Back in the USA!

The beautiful Benjamin Islands

Sunrise as we head back to the USA!!!!

We are still in Lake Huron but headed west and south.  MICHIGAN! We are excited for this portion of the trip. We were MARRIED in Michigan so it has a special meaning for us. Tomorrow we are going to Mackinac Island, Upper Michigan and will bicycle all around as there are no cars on this island. I hear it is touristy but gorgeous so we will let you know.  From there we go to Beaver Island where a friend has a cabin and can give us the insider's tour.  On to Charlevoix after that, where I will leave the boat for four days to go to a Devine cousin reunion in Minnesota and Geoff has a few buddies (Vince and Dave) joining him since he would be soooooo lonely without me! Hmmmmmm. Should I be worried????

Don't you worry though, your tax dollars are hard at work.  The Canadian Customs patrol talked to us at Little Current and lectured us about not having the proper numbers, so they issued us one, THEN we got boarded by Homeland Security while heading towards the US border (yes, picture an aluminum boat with flashing blue lights and men with guns), AND THEN once we were docked, another officer did the official check-in and confiscated our tomatoes, peppers and mangoes. Whew...they got the fruit and vegetables but missed all our criminal activity!

We will miss Canada and the beautiful anchorages but I have taken a lot of pictures to remember them by.  One of the most beautiful was BENJAMIN ISLAND.  One of the most exciting was John's Island, I looked up to see an otter swimming across the harbor we were in.  Never knew they were such fast swimmers......only compared to THE BEAR I saw about a half an hour later swimming across in the opposite direction  in the distance.  All I could see was this huge black head floating across.  Way cool but no pictures! That night when I got up to check for the Northern Lights, about a dozen bats were circling the boat.  I haven't seen any before or since!

Today we are in Les Cheneauxs or the Snows as locals call them. Just one more group of beautiful islands with cabins on them for us to explore.  I tried to swim today.  Got on my suit, pushed down the swim ladder, stuck my feet on the first rung and STOPPED.  The water is gorgeous green and clear and sooo inviting but 63 degrees.  Sixty-seven I could do briefly but I chickened out on 63! In fact, I am sitting in the boat right now with my fleece on and I added an extra blanket to our bed last night.  But alas, no smoke from fires.  I am sorry for the condition of the Rogue Valley and remember when it has been socked in, even at Squaw Lake.  I hear that it is even worse this year.

Well, my current goals are to see the Persied meteor showers, the Northern Lights, and a piliated woodpecker.  Any tips for any of these items, send them my way.

Now that we are back in the States we have our  phone back on so we feel a bit more with the program.

All for now.    Patty

Fireworks at the Haweaters Festival almost right over our boat!

Good Morning Earth