Heywood Island

Swing Bridge opening

7.16.11 Heywood Island

We left Little Current at 2pm today.  It felt like a race.   8- 10 boats all jockying for position waiting for the swing bridge to open at 2.  It is open for 15 mins total every hour, however it only stays completley open for 2-3 mins.  We just happen to be the last boat through and even before making the outer limits of the bridge the bridge operator sounded the horn for closing.  Between the current and the maximum boat speed we could muster we were pretty nervous. The current was amazingly swift and going against us. There were standing waves in the narrow passage.  We were told it can get up to 4 knots on really windy days. With the late start, we decided to take it easy and only go to Heywod Island a couple hours away.  

One disappointment about the area is all the other people / boats.  So far, all anchorges and ports have had several boats. Hwy 17 can be heard often.  We are starting to get  further east and there are no roads to these islands, only boat traffic.  We are told that fewer and fewer people venture farther east and it is more remote so we are heading that way.  We have gotten much better at anchoring.  We have been warned about those who do not set there anchors properly and drag, often in the Benjamin Islands, which we plan to visit on our way back west.  Quite a danger to others and themselves.  

Today was the first day we had really warm, dare I say HOT weather, this whole trip.

Strawberry Island Light

Sunset at Heywood