HAMMOND BAY MARINA, IN 3 DIVERGENT PARTS

PART 1 - A NICE PEACEFUL SAIL

And here we are peacefully sailing southeast in a 7-10 knot breeze, under blue skies and flat seas. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!  

The moment where I gleefully realize that I am halfway through book five of "Game of Thrones" - HURRAY!!!

We actually installed high powered solar panels, 140 watts each, this year.

We are both very impressed. Even up North here we’re able to keep our refrigerator and navigation equipment on while sailing as the solar panels usually produce more energy than we draw. Definitely adds to the relaxation factor.  As we’ve decided to slow down a bit we left Cheybogan around noonish and only sailed approximately three hours. We decided to pull into a lesser known marina, Hammond Bay State. I love this place! It’s a State park with a harbor that serves more as a refuge than a pleasure craft marina. We hauled our little folding clown bikes out of the starboard locker and rode along the lake taking in the pine trees and rugged pebbly beaches with incredible gradations in water color from taupes to greens to blues.

  There are literally four boats at the dock including ours and a few old anchored fishing boats.

One thing I noticed immediately is how crystal clear the water looks in Lake Huron, I get thirsty just looking at it. When we get near Detroit that may change quite a bit!

PART 2 - SHERIFF ANDY TAYLOR/DEPUTY BARNEY FIFE

The Harbor Master, Bruce, was a loveable cross between Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith Show) and his sidekick Deputy Barney Fife. He was smart, down to earth yet extremely goofy all at the same time! He joined us for dinner, immediately dropped the pepper shaker top in the soup, pulled it out, licked it clean and then laughed hysterically at himself!  Since it is so quiet at the Harbor, the State had Bruce building outhouses, no less, for other Michigan State Parks.  He graciously lent Jeff a much-needed drill so he could complete a fender board that we need for the canal system. I think “Sheriff Andy/Deputy Barney" was just glad to have the company.

PART 3 - MAYFLIES

On another topic, after dinner, as we were sitting in the cockpit enjoying the evening, we noticed an unusual number of birds flying about and even a few frogs sitting around. I, of course, was in “Pammyland” heaven! Then suddenly, as dusk turned to night, it started literally raining mayflies and my “Pammyland” heaven quickly turned into Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”.  Like manna from someone else’s heaven they came pouring down. There was not a section of surface anywhere that was uncovered.  We went to sleep hearing the pitter patter of thousands of tiny mayflies dropping all over the boat. The next morning we woke up to this.

 Needless to say, Jeff gave the boat a good washing before we set sail.

Wondrous journey to all,
Pam