It’s a rainy day today as we we make final preparations to leave tomorrow. Another weather front is moving through the area that has gale warnings posted across the northern halves of Lake MI and Huron, and all of Lake Superior. We have not been able to catch a multiple day weather window since we returned from Wisconsin. The marina continues to pull boats from the water for winter storage. Nearly all of the boats on moorings have been pulled. We pumped out yesterday and took a final spin around Little Traverse Bay. The Admiral and I looked at one another and asked if we were doing the right thing by leaving the boat. It feels so natural behind the wheel of the boat, the engines roaring, the white-blue color of our wake. We know we’re doing the right thing but the experience of this trip has been fantastic; we don’t want it to end!

I’ve made several trips loading the car yesterday and will need to make several more before we head off. We’re going home with a lot of stuff, actually a “thinning of the herd”, taking off things we brought but rarely or never used. But for re-supplying food stuff I think we could get back on with minimal re-loading. However, that story is still to be told!