September 9, 2026
We left Mackinaw City early Sunday morning to get ahead of the screaming winds that started last night. We had a lovely sail from St. Ignace to Straits Marina in Mackinaw City. So clear, gentle wind but with only 6 miles to go we were in no hurry. We tied up and had lunch then headed over to visit the Coast Guard Ice Breaker Mackinaw that is now a museum. Harold will probably write about the visit and his time spent on the ice breaker back in the 80’s.
On our way to Mackinaw
Mary and Linda joined us for dinner and stayed overnight to walk the bridge in the morning. We started our bridge walk around 8:30 am. The weather was picture perfect. High 60-low 70’s, sunny, clear. The water was turquoise to azure blue and the Mighty Mac stunning in the early morning sunshine. We were really surprised at the back and forth sway in the suspension sections. When we started stepping on those sections we all were struggling to walk straight. You’d think after 4 months on a sail boat we wouldn’t be bothered by a little sway of the bridge – wrong! We made it to half way and turned around to head back to Mackinaw City. It’s too complicated and expensive to get back by ferry so we took the path of least resistance and made our way back across. We even received walk certificates for our effort.
Papers estimate that 34,000 people walked the bridge this year – some double crossers folks who walked both ways. That seemed a bit too ambitious for us. After we got off the bridge we walked down to the park, took our socks and shoes off and cooled our feet in Lake Huron, rested a bit in the shade and watched people gather. The Grand Traverse Band of Odawa held a protest on the bridge and on the beach against Line 5.
Coast Guard Mackinaw Ice Breaker
After the walk, we had lunch and a rest. We Facetimed with our sons. Mary and Linda departed in the morning and so did we. Sailing back under the bridge and a zesty sail to Beaver Island.
We took a slip in the North Marina and it is the skinniest slip we’ve ever been in and if we were an inch wider we’d never fit. I think we’ll need to push the middle post over in order to get out in the morning.
We wanted the inside of the pier because we remembered our last visit with the waves pounding into the transom. At least now the waves are kicked up but we are facing into them (mostly) and riding much better. It’s still quite bouncy but tolerable. Wind gusts are oficially at screaming banshee level – over 28 mph with sustained winds of 18+. Two foot wave coursing through the entire marina make for a bumpy time.
This afternoon we borrowed marina bikes and rode over to McDonagle Bay, walked on the beach and watched the waves roll in. No boats out on the lake today. Harold got his chocolate fudge brownie ice cream at the grocery. Everybody at the marina are keeping close eyes on the dock lines and fenders and adjusting as necessary. There is a big cabin cruiser with it’s stern to the wind and the waves of hitting and splashing to the upper deck.
The plan is to depart tomorrow for Northport with a more reasonable north/north west turning west wind. It will be a long day, but conditions should be favorable. We’ll look at the weather in the morning.