The First Week on Board

Since moving aboard Glory Days on June 16 in Bay City, we have traveled to Tawas, Harrisville, Presque Isle, and are now in the North Channel.  Last Thursday we left Presque Isle Harbor in rolling seas and 25 knot winds that were more northerly than forecasted.  After about a half hour Dan said, “We’re retired.  We don’t need to do this.”  We went back to Presque Isle and had a very nice day, including a walk to the lighthouse.  The next morning we left and had a beautiful six hour sail to Mississiagi Straits in 15 knot west winds.  We are working on getting used to the fact that this is our lifestyle now, not one of the vacations we have been used to over the years where we had two weeks to get to and from the North Channel and back to work by Monday. 

We ended up spending three nights anchored out in Presque Isle, one night at Meldrum Bay, three nights in Long Point Cove, and are currently at a marina in Blind River.  In Presque Isle, Dan made the mistake of jumping into the water to bathe without checking the temperature.  He had quite a look of shock on his face and swam quickly back to the boat.  We later checked and found out the water was only 55 degrees!  Since then, he checks before he dives.  The water in Long Point Cove was comfortable for swimming.  We have fished, kayaked, read, hiked, and biked when we were in towns where they provided bikes for boaters. We had an excellent dinner, as usual, at the Meldrum Bay Inn (pan-fried whitefish and smoked trout fettuccine alfredo.)  The daughter of the owners of the inn has reopened the general store next door.  Alcohol is available for sale there---important information for most boaters.  In Blind River we are provisioning, doing laundry, and catching up on the internet.   I have noticed that I am sleeping better and longer on the boat than I have in months, maybe years.  I think this sailing life agrees with me.  Tomorrow, on to Bear Drop Harbor.