Drummond Island to DeTour Village
Having planned a 50-plus mile day, we again rose early for a 6 am departure. The winds, we knew, were picking up as the day wore on, so the early rise increased our odds of missing the worst. We drove around Drummond Island from the anchorage, passed by DeTour Village Marina (DeTour Channel) and stuck our nose into Lake Huron, saying goodbye to the North Channel. At the risk of redundancy, the North Channel is clearly the most beautiful landscape of our journey. Whether you do the The Great Loop or not, the North Channel is a worthy destination, not just a passage. We have met so many folks from the North (Canada and USA) who spend their summers here. The open sea, the winding pathways, the many little townships and villages, and the coves that provide safe harbor from the winds truly have opened our eyes to another part of the country that is to be enjoyed and treasured.
Back to the story….we stuck our nose into Lake Huron, headed West toward St. Ignace, Michigan. With winds from the Southwest already at 10-15 mph, we were rocking pretty good (badly is proper grammar). The forecast called for the winds to increase. Two miles westbound and we made a U-turn and found our way to DeTour Village Marina. Over the next 4-5 hours, we saw the marina pick up another half dozen boats. Each was sticking their nose into Huron, U-turning, and coming back to avoid the elements. With the wind forecast only getting uglier, we determined to stay 2 nights and enjoy the R & R.
Our push had been to get to St. Ignace, where the medical center had received orders from Amanda’s orthopedic doctor for a foot X-ray . He had allowed us to go back to the boat and resume our journey on the pretense that he see the healing process in 7-10 days. With that time now at its end, I was concerned about getting the X-ray, being stuck for 2 more days. DeTour Village is..well, a village. No car rental places or taxis or Ubers in the area. With St. Ignace 50 miles away, I knew Dale’s bicycle, with Amanda on my back was not a practical solution. So, Amanda goes to work, doing what she does best. Laying on her southern drawl a little thicker (just imagine Scarlet O’hara talking) , she starts asking local boaters in the marina, “Excuse me, suh (sir). Is there a place around here we might could rent a car? I’ve a broken foot and must get an X-ray by tamarra.” On attempt number 2, Bill Merrill, sailboater, had tossed us the keys to his Marquis, saying, “I don’t need it today. I’m glad for you to borrow it.” A few hours later, we were back, with X-rays and a scouting report of St. Ignace behind us. Now if we can get a favorable report from the orthopedic guy, the concern for surgery will be off the table.
I’ve probably mentioned this before, but we have found that most of these Loopers like to have a good time. Docktails, as opposed to cocktails, are a very big part of the lives of this group. Somewhere around 5 pm, most days, there are boaters getting together. Each brings his own libation and a little something to munch on and share. As predicted, someone dropped by the boat and said, “Docktails at 5 under the pavilion!” A little later, I noticed Bill (car loan Bill) walking to his boat with a banjo case in hand. I asked him what kind of music he played. He said a little of everything, but he liked Bluegrass. I asked him to bring it to docktails and I would bring my guitar. Shortly after, I mentioned to Hal (he and Daneen are on the Living in Awe trawler) that we were having live “entertainment” tonight. He said, “I will bring my mandolin.”
Hal, Bill, & Wes. A weak attempt at a bluegrass band, but we had a bunch of fun trying.
Instantly, we had a 3-piece bluegrass band….of instruments, anyway. Hal had some songbooks, including gospel and bluegrass. So, we ended up having a jam session while everybody else, ate, drank, and sang along when they could figure out what song we were playing. We made a memory with new friends and had a great time playing together. Looking forward to reconnecting with Hal (mandolin) as we are traveling the same journey.
As we were wrapping up the concert, a storm blew in. Pretty good rain and wind came and went just as fast. But it left behind a double rainbow that we were able to see both ends.
August 30
Laundry and minor boat piddling projects consumed the better part of Friday. Dale and I rode bikes for a bit and then we all (about 16 folks) gathered at the Main Sail restaurant for dinner. With a total of only 20 people in the restaurant, the waitress announced to us that with this many people, not all of us will be served at the same time. We just need to understand that. I wonder why the place wasn’t just packed with people. Most of the Loopers just told her that as long as they had plenty of alcohol, getting the food at the same time was not critical. With average service and just below average food, we left full. We scooted Amanda back to the boat, Dale and I fined tuned our routing for Saturday, and we crashed for the night.
I am thoroughly enjoying living vicariously through your “Blog” Still wishing you safe travels and praying for Amanda’s full recovery so we can DANCE in a few weeks!!! Sail on Captain and First Class Mate!
If she was going to have surgery, you were going to get a call from me to see if you wanted to do a section with me, but lucky me, unlucky you, she made it back.
Just got word from her doctor yesterday, after we sent him a new X ray. 5 more weeks in the air cast. Don’t count on dancing with my wife. I will be looking for partners, it appears, for the evening.
Thanks for the prayers. You guys are still welcome to do a leg of the journey with us. We will talk barn dance week. Will probably be at Sweetwater around the 3 or 4th of October, until a day or 2 afterward.
Thanks for the comment. Glad to know somebody is still reading it. I am still a few days behind. We are in Frankfort Michigan, as I write this, 5-6 days from Chicago, depending on weather.