Day 348: Sunday, August 18, 2013
Port to Port: Killarney to Clapperton Island
Underway: 8:55 am Motor Off: 3:55 pm Miles Traveled: 34/34 Stayed At: Anchor
Mile 0 to Mile 34: All is quiet again at the Killarney Mountain Lodge. The Loopers have all moved on to rockier pastures. We are probably the last large group of Loopers they will see.
We never thought this day would come but we only have a few more hops before we get back into the US (if they will have us back). Then we we have to get ready for hopping down Lake Michigan.
We started the day with a hearty breakfast. We had planned to go to the Lodge for the experience – this is a classic old-school resort – but the brunch was a little pricey and they were full with guest reservations. So we wandered down to our favorite cinnamon roll bakery –The Gateway Restaurant – and had a great breakfast with our friends on Spiritus and Carina. I had already walked down there right when they opened and got a couple hot-out-of the-oven cinnamon rolls – one of which did not make it back to the boat. We also bought a large tub of their homemade strawberry jam – it tasted just like the jam we usually make at home about this time so it will be a welcome treat over the next several weeks.
We had another nice travel day – our first full day on the North Channel. Even though it was Sunday, hardly any other boats were out enjoying the sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Just the way we like it. We sailed a little, had dead calm seas for a while and pounded into some waves for the last hour or so. Never a dull moment. We were 5 minutes too slow getting from Killarney to Little Current and had to wait an hour for the swing bridge there that only opens once an hour but we just turned off the motor and sailed back and forth while we were waiting.
After a productive and leisurely travel day, we pulled in in front of Spiritus – they were lounging on cushions on the bow of their boat reading – anchored and waited patiently for the North Channel Water Taxi Service (Kent) to come pick us and our drinks up for delivery a few hundred feet away to Spiritus. Kent and Jane know the cruising grounds around Eddy and Linda’s hometown of Navarre Florida really well so they have a lot in common to talk about. I think we are all starting to get excited for the next phase of our trips – getting back into the US (cheap gas, bigger towns, more shopping choices and new experiences) and starting our way down Lake Michigan – our next big challenge.
