Day Four: Louis Point to South Entry

It was cold again when we got up, but by the time we got our kayaks loaded I had worked up a sweat and had to take off some of my woolens.  I'd decided I really need to keep a wet suit on all the time while in the boat and it gets pretty warm in there when we're paddling.  

We coulda stayed here happily for days, such a sweet cottage and lovely view, but the fact that the lake was smooth and glassy made it very inviting, so off we went, now with our new escort, Libby Meyer, Kayak Goddess, see below.

Oh man, the day could not have been more lovely and we passed more of the sandstone bluffs that are such a prominent feature of this part of the south coast.  Our destination was Sunrise Beach (also called Bare Butt Beach by the locals) where we were looking forward to a lunch supplied by Linda and Jim Belote.

The other side of Little Traverse Bay.

There they were!  All of us right on time!  Linda and Jim came out to meet us in their canoe, and then they served us one of the most luxurious lunches ever!  Warm lasagna made with kale and chard from the farmers market, fresh green salad with sweet pea vines and pecans and pear, fresh bread and butter, tangerines and cookies.  Good Grief!  I was so excited I forgot to take a picture.  Jim was taking pictures so maybe he'll send some.

Jim and Linda joined us for part of the next leg, along the most picturesque sandstone cliffs of all.  Three years ago, Bill Rose, the world-famous geologist/vulcanologist had brought a group of us out here to do what I came to call red-rock-water-walking.  We waded in to walk slowly along the ledge at the base of the cliffs, where the water at that time was only up to our thighs or sometimes our waists, and it was even warm enough to stay in for nearly two hours.  It was such an adventure that I took other friends and family there in subsequentl summers whenever the seas were calm and the sun was out.  Now, not only is Lake Superior much higher than it has been for years, but also it's much colder, having been completely covered by ice for a good part of the past winter.  So I think it may be a while till we do water walking again, but being there in a kayak was just as good.

Linda and Jim left us and we went on towards White City and South Entry, past more and higher cliffs and some lovely little hidden sandy beaches.  We got to South Entry two hours ahead of schedule, riding on a trailing wind.  There were Linda and Jim again, waiting for us at the end of the long long breakwall!

As we rounded the breakwall we could see Larry and Connie Julien waiting for us!  

Approacing the Juliens, with the South Entry breakwall behind us.

Arrival!  Yeay!

We were treated royally, staying in an apartment over the garage, eating a wonderful chicken andf dressing supper, joined by Susan Hooker who brought out some treats for breakfast.  Larry showed us a video from his white water canoeing in Canada, and I slept the longest night I've slept yet on this trip.

Here we are right now, eating breakfast with Connie.  Check out their view!

We're heading out this morning, up through the Portage, under the bridge on to Churning Rapids, where we hope to sleep in our own beds tonight.