The Sunrise Side of the State

Sunrise over Lake Huron, Harrisville Harbor, Michigan

Farewell Ohio, Hello Michigan!

All the guides said we would be happy to be off Lake Erie -- actually we had a great time and some great weather there. Yes, we had to dodge a few weather windows, but a few extra days in Buffalo and Vermilion was okay.

The currents in the Detroit River and the St.Clair River were also to be feared. Yes, 4 kts on the bow entering Lake Huron was hard -- but FREEDOM is a sturdy gal and we made it through.

In between the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair we enjoyed one of our best stops: The Grosse Point Yacht Club. We have docked at a lot of clubs and we have visited a lot of clubs but this was the best: great dock hands, a great view of the lake, lively pool, and the best meal we have had on the Loop.

Statues both nautical and whimsical dot the landscaped grounds of the Grosse Point Yacht Cl

 We left Grosse Point in a light fog -- thank goodness for AIS* and the ability to see freighters on our navigation screen even if we cannot see them across the water.

*The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS) for identifying and locating vesselsby electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships, AIS base stations, and satellites. When satellites are used to detect AIS signatures then the term Satellite-AIS (S-AIS) is used. AIS information supplements marine radar, which continues to be the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport.

A marine traffic coordinator using AIS and radar to manage vessel traffic.

An AIS-equipped system on board a ship presents the bearing and distance of nearby vessels in a radar-like display format.

A graphical display of AIS data on board a ship.

Information provided by AIS equipment, such as unique identification, position, course, and speed, can be displayed on a screen or an ECDIS. AIS is intended to assist a vessel's watchstanding officers and allow maritime authorities to track and monitor vessel movements. AIS integrates a standardized VHF transceiver with a positioning system such as a GPS orLORAN-C receiver, with other electronic navigation sensors, such as a gyrocompass or rate of turn indicator. Vessels fitted with AIS transceivers and transponders can be tracked by AIS base stations located along coast lines or, when out of range of terrestrial networks, through a growing number of satellites that are fitted with special AIS receivers which are capable of deconflicting a large number of signatures.

The International Maritime Organization's International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires AIS to be fitted aboard international voyaging ships with gross tonnage (GT) of 300 or more, and all passenger ships regardless of size.^[1]

You can find FREEDOM on AIS by going to marinetraffic.com. Look for FREEDOM listed as a sailing vessel ( that is how we were listed back in our sailboat days and it is difficult to change)

The fog didn't last long and we had a good trip across Lake St. Clair. At one point we heard loud shrieks coming from young voices. Alarmed, I jumped out the port side door to see a small bow rider captained by a dad and filled with a gaggle bathing suited girls happily screaming as they bounced across our wake. That's what summer is all about.

Windmills lined the Lake Huron shore as we headed up the thumb, first to Port Huron and then to Harbor Beach. 

After an easy night at River Street Marina in Harbor Beach, watching local boaters pass by along the Black River, we headed towards Harbor Beach in search of protection from the approaching compact cold front. The big lesson of the day was always call the Harbor Master before entering the harbor! Sometimes the charts do lie, and  fortunately we connected with Jeff just in time to avoid a 5' shoal.   The cold  front hit with lots of wind and we did a number to the dock -- getting on and off was just another adventure!

The Cap'n securing the lines at Harbor Beach. Note the angry Lake on the other side of the breakwall. The wall did its job and held back the stormy waters Harbor Master Jeff hanging on to the slightly tilted dock we left behind in Harbor Beach

Although we were in Harbor Beach for two nights we never really got to town.  When the winds died down a bit Wednesday afternoon we headed out for a walk along a wild flower lined path installed and maintained by the local utility company. That brought us within a block of the downtown area, but we turned around and headed back the 9/10 of a mile to FREEDOM. 

Things looked better on Thursday, so we headed out.  Maybe not such a good idea -- and we ended up with another one of those days with the Admiral and the Boat Dog in the saloon and the Cap'n in the Pilot House. By early afternoon we had crossed Saginaw Bay,  the lake had calmed down and before long we reached Harrisville - no longer on the thumb, but heading up the pointer finger.  The State of Michigan operates reasonably priced, well protected marinas along the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan coasts. Each of our stops this week has been at a state run harbor.  They may not offer the amenities of facilities we are used to along the ICW,  but they have certainly provided us with a 'port in the storm' and then some.  Of special note are the flower borders that line the harbors and/or parking lots.  

When I typed this post we were docked in Alpena, MI.  A town I had never heard of until about 10 days ago, but a place that has checked most, if not all, of our boxes on the ideal Loop stopover. Details in my next post....

Until then, more pictures from the week

We didn't see any freighters as we crossed Lake Erie, but they have become constant companions ever since the Detroit River.

Not sure if a storm or a freighter got this buoy Not sure if a storm or a freighter got this buoy We have noticed this across the lakes: mini-patios set up alongside boat slips. Some have tables, umbrellas, maybe a grill and others we have seen have gazebos complete with fridges. We love the idea!  This was in Port Huron, MI.