GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: MACK. I. TO HARBOR SPRINGS

DAY 74, TUES. AUG. 16 / DAY75, WED. AUG.17, 2011
DEP MACKINAC I. 06:55 ARR. HARBOR SPRINGS 1:50
AM COOL, 62* CLEAR CALM. PM WARM BREEZY
D. 58.97 sm. /1343.9

The morning departure was exciting. We would be cruising through the famous STRAITS of MACKINAC, the link between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Cruising has become altogether different now than it was in the Trent Severn, Georgian Bay, and the North Channel. We are now cruising in open waters to scenic (hopefully) destinations, whereas before we were cruising thru very scenic areas to scenic destinations. Before we were inspired to take many pictures along the way, now, there is really nothing to photograph along the way, the Mackinac Bridge and a few ships being the only exceptions. We left the dock at 06:55 and were under the Mackinac Bridge at 07:45 with the early morning sun providing the perfect light for pictures. Soon after we pass under the bridge into Lake Michigan, we encounter fog for the first time during our trip. We are in open water, and there is not a lot of boat traffic, so with the GPS and autohelm steering the boat, and the radar on, we have no problem. In fact, we anticipate the fog lifting very soon, as we can see the sun and blue sky, we just can’t see in front or behind us.
Harbor Springs is a small, very upscale vacation town a couple of miles up Little Traverse Bay. Scenic, lots of expensive shops, etc. My first impression is Wellsley Hills, MA. Interestingly, there is no laundromat here because the rents are too high for it to be profitable. It’s one of the things that happens when the cost of living becomes too high for the people who work in the town to afford to live there. You know it’s expensive when you spot a vintage Austin Healy, a Triumph TR3, and a Rolls Royce in the municipal parking lot, and, Pat is shuttled back from the (expensive) grocery store in a brand new BMW convertible!