Monday September 3, 2012

Today we spent the day in and around Rogers City.  We began the day at the local café with coffee and an egg sandwich.  Then we got the bikes ready to go and rode 37 miles along the lake and through Hoeft State Park.  We also went to the 40 mile point light house.  There were also remnants of a wreck on the beach.  It was only the deck with some large nails.  The sunrise trail ended at the lighthouse.  We went further on M23 to Oceock  Rd and followed  thit to falls.  Before reaching the fall we stopped at a Bar at about 22 miles.  It was a welcome rest stop.  Prior to the bar opening we were both on the side of the road with our shoes off sweltering in the heat. The hills had just begun to get challenging.  Shortly after our stop we reached the falls.  Then we came to the most challenging part of our 40 mile bike ride. The last 15 miles were grueling long hills with a 25 mile an hour wind directly at us with some gusts even stronger.  Needless to say it may be bedtime now.  Tomorrow we shall push on.

Sunday September 2, 2012

Today began as a lovely windless day with water as glass.  We enjoyed this for about three hours reading and relaxing until the winds kicked up and continued to increase until we got to Rogers City harbor.  Wind had increased to 35 knots and waves were 2-4 feet.  It was quite a ride into the harbor as it is a trick maneuver right and then left and the wind fighting us all the way.  I usually have all my lines ready before getting to the dock but it was scary to try to get out on the deck in these conditions.  Never the less we made it.  Looking to spend the evening relaxing with dinner and show.  It is too windy to even ride the trail. 

Friday August 31, 2012

 Spectacle Reef Light

Poe Reef light

Today was a relaxing day on the water.  The wind was consistent and no gusts.  We sailed for several hours but took down sails when we changed heading to go to Cheboygan.  We decided to go to Cheboygan rather than Mackinaw because we were concerned about getting a slip at the island.  We passed only a couple of reef lights and one freighter and one pleasure boat in our 5 hour trip across.  Later in the afternoon the Tierneys came by to go to dinner on their way home from their vacation.  We ate at Mulligans on Main Street.  The food was good as well as the beer.  Liesl played in the park across the street from the marina and then we walked the pier and picked rocks for her rock collection.  The coast guard cutter Mackinaw is parked across the river from us.  Tomorrow we hope to go for a ride and possibly tour the coast guard cutter. 

Saturday  September 1, 2012

Today was spent exploring in and around Cheboygan.  We began with breakfast at Alice’s restaurant.  We then road around Cheboygan to see the Cheboygan locks, opera house and the coast guard cutter.  The Coast Guard Cutter is not open to the public anymore but does have open house occasionally for locals.  The locks were a mini version of the soo locks.  We watched one or two boats go in at a time.  It is the way for pleasure boats to come out to Lake Huron from the Cheboygan/Indian Rivers.  Next we road 12 miles to get to the Historic mill up 23.  We did the zip line there twice and then did the the climbing wall and the swing bridge over the river.  Then we did another 12 miles back to the boat and dinner.  This evening we ate at the boat house on the river.  The first time down the zip line I did not kick off at the platform so I did not make it all the way to the step off point.  The attendant passed a boat hook to me and pulled me in.  The second time I took a running start and went faster down the line.  I also turned several times and ended up reaching the platform backwards.  We also did a short hike with the naturalist there and watched some demonstrations of water powered mill as well as hand hewn squaring off of a log.  Total we rode about 35 miles today.  Now we are sitting back at the boat enjoying the quiet time before we head to Rogers City tomorrow.