Today has been a long, interesting day. We awoke just before seven to find that all the US folks who were returning to Lakes Michigan and Huron, had already left. When they way they leave at 5 AM, they really do. The air was calm, warm, and not a cloud in sight. Phil went off to the marina office to pay the bill and we were out of the marina and at our first waypoint by 7:26. Record time, considering it included a quickie breakfast.

Our plotted path took us north out of the marina and then west below Howard Island and between the markers at Cheney Shoal and Wreck Island. I wonder how many Wreck Islands there are in the Great Lakes? Cruising westwards south of Gull Island and between Bow and Surveyors Islands, saw us crossing the top of Sturgeon Bay. I think that is the fourth Sturgeon Bay we have encountered this trip.

Fifteen minutes from our departure we were rounding Dix Point on Drummond Island and heading into the De Tour Passage.

De Tour Passage Approach to Lake Huron
This is the passage where all the freighters coming and going from Sault Ste. Marie (both US and CDA) have to travel. We had been told by many people that this was a real challenge and we should carefully monitor channel 16 to listen for freighter traffic. In addition, as you travel south through the Passage you have to cross the track of the Drummond Island ferry going over to De Tour Village. We only saw a couple of large freighters in the channel but there must have been a couple of dozen small fishing boats, the guys out for the morning catch. Using the glasses, I could see at least 10 pleasure craft passing the De Tour Light and heading across the waters in all directions.

Location