Saturday July 30: Petosky, Michigan

After a second enjoyable night in Mackinaw City, we headed out Thursday for Beaver Island.

We weren't sure how high the shorter trusses on the bridge were but definitely knew we didn't need the 200 foot clearance in the center of the bridge!

So we chose not the shortest ones but one that was several to the right of those in this picture.

The waters of Lake Michigan were again very calm for our 40 mile, 5 hour run.

The harbor entrance at Beaver Island was very inviting with a lighthouse on the north-east corner of the island.

Steve had a close up view of the lighthouse when he decided to ride around the eastern end of the island.

Which went well until he came to the road closed sign. How 'closed' could it be, right? I mean he's on a bike ...

Turns out it was pretty well closed! Apparently it's not only the North Channel and Georgian Bay waters that are a bit higher this year!

But he did get a pretty nice picture of an osprey sitting in a tree looking over the water for his dinner!








There are two types of reviews for Beaver Island: the first - hated it because there was nothing there. The second: loved it because there was nothing there! We weren't really sure what to expect but since we skipped it due to weather in 2010, it was definitely a place we wanted to go. Maybe it was going to be like the Lake Erie islands that we had visited many times.

No such luck - it was just an island in Lake Michigan with a small town. Everyone was very nice - just wasn't  what we hoped for.

The thought was to stay a second night but in the end we moved on after breakfast on Friday. Destination: Petosky - a 35 mile run.

It was the end of the super calm Lake Michigan. Winds were from the east (which is rather unusual) but we were headed east so the longer we traveled the more we would gain protection from the east shore to which we were traveling. Good in theory and practice! Except midway the waves where just kind of crazy. Fortunately that didn't last too long

The biggest challenge was all of the sailboats in the bay that were sailing in a regatta. But no real issues :-)

Petosky has a beautifully designed waterfront with many parks, walkways and views.

As Steve and I rode the bike/run path, we both remarked that this would be great in Cleveland - whose lakefront is still mostly industrial. But that's what Cleveland's history is - industrial.

Maybe someday it can be changed ....




They have a very fun clocktower - that sounds on the half hour and tolls the time on the hour. Fortunately it quits in the early evening :-)

I'm standing under the tower to give you some size perspective.

There was also a nice history museum right across the street from the marina. They had a display about Ernest Hemingway who apparently spent some time here in the summers. Never knew that!




As always, there was a bit of work.

Time to change the oil and filter in the engine (every 200 hours of running time) and the injector pump oil (every 50 hours).

But the filter is much easier to change now that it's so much more accessible. Thanks Jim Murray for the help!!

Tomorrow - off to Charlevoix for a night and then to Leland if the Lake Michigan weather gods are with us!