6/20/23 - Mackinac Island to Cheboygan

After all of the days activities yesterday we slept well last night.   We awoke and after our usual coffee decided we would shove off pretty early in an attempt to get out of the harbor before the masses of ferry boats started coming in and out causing traffic and large wakes.   We doddle a bit but by 8:45 we had cast off and started our southward track down the west side of Lake Huron.  Our planned trip today to Cheboygan would be just a short 17 mile jaunt.  The water around the island was a bit choppy from the ferry traffic which had already started but once we got a mile or so away from the marina the waters smoothed out to be glassy.   

It was an uneventful cruise of only 1 hour and forty-five minutes  which had is pulling into a slip at 10:30am.   

Saying goodbye to Mackinac Island lighthouse departing the island
Hello to Cheboygan lighthouse arriving in port
And a walk out to the pier

The Cheboygan City Marina wins the award so far for its close proximity and access to a nice beach and the lighthouse pier.   Riva took us for a walk to the pier and then the beach where she had a good swim to wear her out.   The marina also wins the award for the most economical laundry this far.  Laundry in marinas tends to be ~$1.50 or $2.00 each per wash and dry.  Here is was only $1.00 per wash AND the dryer seemed to be malfunctioning such that it would start and run without putting the coins in…..it’s the little things in life!  😝 

                                                 The Diva loves the water and fetching sticks

Bench at Cheboygan City Marina gave us an idea for what we should do with some of the slab wood that has been stacked on our porch at home for over three years
We may be hitting up one of our welder friends soon

Shortly after we arrived another Looper boat came into the marina; Jim and Lynn aboard Acadia a 42’ cruiser.  They are out of Maine where they have spent the majority of their boating lives sailing the NE, Canada and the Caribbean but they came to the dark side (switched from sailing to motor boat) in 2020 in order to better accommodate a Great Loop trip    They started their loop in Sarasota Florida.   After another hour or two Larry and Elizabeth also came sailing in and docked two slips down from us stating that they had the best sailing conditions day of their trip thus far today.  

While Renee went to lay out on the nearby beach and also keep the laundry rotating Erik rode a mile or so into town to get a few things    We had made plans to meet up with the two other Looping couples aboard QE II at 5pm for beverages and snacks.   Erik had been craving bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers so he needed get some peppers and cream cheese.  He found out a  it later that he had grossly miscalculated the amount of time and space it would take to make the poppers in our toaster oven (should have went with the grill 🤷‍♂️).  The poppers were accompanied by samplings of fudge that we bought TOO much of on the Island yesterday as well as an assortment of grapes, chips and salsa, cheese and crackers and a delicious smoked whitefish dip that our fellow loopers had prepared.  Several hours of sharing stories and experiences ensued before we went our separate ways for the evening.  Our usual evening routine of showers, coffee and planning what our plans for the day tomorrow would be followed by an early bed time rounded out another delightful day.   

Renee chilling on the aft deck enjoying the end of another day