5 Great Lakes, 4 Circumnavigated In My Flicka

PLEASE NOTE: Blog entrees are posted with latest entry at top. If you are new to my blog first let me thank you for your interest. Secondly, should you like to follow my journey from its’ inception, scroll down to my first entry.

Enjoy the journey _

Amy greeted our (Never Too Late, Wilson and myself) arrival at JBM with my favourite chocolate bar.

Great Lakes Maps Clock Cribbage Pillow and Serving Tray Map (24.5" x 31") — Journey Route Chronology: Lake St. Clair west down Detroit River; entered Lake Erie east along Ontario shoreline to Welland Canal; north down Welland Canal into Lake Ontario; east counterclockwise back to Welland Canal; south up Welland Canal into Lake Erie; west along south Lake Erie shoreline to Detroit River; up Detroit River into Lake St. Clair; north up St. Clair River; into Lake Huron north along Michigan shoreline; into Straits of Mackinaw west into Lake Michigan; south along Michigan coastline; west then north along Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Michigan; west through Sturgeon Channel into Green Bay; northward to Lake Michigan Upper Peninsula; east on Lake Michigan back into Straits of Mackinaw; north up St. Mary’s River; west and north into Lake Superior; east into St. Marys’ River; south into North Channel; east into Georgian Bay; south to and along Lake Hurons’ Ontario coastline; south St. Clair River into Lake St. Clair.

It is now November and my physical recovery is progressing as I continue to update my blog and investigate the possibility of a novel. Even though I fell short in circumnavigating all 5 Great Lakes in a single season, I feel a personal sense of accomplishment having singlehanded all five and circumnavigated four of the five Great Lakes in a sailing vessel (Pacific Seacraft Flicka) with a waterline under 20 feet (18′ 8″ to be exact). This shortfall has left me with somewhat of a bad taste and I am beginning to contemplate the feasibility undertaking a second attempt! Apparently my mental and emotional resolve has only strengthened!

Entry #107: N42.28.166, W 82.52.611

August 19th – Day 105: I awoke at dawn. It had stormed all night and the last storm clouds had passed overhead heading east. I started the engine and left the dock without delay. I will grab something to eat later. I was heading home. Once in the St. Clair River, I put up the jib sail, then the main sail and kept the engine running as I had over 45 miles left to go. With the helping current, I was making 7 ½ mph! I found myself giddy and relaxed. I found myself distracted and kept reminding myself to remain focused. After all that I have been through, it would be unforgivable to have something go wrong when I was this close. I hadn’t checked on the forecast – it didn’t matter – my mindset was to complete my journey today. No more delays. No more survival challenges. I need to take in this last leg enjoy what will likely be my last sail this season and navigate smartly. Except for keeping tabs on freighter traffic on my I-phone app I took in everything as though it was my last. I remembered this feeling following a final in college. It’s a good feeling.

The day turned out to be beautiful – sunshine, a comfortable breeze and warm weather! Its too bad my journey didn’t have more days like today. Oh well, the 90 plus days of weather (thunderstorms, tornados, high winds and seas), overnights and anchoring are behind me. I’m truly enjoying the moment.

I entered Lake St. Clair as the winds were dying down. I soon found myself being overtaken by an 19th century schooner. I waved and thought that’s ok, I only have less than 10 miles to go.

It was only 2:30 in the afternoon when I docked NTL. Amy (University of Michigan) greeted me and surprised me with a half a dozen symphony bars. Its a long story and I will detail it in my retrospective summary entry. (Note: I will be inputting my pictures with my last blog entry next).

105 days, 3,100 nautical miles. Five Great Lakes sailed, four Great Lakes circumnavigated. I’m looking forward to sharing with you thoughts and insights and future plans. Thanks everyone.