Entry #71: N45.36.037, W84.25.559
Note: As you know if you’ve been following my blog, I have been challenged finding wifi access. And even when I have access usually at a marina, the connection isn’t always good. This is the second time I’m entering this update as the original one for some reason did not publish or save. Please be patient. I’m trying as well. Thank you.
Tuesday, July 2nd (Day 56): It was going to be a long trek to Mackinaw City from Rogers City and I would need to leave early. Further, the threat of storms coming from the west was of concern. I had made good time thus far on Lake Huron and I needed to continue to make-up time. I got up at 5 am ready to go but found myself surrounded in a thick fog and no wind. I had no choice but to remain in my slip until the fog lifted. Mackinaw was out of the question for today.
While waiting for the fog to lift, I decided to take advantage of my spare time and took a shower (2 days in a row!), washed dishes, switched a couple of dock lines and for a second time, replaced my port bow light bulb.
(I had found the light socket in my port bow was loose resulting in a poor connection and I had unwittingly broke the bulb during installation. And during my overnight sail, I had noted that I couldn’t see a red light.
I completed replacing the broken bulb with the new one as the fog began to lift. I quickly prepared to embark for Cheboygan.
It was 9:30 am when I left my slip and Cheyboygan was a hefty 40 miles away. Though it would take a good 10 perhaps 12 hours with the forecasted favorable winds, I decided to give it a try.
Though I had a late start, it turned out to be a good omen resulting in a fantastic day. You may ask why? I saw another (or perhaps could it have been the same one!) monarch butterfly flying next to NTL! And, it landed to rest near the bow of my boat! I frantically went for my I-phone but the time it took to get out of the cockpit to take a picture he flew off. Disappointed, I got back into the cockpit hoping I didn’t cut short his rest too badly. Wow. Just made my day! I have a smile just writing about my it and am further reminded of a similar sense of satisfaction I felt many years ago when hiking in a desert and coming across a flowering cactus. I had been hiking for two days in 115 degree temperatures to view an exposed flying reptile fossil the size of an F-16 fighter jet many, many years ago as a younger man. That particular cactus I came across only flowers for a period of two weeks every 20 years! It was a special moment for me and a memory for a lifetime.
OK, back to my other lifelong memory to be….
With the fog completely lifted, I could see the dark clouds to my left (west) and clear skies in front of me to the north. I had been following the weather apps rather closely on my I-phone and had taken note that the storms had been steadily tracking from the north west towards the south east for the entire time. NTL was positioned just on the northern tip of the line of storms. I decided not to follow the coastline – towards the storms – and instead, I headed a bit further north and then headed west to the storm line. Now with the storms to my left tracking south east and the blue skies on my right a potential escape route north, I was able to follow the storm line all the way into the Straights of Mackinaw. I anchored in Duncan Bay just east of Cheyboygan around 6:30 pm. As I prepared for the night, I could see the Mackinaw Bridge on the horizon only 18 miles away. As the sun set, it was truly a beautiful sight. It was also a memorable day.
Additional Note: Earlier during the day while sailing west in light to moderate breezes, I thought it would be a perfect time to figure out what was causing my (new) auto-pilot to act up. Frustated after several unsuccessful attempts I finally looked to my last resort – read the manual! Eureka, the auto-pilot came calibrated pre-set for a starboard side installation and NTL is rigged with a port side installation. Hmm. And the manual even had instructions for re-calibrating the unit for a port side installation. Hmm. It works fine now. Will wonders never seize.
Take care everyone.
Never Too Late For 