Back in the USA!!!!

Thessalon, Canada to St Ignace, Michigan

Debi got a map (with other Loopers' and Zuri's tutorials) figured out, showing our progress.  As you can see, we are covering some area this year - we are planning on taking that purple line to Alabama by October (map used with permission from Raven Cove Publishing).

As promised, the North Channel (Lake Huron)was more about open water and less about the islands.  But the scenery still remains beautiful.  We are sensing the end of our Canadian journeys with mixed feelings.  The Canadians have been so friendly, the scenery endless, the weather refreshing (with a couple of hot days thrown in), the water crystal clear, the beer… well that’s one thing I’ll be looking forward to in the U.S.   The Canadians have plenty of it – but not a lot of flavor in it.  I don’t recall seeing any craft beers, or local microbrews.  I know Michigan will have plenty of both, starting with Bell’s – one of my favorites.  More importantly, Michigan will bring a slew of guests – looking forward to all of you.  

7/22  Here we are in Thessalon – our final Canadian destination and the most northern point in our entire journey.  North has meant cool weather for the most part, and long long summer days/nights – still watching the afterglow of the sunset at 10 or later.  Thessalon is generic for a lot of the places we’ve been – an ice cream parlor, hardware store, a couple of restaurants, nice waterfront homes.  Early in the trip we would have probably loved this place – now we are taking these nice cute places for granted, I’m afraid.  Michigan will be a little more touristy, for better and worse.  We explored a bit and came home to eat a delicious salmon salad that Debi made (actually one of the best salads I've ever eaten), even better than my regular at Manuels.

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7/24  Last night we had a nice visit with folks from a neighboring boat who were flying a flag with two diagonal panels – the Green and White of Michigan State and the other for U. of Michigan.  We forgave them the latter and shared drinks before going out to dinner.  Here is a picture of our marina - a study in blue - all parts of the marina (buildings, chairs) and all but one of the boats had blue or white canvas.

This morning we crossed over the U.S. Canada border as noted on our chart plotter.  I swear the water changed color almost immediately – to a slightly turquoise version of green on the U.S. side.  30 minutes later we docked at Drummond Island, where everyone has to stop to clear customs.  We waited 45 minutes for them to wander down to our boat.  While clearing customs into Canada was a three-minute phone call, this was a 30 minute visit, inquiry and inspection of every space on the boat.  Before we left Canada, Debi had reluctantly given up her small garden – the tomato and green pepper plants, a few herbs and some flowers.  The marina in Thessalon accepted the flowers and identified a place they would fit in their gardens outside the office – so they have a nice home.  We harvested the herbs and a half dozen peppers before disposing of the plant.  Unfortunately, the customs folks asked us about citrus fruits and green peppers – the only vegetable of concern.  Consequently, we had to give up the newly harvested peppers, a couple of grapefruits and a lemon.  I would have liked a picture of the two heavily armed officers coming off the boat with their bag of contraband – but I thought of that too late, and I’m sure such pictures are illegal anyway.  Fortunately, we fessed up when they asked about our food holdings – they said someone who failed to mention an orange last week was fined $300.   Yes, for one orange.

7/26   We’re in St. Ignace – a short ride from Mackinac Island.  Last night we did our usual bike exploration of the town (make up your own story about the street name below) but ended up back on the docks watching….a high school steel drum band.   Doing Bad Moon Rising.

You might ask yourself - why are there steel drums in northern Michigan?   And you might ask yourself – what inspiration led someone to arrange Creedence Clearwater Revival for steel drums?   If you do ask, and if you get answers – please send them my way.  Debi says I should have just appreciated the effort and the setting, and I did, but…it made me long for a good Gordon Lightfoot impersonator.   Or maybe a steel drum adaptation of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Today, we had a lingering-on-the-boat day - the skies to the right (taken at 3 pm) will explain why - did some cleaning, organizing of charts, a bit of EMSTAR and Sugar Mag work, Debi used her on-board Pilates gym, made another great dinner (baked parmesan crusted Rainbow Trout), watched a movie - overall, great relaxing day.



That's all from St Ignace - glad to be back in the USA…looking forward to seeing many of you very soon….

Jim and Debi