AUGUST 11-17: BEAVER ISLAND TO LELAND

August 11 -12:  Today, we left Mackinac Island and entered Lake Michigan.  Our route takes us under the Mackinac Bridge.  It is a suspension bridge which connects the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the State of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge (familiarly known as "Big Mac" and "Mighty Mac") is the third longest in total suspension in the world and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere.

At 4 miles long and 135 feet high, it is quite impressive.  The bridge marks the point that separates Lake Michigan from Lake Huron.  Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron.   At 923 feet, Lake Michigan is the second deepest lake.

Lake Michigan is also renown for the number of shipwrecks that lie at its bottom: there are reported to be three thousand!  The prevailing winds are from the West and can create treacherous weather very quickly especially on the Eastern Coast.  We, therefore, have to pick our travel days very carefully.  Fortunately, the weather was favorable today so we made our way to Beaver Island.

Beaver Island which is the largest island in Lake Michigan is the complete opposite of Mackinac Island. Totally unpretentious and laid back with very friendly locals. Beaver Island is the most remote inhabited island in Lake Michigan with a year round population of 600-with a large number of Irish descent. Many Irish immigrants came to Beaver Island after being evicted from their homes in Ireland by the local Laird.

 We rented bicycles and toured the island.  Here is Peter with his 7 speed bicycle..none of the speeds worked too well.

Here is Maureen with the  one speed "yellow slug" (definitely not the red rocket from her youth).  Note the Christian Dior cycling outfit!  Not too stylish but it keeps the sun off.

The big time bank in this delightful small town.

August 13-14:  Charlevoix:  We left Beaver Island on what was reported to be a calm day:  winds 5 knots and calm seas.   However, as soon as we left the sheltered harbor, we were rolling around because of the beam seas that were definitely not generated by 5 knot winds.  We had an uncomfortable 5 hour ride to Charlevoix.   When we finally arrived at Charlevoix, we missed the Bascule Bridge opening by a few minutes and had to tread water in a narrow, choppy channel with a lot of current for about 25 minutes.   We survived but were exhausted when we finally arrived at the marina.

The weather was great the next day so we explored Charlevoix.   The municipal marina was great-recently renovated.  Charlevoix is often compared to Newport, RI with its quaint stores and art galleries.  It is a popular summer vacation spot for the rich and famous from Chicago.

Peter spotted this memorial to the submariners who lost their lives during WWII on their maiden voyage.  Being a former submariner, he always has his eye out for historical memorials relating to submarines.

August 15:  To Sutton Bay

Leaving Charlevoix, we could planned our departure better so we made the Bascule Bridge opening with only a few minutes waiting time.

The narrow channel into and out of Charlevoix.

 We left Charlevoix on a perfect cruising day-very calm seas and no wind.  The cruise today was only 20 miles so we arrived in Sutton Bay with time to explore the charming downtown.

Downtown Sutton Bay.

August 16-17:  Leland:  The weather gods smiled on us again today and we had another day of calm seas for our transit to Leland.  We plan to spend two nights here as the weather is predicted to turn bad for Thursday, August 18.

Leland is a picturesque little village located on a sliver of land between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau.  Leland's historical district, know as Fishtown, features rustic shanties and docks reminiscent of life and commercial fishing one hundred years ago.  The town is separated by the Leeland River which connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan.