June 28, 2015

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Met Dave on his 40 foot Beneteau with three other divers. Today I'm heading out as boat operator and diver support while the guys look for a wreck and dive another. The first spot was just off shore and has not been dove on yet or officially discovered. Dave located it with a side scanner last year and this is his second dive looking for it. It is dark and cold at 146' and they were not able to see it. The second stop was a known ship wreck where all four men went in. It was only 64' down but in the middle of the shipping lanes. I got a little worried with four men on the bottom and a freighter bearing down on us, so I called out security radio message and it went around us. It was a fun group to hang out with. They dive at a way higher level then I've seen before- very interesting. 

I have a couple  more days here before Joann and  Andrew show up, so it's cleaning, laundry and scouting the cruising guides for the the best places to go on the next leg of our adventure. I have borrowed a mountain bike so it's off to the park tomorrow.

Doug

Thursday, June 25

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Up at 6:30 so we could clear Canadian Customs and go through the locks on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie before 4pm. This was the first of about 50 locks we will have to negotiate on this trip to the east coast. 

Friday, June 26th

This is end of our first leg and Darrell was able to get a flight home while Keith and I enjoyed the first lay day since we left Winnipeg. We checked out the art gallery and walked around town and out to the Fort Creek Conservation area for a short hike. On our way along the board walk, I stopped to talk to a tugboat captain tied up at the pier. He invited us on for a ride. Turns out there was a tugboat parade and party that night. Too much fun!

Our captain Cliff McKay bought the second tug of his fleet of three in Selkirk, Manitoba and made a trip to Gimli when he was up there. Small world. 

Saturday , Keith flies out and I need a nap. Then another ride on Captian Cliff's tugboat "Decelles".  And he   stop to pick up more people to enjoy their first tug ride. This time it's a race, which he won by a few feet with the waters churning all around. 

Doug

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II

Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II
Latitude:46.50812
Longitude:-84.33593
GPS location Date/Time:06/25/2015 14:42:31 CDT

Message:We are across Superior and in the Sault.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/OVKqt/46.50812N/84.33593W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46.50812,-84.33593&ll=46.50812,-84.33593&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II

Check-in/OK message from SPOT Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II

Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II
Latitude:46.67350
Longitude:-85.98343
GPS location Date/Time:06/23/2015 19:45:13 CDT

Message:I have made it to a port and am safe and sound at these coordinates:)

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/OS8HA/46.67350N/85.98343W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46.67350,-85.98343&ll=46.67350,-85.98343&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Canadian Seascape with Summer Wine II

Tuesday June 23, 2015

Tuesday June 23, 2015

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Waited out a storm that was in the neighbourhood until 2:00 pm, which would have been our cut off time for the 40 miles to Grand Marais Harbour. The waves had died down from 9 feet to 4 and wind was down to 15 knots. Once we rounded Grand Island we found no wind and 4 feet of converging wave, not good for sailing or motoring, but off we went anyways. We ate under way and were able to visit the Grand Marais Brewing Company for a few beers and some great hospitality by the bar owner and staff and friends........

Wednesday the winds were light but we could make 5 knots with the spinnaker up until we got fogged in to 75' and the wind fell off. With the cold air even the lifelines were covered in condensation in minutes. At about 4:00p.m., Keith tore a gash in the skin on top of his head, which gave us quite a scare, but we able to get the bleeding under control.

We got into Whitefish point about 4:30 and headed to the Shipwreck museum. After leaving there, we were feeling lucky we made safe passage across Superior. There are some 500 shipwrecks off Whitefish Point , including the Edmund Fitzgerald! The waves in this corner build fast and steep, throw in fog and poor seamanship and you are going down. 

Doug

Monday, June 22

Up early to beat some heavy weather, we were able to "sail" to Munising. It was double reefed early and great to sail for the day. The fish nets aren't marked like home so we had to be extra cautious.   Made it in by 2:30 and had time to pick up fuel and cookies. We fixed the main sheet traveller and the sliding hatch cover. There is often little things that require attention and if you don't stay on top of them they can bite you in the ass later. We had dinner on the boat then went for a round of pool at the Barge Inn. 

Doug

Sunday, June 21

Left at 7:30 AM and motored down the Keweenaw waterway and stopped at the mouth for pancakes and Father's Day phone calls home. Misty and cold, no wind again. After breakfast the sun came out and it was quite nice. Keith even had his shorts on for two hours. We were making good time and decided to skip Reed Point and carry on to Presque Isle Marina in Marquette, eating dinner along the way. This is the longest day of the year and from what we could see, this is a very popular place to watch the sunset so we walked to the west side of the island to enjoy the moment. 

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