Lake Huron

As we departed Port Huron, we saw this historic lighthouse ship on the shore.

Spiritus cruised up the St Clair River with the U.S. on her port side and Canada on her starboard. 

Linda has her passport ready for the border patrol, just in case!

We loved seeing the American and Canadian flags flying proudly together on our borders, 

a sign of our shared history and cooperation.

We could see the traffic was backed up on the Blue Bridge, connecting the U.S. and Canad.

Lake Huron Lighthouse marks the spot where the St. Clair River meets this mighty Great Lake.

The current here is unbelievably strong.  Spiritus decelerated from 8 mph to 2.5 mph!

The Captain nailed the fabulous weather forecast for cruising conditions on Lake Huron today.

He watches the weather, determining the safest and smoothest days to travel while the First Mate reminds him that this is supposed to be "pleasure boating"!

The run to Lexington Harbor was just a short distance on this day.

This beautiful swan was one of several in this peaceful harbor.

The water at Lexington Beach was inviting for local swimmers but a bit "chilly" for us Floridians!

Most Michigan harbors have nice walkways built on their break walls.

Starting out in the pre-dawn hours, we were able to watch the sun rise behind a distant freighter.

After cruising northward all day, the Harbor Beach Lighthouse was a welcome sight.

It didn't take long to get our bikes out and peddle the trail to explore this charming town.

The lion drinking fountain is a fun way to stay hydrated!

The town's mural paintings were a fascinating way to learn about the history of the area.

When you are living on a boat, you really don't want to read about the thousands of ships that have sunk on the Great Lakes!

Frank Murphy, a well-respected leader and change-agent, was born and raised in Harbor Beach.

Eddy immediately recognized this flag flying outside the Murphy home.

Frank Murphy was Governor-General of the Philippines from 1933-36, when it was still a U.S. protectorate.

We toured his beautiful home and saw these traditional Filipino gowns. 

 The gowns were from the collection of Frank's sister.

Frank Murphy served as a U.S. Supreme Court Judge from 1940-49.

His home is filled with pictures and letters from leaders who loved and respected him.

FDR said, "Anyone could speak his mind to him and feel at ease.  In Frank's eyes, every person, regardless of skin color or station in life, has dignity and is worthy of respect."

Frank Murphy is pictured here with Amelia Earhart.

Frank was instrumental in passing the law to allow women to vote in the Philippines. 

An unexpected surprise!  Mike and Gay Kelly drove up from Bay City, Michigan to visit!

We met these fine folks when we all did the Great Loop in 2013. 

When Loopers gather together, they find joy in the simplest things!

We watched the Harbor Beach annual Cart Derby!

The planning and organization of this event was super impressive!

They even had a professional announcer as their Master of Ceremonies.

The youth, ages 7 to 17, built their own carts in all colors, shapes, and speeds.

And the trophies go to this awesome group!!

Next stop . . . . Harrisville Harbor,

 where Spiritus moored next to another Grand Banks, Shangri-La. 

Lucky us to meet new Loopers Lee and Jan, the crew of Shangri-La, and enjoy docktails together!

This dismasted sailboat reminded us of how powerful the winds on the Great Lakes can be.

We saw dozens of sailboats returning from the Huron-Mackinaw Race, several of which had dropped out because of the weather.

We bid Looper friends Lee and Jan "Farewell", with the promise of re-connecting soon.

Next stop: Presque Isle Marina with new docks and beautiful flowers!

How fun to gather with Looper friends, old and new, sharing stories and laughter!

Linda took an early morning walk along the breakwater path while Eddy replaced the leaking fuel hose on our starboard engine.  Linda had a better morning than Eddy!

With Spiritus all fixed and ready to go, it was time to make the short run north to Rogers City.

After entering the safe harbor at Rogers City, it was a little tricky to figure out which way to go to reach our assigned slip.

Once all settled in, we explored the surrounding area.

This anchor memorial is in memory of all the lost sailors from Rogers City.

Check out the size of this prop!  We couldn't afford the fuel required to move a ship this big!

We can afford to fuel up with a hot dog, though!

And chase that nutritious weenie with a little calcium treat!

Another spectacular sunset reflection was enjoyed aboard our Spiritus.

It was a comfortable 8-hour cruise to Mackinaw City, where Spiritus was able to rest for a few days.

The Captain cleaned Spiritus while the First Mate treated herself to a pedicure.

Our marina had a lovely park where we walked, enjoyed docktails and Eddy played his guitar.  

The dozens of shops in Mackinaw were in easy walking distance from Spiritus . . . .

. . . .  as were an eclectic mix of great restaurants, cafes, bars, and saloons . . . .

. . . . and dangerously close to numerous fudge shops . . . .

. . . . and an endless number of ice cream parlors! 

We managed to enjoy our memorable stay without doing too much damage in the eating and shopping department!