-foot waves and white caps! This blow continued all day and evening and Sunday was much of the same for most of the day. Of course we had planned on leaving for South Manitou Island on Saturday morning. At least the forecast for Monday was better.
Monday the seas we flat with just a light wind out of the Northeast. We headed for the pier heads and then set a course for Pt. Betsy. Most of you know what fun the Points can be on Lake Michigan and this time was no different. The wind picked up out of the Northeast and we were beating into 3 & 4 footers with everything on the nose.
Our plans for a nice quiet night at South Manitou and a dive on the wreck of the 3 Brothers were out the window. We set a course that would take us to Leland (we both hate the place, but in that area you have no choice).
As we approached each waypoint I had hopes that we might be able to sail. But it seemed like the wind enjoyed being on our nose and just followed us. Finally when we reached Pyramid Point we were able to pull out the headed sail and have a short run into Leland.
Leland continued it's wonderful level of incompetence! We were told we had to raft when there were slips open. Once rafted at the end of the main pier, we were told we would have to move forward few feet so they could raft another boat stern to stern with us. We reluctantly moved forward.
Once the other boat arrived it was obvious that this wouldn't work. Neither of us could get off our boats. We were told that we could move our boat back to it's original position! Needless to say we will continue to avoid this harbor when ever possible.
We left Leland early on Tuesday morning motoring on flat seas with Charlevoix as our destination. It was a clear sunny day with a beautiful blue sky. Our main problem was "NO WIND".
We made the 12:30 bridge opening and headed for Oyster bay in Lake Charlevoix. Oyster Bay is a wonderful little anchorage with a clay bottom.
John and Shelly are buying a house in Boyne City. We called Shelly's parents and made plans to meet them all for dinner. After dinner we drove down to Boyne to see the new house. They closed the deal on Friday, and we'll have to stop in on our return trip to see what they have done with it.
We decided to spend today in Boyne City and have dinner with the kids. But actually I think we both needed more of a grandson fix.
By the way, THE WIND IS ON OUR NOSE AGAIN! Tomorrow we head for Beaver Island, want to bet the wind will be out of the northwest?
More later