I’m a couple days late in writing about our trip back to Harbor Springs. First, let me say Door County, WI is, in a word, charming. The topography is hilly, rising from the shoreline to a central peninsula plain and back to the shore. The terrain is rocky and has fewer sandy areas than that of northern MI. But the little towns we traveled to were absolutely quaint and picturesque and the townspeople friendly and talkative. Definitely a place in which to return next year.

The ride back back was interesting as we headed north to the cut between Washington Island and the tip of Door County peninsula. Sea conditions were good with a s/w wind and swell (about 1 ft). As we cut through the pass our path crossed with the car ferry going to Washington Island. Yielding to the ferry we cut behind them and through “Death’s Door” into Lake MI. I’ve heard the inlet was given this name for the rocky shoals and the danger to mariners seeking refuge in the bay of Green Bay from Lake MI storms before the Sturgeon Bay canal was dug. There is a large navigational aid marking the northern edge shoal and smaller buoy marking the southern approach. We rode a trailing sea all the way back to Harbor Springs with wave heights about 2-4 ft. We had decided to leave on Monday because weather forecasts predicted a couple storm fronts coming through the area and we were unable to determine when the next weather window would open. Our fuel consumption was 151 gallons from Sturgeon Bay to Harbor Springs - very good fuel economy. I’m estimating that run was 150 miles. Shows the benefit of trailing seas! We arrived in Harbor Springs to summer like temps - upper 80’s!

The forecasted cold fronts, to include gale force winds, began to come in yesterday. First, an all day on-again off-again rain with cooler temps. Then at about 0345 hrs today the wind began to howl from the s/w and the rain came down in sheets. We got up to check things amidst a driving thunderstorm and lightning show. I had not closed the passageway section canvas and the entire helm was drenched. I was able to secure the passageway canvas and returned to bed. The sound of the wind combined with chop in the water reminded us of Tropical Storm Alberto whom we rode out in North Palm Beach early this year. We got up this morning to a full fledged Great Lakes blow! The s/w winds are blowing 25-40 mph and white caps are on the water in the harbor! Gradually the wind is shifting around to the west and will soon become n/w by late today. Gale warnings are posted and Lake MI has 8-11 ft seas today. The high temp has been reached already (72’) and tonight’s low is to be in low 40’s!

We’ve decided not to go to Mackinac Island Yacht Club tonight for dinner since gale warnings are in effect until tomorrow night and NOAA reports similar sea conditions for the Straits. Bummer - this makes it two years in a row in which weather conditions prevented us from going. Maybe next year is the charm.

Looking at the calendar I see that September 30 is next weekend. Where has the time gone? We’re still hopeful of getting a trip to Mackinac Island next week (sans MIYC) and maybe a trip to Leland, MI but we’re running out of time. We’re beginning to make our list of things to take home and items for the marina to address with the boat.