Day 127: Gore Bay, Ontario to Drummond Island, Michigan
Day 127: Saturday, August 20th: The forecast was for rain off and on today, but the wind had moderated. We had to go close to 60 miles to get to the next decent shelter, Drummond Island Yacht Harbor. We decided to try for it, so got up at daybreak and took off. CaySea and several other boats were soon underway after us.
Just before we left, Ruth documented our visit:
..and got our only picture of the Gore Bay Marina building. This is also the home of Canada Yacht Charters which charters both sail and power boats. If we ever come back to this area we will probably charter from them:
This was our parting view of the little harbor; note the misty skies. The dim light is because it is just getting daylight:
Rounding the first point of land we spotted this lighthouse. It is the only lighthouse we have seen up on land, actually back in the trees:
The weather predictions called for cool rain and light winds. No fog. The fog set in. We could hardly see an eighth of a mile, probably less. Sheetless and CaySea both passed close by, according to the radar -- and we never saw them:
Time for a little background. Back in March good friend Steve Major gave Bill a little jar with a homemade concoction in it. On the top of the Mason jar was written "CORN". Well, Bill was born at night, but it wasn't LAST night. He knew what was in that jar! Steve made him promise to break out that jar when we got to the most northern point on The Great Loop. He asked Bill to have a drink for himself and one for Steve in celebration of the northernmost point.
Well, at 1:35 p.m. today, just north of Chippewa Point at the northern edge of Drummond Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron, Integrity reached the northernmost latitude at N 46 06.522 W083 42.061. We had just crossed the Canada/US border in fog.
It was time to break out the Mason jar. Bill decided that, since Steve was not very fond of snakes, our pet snake, Arnold, should test the quality of the elixir in the Mason jar first.
Arnold pronounced the pale liquid "fit for human consumption" and proceeded to fall asleep draped around Bill's neck. Bill toasted Steve and the North Point:
[Editorial note: In case some readers are in shock that the Captain would imbibe while still on duty, Bill actually staged the toast and did it for real later in port. He did dip a finger and have a symbolic drop or two for himself and friend Steve. And that's the truth.]
The fog finally cleared and we picked our way through tiny rocky islets to Drummond Island Yacht Haven near the town of Drummond on Drummond Island. This is where everyone clears Customs when returning to the U.S. in these parts. We had decided to moor here for the night also. Soon after we arrived the rain stopped, the skies cleared and we had a delightful rainbow:
It was a pretty sunset as we enjoyed cocktails on Integrity with the crews of Sheetless and CaySea. Looper Dream Catcher V was across the dock but couldn't join us. First, the sunset:
Then the Loopers all moored together. Left to right: Integrity, CaySea, Sheetless (Dinghy name: No Sheet) and Dream Catcher V:
Position tonight: N46 01.512 W083 44.887
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