Northern Lake Michigan

Crossing under the Mackinac Bridge, passing
from Lake Huron into Lake Michigan

We found out that most everything you read about Lake Michigan’s weather, turns out to be true.  It can change within a couple hours, and the seas can kick up from 1-2’ to 3-4’ in about an hour.  And there is pretty much constant wind of 10-20 mph.

We stopped for a couple days at Beaver Island, which reminded me of the Lake Erie Islands as they were 50 years ago.  Beaver Island has a colorful history, primarily because it is the only place in America which was in recent times ruled by a King.

It so happens that in 1844 when the founder of the Mormon religion, Joseph Smith, was murdered, one of his opportunistic followers named James Jesse Strang produced a questionable letter anointing Strang as Smith’s chosen successor.  This was surprising news to Brigham Young, who took most of his faithful to Salt Lake City.  Strang took about 2000 of his followers to Beaver Island where Strang eventually proclaimed himself King.  His kingdom lasted about 6 years as Strang continued to absorb more and more power, eventually considering himself above the laws of man.  In 1856, two men whom obviously disagreed with Strang assassinated him, and that’s the end of that story!

On September 3, we had planned to take a leisurely cruise south to Manitou Island, but this quirky Michigan weather had other plans.  Our forecast of SE 10 winds turned to NE 20, and seas 3-4’.  So we stayed in port all day & cancelled our plans (see how all that good Power Squadron training is put to good use!).  Unfortunately, we will not see the beautiful cove at South Manitou Island & mostly, we will not be able to meet up with my cousin Sandy & her husband.  They had planned to bring their boat to raft up with us for a couple hours.  BOOOO!

So tomorrow we’ll make the crossing to the west side of Lake Michigan & anchor in Wisconsin territory for a couple nights.  We’ll have to keep an eye on the winds and weather over there too, but at least we’ll have crossed the big lake.  I’m waiting for all the locals to have their last big fling during Labor Day weekend before I venture into their midst.  I’ve made reservations at a marina for Monday evening on the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin.

At the local liquor store, the locals have a cold one