August 13, 2008 St. Ignace, Michigan

Hello All

I know that some of you are wondering what has happened to us. We have not had Internet service or even phone service for days. We had a fabulous time on Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Four boats went together and hired a captain to get us through safely, quickly and still see the highlights. We more than accomplished our goals - and the cost was less that one prop repair per boat. While we were in the North Channel, we heard of four boats that had major problems - including a couple that actually sank. Some of you may know Joe and Mary Beth aboard the sailboat "Pot O Gold" - they ran aground and had to be rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard - they are on Drummond Island for repairs and may not be able to complete the loop this year - depending on how quickly repairs can be done.

This area is fairly easy to navigate but requires constant attention to details (mostly rocks) and miss one channel marker and you hit rocks.

We spent a couple of nights in Little Current, an anchorage in Baie Fine and a couple of nights anchored in the Benjamin Islands. Then on to Gore Bay, Meldrum Bay, Drummond Island (where we went through US Customs) and now St. Ignace - which is just across the bay from Mackinac Island. We're planning to leave tomorrow morning - down Lake Michigan- turning south at last.

I have so many wonderful pictures that I cannot post them all. I did get one on here that is a blur and can't figure out how to get it deleted.....so it is there - please ignore. This blogsite definitely has it's difficulties.

We're moving South on Lake Michigan tomorrow morning. We'll be in Chicago in about a week - weather permitting.

See you out there somewhere . . .
Ann & Rob