Day 59

Alpena MI - Rogers City

Start 5:39AM
End 11:30AM
Underway 5:50 Hours
Distance 49 miles
Total Miles on Trip 1331
Av Speed 8.5 knots
Weather Sunny 75 Winds 8-10

We had planned to leave at 6AM, but at 4:50 someone left the marina way to fast and rocked our boat enough to wake us up. As we were getting the boat ready to leave, I noticed a lot of fishing boats ready to leave. Know the fishing tournament was still going on, I asked one of them, what time they were allowed to start for the tournament. Of course the answer was 6AM. Since we were just about ready, we decided to get out a little early so we did not have to contend with all the fisherman, trying to get out at the same time. 5:40 is the very earliest we have ever left. Even leaving early we had to thread our way past several boats sitting in the channel waiting for the 6AM start.

The reward for leaving so early was a picture perfect sunrise. I am very disappointed that the pictures do not show how vivid the sunrise really was. It is hard to focus on taking pictures and driving the boat at the same time.

If the sunrise was not enough to make it a picture perfect day as we left Thunder Bay we were treated to the sight of countless sailboats heading in the same direction as us. We were in the middle of the 97th consecutive Port Huron to Mackinaw sail boat race. This year the race had approximately 185 sailboats racing 204 nautical miles. The wind was perfect for sailing, and they were making good time, but we still easily passed them all.

In Rogers City we spent the day exploring by bike. As we toured it was interesting to see people would park along the side of the road to go swimming. There are no "designated swimming" areas or protected beaches. The shoreline is rocky and most of the places where people were swimming were pebble beaches, the water is crystal clear and the shorelines are pristine.

Everywhere we have been in the Great Lakes has had great bike paths, and where there are not bike paths the cars either give you plenty of room as they pass you or patiently wait until there is room to pass you.

Our next stop is Mackinaw MI. We will be there for a week. The first four days, we are staying at St Ignace Marina on the Upper Peninsula, than we will be moving to Straits Marina in Mackinaw City. They are only 6 miles apart, but getting dock reservations has been tough because of the sailboats here for the race.