September 6, Day 85 –Drummond Island to DeTour, Michigan

The day started out very foggy, but we only had 8 miles to go, so we were in no hurry. Linda cranked out some terrific blueberry pancakes and we hung out chatting with Michel and Carole until the fog lifted. Then we both headed over to DeTour.

It was obvious that we had left the North Channel when this huge freighter popped up out of the fog. We are now back in the “Big Boat” country and have to pay a bit more attention to what is out there with us on the water.

We went into town to grab some lunch and Michel and Carole did some grocery shopping. We were all craving pizza, but the pizza place mentioned by others had gone out of business last year. We did find one place that made pizza and went for it – not the best pizza we ever had, but it did take care of the craving.

We went back to the boats and Gerry finished setting up the Verizon links again (couldn’t use them in Canada) and took a nap. Linda went for a walk – surprise, surprise.

We finally signed up for the Great Loop Rendezvous at Wheeler Park in Alabama. The seminars will be very appropriate for us (traveling to the Bahamas, Anchorages in the Florida Keys, traveling the Tenn-Tom, etc.) We also found out that the Illinois River Closure is now permanent. We will have to disconnect our batteries, tie up to a tug boat, leave our boat and ride on the tug, and pay them $600 for the trip.

Linda made some chili tonight, to ward off the chill. The chilly mornings prompted Gerry to suggest a bit of comfort food, specifically the chili. Tomorrow we plan an early departure for Mackinaw City.



A freighter appeared out of the fog.

Monk's Vineyard docked at DeTour

The sign at the marina


Carved statute called "Passage Keeper"

A shoe tree on main street -- hey, this was a little town -- not much to take pictures of