Independence at last!

We are finally free from Charlevoix and are on our way to the North Channel! After an early breakfast we set out at the 7:00 bridge opening. Winds were light on the first leg, so we motored, but after a six mile detour to get close to and photograph the lovely candy-striped lighthouse marking White Shoal, we enjoyed a wonderful sail east to the Mackinac Bridge. Winds were from the WSW at 15, just as requested! We sailed on a beam reach at speeds averaging 6 knots. We passed under the bridge just after a nice-looking east-bound freighter.

Usually the Gray's Reef Passage is crowded with powerboats (we find Sea Rays in particular seem to travel in packs), but this Fourth of July they all stayed in harbor to drink beer and watch fireworks. We had the lake practically to ourselves. That just made our day even more perfect.

As the afternoon progressed, winds became stronger and more northerly, making our arrival at St Ignace exciting. At the end of a 55-mile day, we were glad to be in harbor, and tied up safely just before 5:00 p.m.

The forecast looks good for a run under sail to DeTour on Monday. A few showers, but ideal winds. It's nice to be cruising again.

(I don't understand html, so I don't know why the text is underlined. I must've hit some button by accident and I can't figure out how to correct it. Sorry. Next entry will be better, I promise).