2nd Week Out-3, June 27

Here are pictures of our stay in Killarney. One picture is of the Sportsman's Inn as it looks today, one shows an airplane taxiing for take-off down the Killarney Channel and the third one just shows a view down the Killarney Channel. As you can see, we were the only one staying at the Sportsman's Inn. We haven't spent the night on the hook yet, so every stop, we have been able to mount the satellite dish and watch Tiger baseball. Deb is thrilled! We have been carrying a motorcycle that we carry in the cockpit and two bicycles that are attached to the bow rail on the front of the boat. Here is a picture showing how the motorcycle is taken off the boat. Ray built a davit which we disassemble and stow when not in use; we attach the motorcycle, lift it and swing it between the dock and the boat. Ray has used the motorcycle at almost every port. We are also using the bikes in each port. We have a little more range than we would on foot!

2nd Week Out-2, June 25-27

The picture of the little boat was our rescue of a vessel in distress. We were on our way to Gore Bay when a boat a mile and a half away hailed us and asked if we could help them. They had an engine problem and were 10 miles from any land. The closest port was Cockburn Island Government Wharf. There were 4 people on board, 2 men and 2 women. It took us 2 hours to tow them in. They were very appreciative.

We arrived Gore Bay Thursday morning. We went straight to the post office to see if our Canadian air card had arrived. It was there! We went straight back to the boat to try it. Other than slow speed, it worked and Deb was able to access her office desktop. Here are a couple of views of Gore Bay harbor and the new docks. Not much traffic!

Friday morning, we left Gore Bay for Little Current. Arrived about 10:30am. Uneventful trip! Stayed at Spider Bay, but cruised to downtown area and saw the new docks. We stayed at Spider Bay because they offered free high speed internet. Deb worked and Ray washed the boat. Boy, did it need it! We rode our bikes to a little Mom and Pop restaurant for dinner. Had a very nice meal and got to see most of Little Current.

On to Killarney. We left Saturday morning and made the 8am bridge. Beautiful cruise! On our way, we passed this lighthouse. Once we had docked at Sportsman's Inn, we headed for fish and chips. While we were eating, we watched a group of about 24 boys embark on a canoe outing with sleeping bags and gear. There were 3 boys per canoe, 8 canoes. One of the canoes was not in the water 2 minutes before they had tipped it over. Someone is sleeping in a wet sleeping bag.

2nd Week Out-1, June 21-24

While at Duncan Bay we met Byron and Germaine Smith, they are friends of Sky and Lynne Cheney and have a Hatteras motor yacht just like the Cheney's. We also met Dick and Karen Robinson, who live in Grand Ledge like us and have a Viking 41 just like ours.



I had parked my motorcycle at the auto parts store in Cheboygan, and when I came out there was an older gentleman sitting on his Honda scooter next to mine. He asked me where I'd gotten it, and we ended up having a very nice discussion. He had a 2008 Honda scooter, but what impressed me about him, was he was 85 years old. Neat guy, and it's these kind of people that will make this trip special.



A picture of the new Ice breaker Mackinaw located in Cheboyban.



Wednesday June 24 we finally got underway again. We had been sitting, waiting on the logistics of the Canadian air card we had purchased to clear up before we proceeded into Canadian waters. Got word that the air card would arrive Gore Bay on Thursday. So we left Duncan Bay at 7:30 am for Detour Village, a 38.9 mile passage. I did a fuel mileage check between Duncan Bay and Detour running 8MPH the entire way, and got an astonishing 1.75 MPG. At 8MPH I start to kick up about an 18 inch wave.



We picked up three bundles of mail at Detour, and met three great couples while at Detour. From left to right in the picture. Donna and Frank, Pat and Dave, Rosita and Bob. They were there by boat and were out of Duncan Bay. We all went out to supper together. The picture of the Freighter is Thursday Morning just we were about to leave for Gore Bay, Ont.

First Week Out, June 14-21

For those that don't know us, we are Ray and Deb Blake from Grand Ledge Mi.. Ray retired in November and Deb continues to work. We have boated out of White Lake Michigan for the past 20 years. We have talked about doing the loop many years and now that day has arrived.

We left Ellenwood Landing Sunday morning June 14 at 7:20am and passed under the Mackinaw bridge that afternoon at 4:17. We had topped off with fuel before we left so we wanted to do a mileage check. We called around for diesel fuel prices near the bridge, they were all the same, $2.79gal. We topped off at Sheplers, 335 gal. I know we were 20 gallons shy of being full when we left, so doing the math we got .69mpg. Or 35 gallons an hour at cruise speed, approx 22knots.

After fueling at Shepler's, we continued on to our destination, arriving Duncan Bay at 5:30. Ken and Brenda Nye from Ellenwood offered their slip here for our first stop.

And what a nice stop it is. Very nice,very quiet. It's Thursday and the weather has been very nice for me, 65-72 and mostly sunny. Deb told me when we left she would like to hunker down for a couple days to get caught up on work, so we have. I'm not sure what day we will leave, but the next stop will be Detour.

This is my first attempt to blog so bear with me, hopefully I will improve.
Regards,
Ray