Log 4
Hello From Mackinaw City, Michigan
Mac city wasn't originally in our plans as a stop, however! Yesterday as we jumped in the dinghy to head back to the boat anchored in St. James harbour on Beaver Island the recoil mechanism on our new outboard decided to quit. Luckily the engine started on the first pull or I would have had a long row back!
There were no mechanics on duty and no Johnson dealers on the island. We figured that Sheplers in Mac City would be our best chance for repair or replacement.
Of course today is Sunday and Sheplers is closed! Go figure, we are at the hub of boating for Lakes Michigan and Huron and the major marine service center is closed!
We had a really nice close reach from Beaver Island to the Grays Reef Light. We cut the corner at the first buoy in the passage and then headed for New Shoal Marker 1. This short cut is relatively safe. The minimum water we encountered was 20 feet. The wind shifted to the East and our last 12 miles was a motor into very small seas.
As usual we couldn't resist taking pictures of the Mac Bridge! One of these trips we will actually go under the thing without taking a picture (ya right!)
In the morning we'll try to get the outboard fixed or we may just buy another! The way we go through dinghies and now outboards we may want a spare (P&J- Hey! you don't have an outboard, want to buy a Small Dark Johnson?).
While we are here we will also have our rudder post packing checked. We have this leak which is small now but getting bigger all the time. When we are on a Port tack (which has been all the way up here) the water comes up the shaft and runs onto the cabin floor. So we're sinking! It adds a little excitement to the trip!
We had a ball at Beaver Island this trip. Usually we are there for a night and then gone. This time we had a chance to relax and enjoy the island.
Last night we had one of those "Only on Beaver Island Events." About 4:00 in the afternoon we heard the sound of a piano coming across the anchorage. We looked out to see a houseboat with a very large fore deck motoring slowly around the harbour. On the fore deck was a large upright piano with an older man at the keyboard. He was playing his heart out. Several smaller boats had tied up to the houseboat and their crews had climbed on boat. It was quite a party! The raft-off kept getting larger. When I finally drifted off to sleep the sound of the piano could still be heard! "Only on Beaver Island!"
Next stop.... The Les Cheneaux Islands.
More Later
R&R