Day Six: just the morning. Oops! Another change of plans....

Good grief!  Three to four foot waves!  From the wrong direction!

We were up by 6:30 this morning, and I think we didn't even consider not going, although the hardest part was leaving Chester who caught on right away that we were leaving again, and quietly moped in his gentlemanly way.

On the water by 9 am, we cruised right on down the canal with only a mild headwind.  The waves started getting mixed up as we neared the breakwater and there on the west beach were our friends, Kate Alvord and Stephanie Mills.  

We stopped and had a lovely reunion before bundling up and pushing off again into the surf.  The day was grey, grey and gloomy but we stayed on course right toward the McLain lighthouse.  

I was not quite prepared for the size of the seas beyond the breakwater.  I didn't freeze--Terry always has feared that I'd freeze in fear like the first time we kayaked together--but I gotta say, I was scared.  Libby and Terry kept encouraging me, but I secretly think they were a little stunned themselves.  Anyhow, what could we do?  Bouncing and rolling we very slowly made some headway along the McLain shoreline, with my cold hands frozen on the paddle.

Fiinally we could see a point way off in the distance through the mist.  McGunns Creek!  The Ekstroms!  lunch!  Yeay,  

More later.....

Yup, Pete and Carol Ekstrom fed us a number one premium lunch of hot homemade vegetable chili and egg salad sandwiches.  Carol laid out our beverage choices and I foolishly chose a beer, thinking I needed the nutrition.  By the end of lunch, when I anticipated looking out the window to calm and smooth seas, maybe a bit of sunshine, I was tired, but game.  Then I saw that if anything, the wind and waves had picked up, still against us,  and the day was still grey and gloomy.   The beer kicked in, and I put my foot down--I was not going back out there.

The Ekstroms, bless their hearts, brought us home, where we are now with Chester again, with a fire in the wood stove and our wet suits hung to dry.   We went only eight miles today, but it felt like twenty.  Tomorrow we plan to get back in the kayaks just west of the Calumet Waterworks Park by 8am, hoping to get to Eagle River by evening.  Let us know if you plan to join us.  482 6827

Here are some photos taken by Pete Ekstrom as we approached from McLains, off in the distance.

  
I know, those don't look like three-foot waves.  But they sure looked bigger from inside the boat!  

Onward!

Change of Plans (Day 6 – Saturday)

(Post from Sue Ellen via phone message)

Saturday: Left from Churning Rapids at 9 am with Libby Meyer and hoping to make it to Sunset Bay Resort and Campground this evening, weather permitting.  The campground is about 8 miles down Five Mile Point Rd from Ahmeek, if anyone wants to join us to camp or rendezvous for paddling on Sunday.  If the weather is bad we may have to camp at the Mouth of the Gratiot or somewhere else.
 
Sunday:  We plan to depart early and press on to reach Silver Island by evening, stopping for lunch at Fitzgerald's restaurant.  Evan McDonald plans to join us for this stretch of the trip.

Some Thank Yous

Thanks to Joe Kirkish for putting us up the night before we left.

Thanks to Sam and Shelby and Jeff at the Keweenaw Adventure Company for getting us all properly outfitted and helping keep track of us out on the sea.

Thanks to Erica Vye and Steve Brimm for accompanying us around the point and informing us of geology and history and taking photos, etc etc.

Thanks to Gina Nicholas and Nick and Bonnie and Jim Hay for lifting our boat and our spirits and putting us up and feeding us.

Thanks to Doug and Lisa McKenzie for letting us use their lake house and internet.

Thanks to Evan McDonald and Libby Meyer for tag-team accompanying us.

Thanks to Jane and Dave Pallin for the use of Jane's brother's cabin and for feeding us that lake trout! 

Thanks to Don Arkin and Sharon Emley for coming to hang out with us and feed us that fantastic lasagna.

Thanks to Belotes for coming to greet and paddle with us and feed one helluva lunch!

Thanks to Larry and Connie Julien for accommodating us and feeding us (blueberries and oatmeal for breakfast!) and cheering us on our way.

Thanks to Susan Hooker for bringing pasties (ate 'em last night, Susan) and treats and for staying in touch with us and relaying our whereabouts to others, and coming for lunch with us.

Thanks to Carol Geiger and Joe Freed for watching and waving from the shore (dang! we missed seeing them!) and coming to greet us as we beached.  Made us feel special.

Thanks to Nathan Miller for running down to the bridge to catch some shots.

Thanks to everyone who has donated photos to the blog.

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments to this blog.  Just kidding.  Are you out there?