7.27
Suttons Bay to Leland MI
We woke to a thick fog. No bay, no tree line. Calm and quiet. We weighed our options.
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| Managed to dodge that storm ... |
Stay in Suttons Bay: we already walked the 5 blocks of town 3 times, both sides of the street. Set off in the fog for North Port: very little to do there.
Head for South Manitou Island: Fog, Wind out of the east then north east. No Marina, have to anchor, Not protected from east or north winds.
Leland: been there done that. Nice community, a harbor of refuge. Very tight slips and usually lots of boats.
Leland it is… Fog lifted for visibility of a bout 1 mile. calm and glassy water. Motoring. Suttons Bay and Leland are about 6 miles apart over land. We have to take the water route of course. 35 miles to go. Wind picks up as we dodge thunderstorms throughout the day. One heavy downpour, some thunder in the distance but nothing threatening. Fog comes and goes. Making the turn and heading south around the point, the sun pops put and warms us enough to remove a few layers and cast off the rain gear for a while. 2 sailboats trailing us. One heads west the others continues south. The approach to Leland in sight, 2 miles ahead and the fog rolls back in. We make the harbor entrance and the fog lifts but the wind is still a howlin’. We ask for assistance with lines knowing the slips are small and close together. We are met by 4 dock hands, much appreciated. Lines secure and they are off to help another boat. Then the sail that was following us all day arrives and they too are assisted, docking in the slip next to us. Marge and Joe are from Chicago, sailing about for a few weeks. They are here for a family reunion /party. Joe single-hands his Islander sloop often and has been to many of the same ports as we have been. We have not crossed paths till today.
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| Rain bouncing off the surface of the Lake |
We had dinner on board. Lasagna. Wind is steady at 25 knots out of the north. We are nestled in and hunkering down. A good night to read and relax. Tomorrow, more wind. Not sure if a visit to South Manitou will be possible. Winds much the same. A west wind gives the best protection and ensures good holding of the anchor. Water is deep and anchor dragging an issue. Not for the faint of heart (me)…. we shall see.
7.28
The wind howled all night and half the day. 25 knots and gusting higher. The slapping halyards woke us several times during the night. Jim tightening them to no avail. With mornings arrival, the winds continue and decisions are made to stay put. No one in the harbor is moving on. The ferry to Manitou Island is shut down for the day as well. Seep in. Read. Get groceries. Walk around. Bake brownies. Buy some smoked white fish sausage! Take a nap. Walk over to Lake Leelanau. Get dinner from the sandwich shop. The winds died down early afternoon. The suns warms things up and the town comes alive. We walk about the dock and check out the other boats. After a check of the weather we make plans to go to South Manitou in the morning. The winds will be light and favorable. It’s about 15 miles west of here. Waves have diminished and should remain so for a few days. It will be our 3rd attempt to goto the Island and hike about. The 2 previous times were met with foul weather and poor anchoring. 3rd tmes the charm? Hope so
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