Here on First Light We have two iPads, a chart plotter, and two iPhones for navigation purposes. The chart plotter also has weather radar and AIS traffic information. True, all this is still nowhere near as sophisticated as the last plane I flew. But, consider that the jet had a max speed of 466 knots and moved in three dimensions often with zero visibility. The boat, on the other hand, will do about 10 knots if pushed hard (which we never do), moves in two dimensions, and zero visibility means we slow to a crawl or just stop. Something the jet could absolutely not do. All things considered, the boat is pretty well equipped for what it can do. So what does a vacuum cleaner have to do with it? Well, it is hard to pay attention when the flybridge is filled with tiny little flying critters. The easy way to reduce the numbers is to suck them up with a little hand vacuum. It was a bit weird. We were five miles from the nearest land. The wind was near calm with nary a ripple on the water for much of the 5-plus hour run. Where did they all come from? Assuming they even could, why fly 5 miles out over open water to buzz around a boat? They didn't bite, but we sure gave that vacuum cleaner a work out.
So, Mackinac Island? We have family and friends who vacation here on a regular basis. They love it. We have been here for several hours and have already done a bit of exploring. They don't allow cars here. The place is awash in bicycles, horse drawn people movers, museums, a fort, and pretty much every kind of trinket shop one could possibly imagine. I have to admit that my first take wasn't all that positive. Only in America could you take a place that stinks of horse poop and turn it into a first class tourist trap. They rent bicycles for $17 per HOUR for the usual one seat, two wheels, and a handlebar model. Want more seats, more wheels, or a kiddy trailer? Those cost extra. There are lots of attractions here. So far as I can tell it is $10 per person to enter any of them. But the streets are full of people and families all seeming to have a good time. There are miles of walking trails, some of which Deb and I will explore. And there is a local coffee shop that offers some of the best tasting coffee we have run across. We have restocked with food having emptied the coffers of everything that we couldn't bring across the boarder from Canada. It may not be my kind of place, but to each his or her own. The docks are in good shape and the marina is pretty well protected. Accept it at face value and enjoy the stay.
2 comments:
You will likely be ahead in your journey down the East side of Lake MI, but if you find yourself near Glen Arbor MI on or after Saturday afternoon Aug 30 we'd love to host you for some time on shore. You would have to anchor or grab a ball but the bay there is often glass smooth.
The clearest water we have seen is outside of Traverse City. I could follow the chain and see the anchor set in the sand in 14 feet of water. This is my first experience with this. I have been told that it is often that way in the Bahamas
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