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60 SM; 8.6 hours
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Gray overcast but smooth calm at the marina. Weather looks very good to make a longer run today. Appears thunderstorm free until very late into the day and even then risk forecast as marginal. Will expect a bumpy ride once we get to the tip of the thumb and turn west. Coffee and checks complete, we eased out of the marina slip at 0600 and idled through the harbor until exiting the breakwater. While not glassy smooth, Lake Huron this morning nearly flat with slight swells and a bit of confused waves as winds shifted from NE to NW and then west. Our first bail out option is Harbor Beach 30 miles ahead. Arriving a little over four hours later, it is sunny. Warming up into the mid 70s and winds mixed from the NW to west. Serenity is running great, weather is a go, so we continue ahead to our planned destination of Port Austin Harbor, MI.
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| Early morning overcast penetrated by the rays of the sun |
About three miles south of Harbor Beach we passed another milestone: 5000 SM traveled in our sturdy little boat.
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| Chart plotter at 5000 SM |
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| 5000 SM point among the Great Lakes |
Four hours ahead was Port Austin Harbor, another Michigan state harbor of refuge. These refuges along the east and west coast of Michigan give boaters access to safety off of the lakes. Some have OK anchorage, but several we have tried have poor holding due to excessive weed growth. Big tangled growth often in 10+ feet of water due to clarity, but they sure foul the anchor. I am not trusting in thunderstorm conditions. Unlike the inland waterways or the ICW or Erie Canal, there just are not anchorages along the shore in any weather than very calm conditions and only for day anchoring. So, we pick our travel in 25-30 mile increments.
Turning nearly west into Saginaw Bay a large bay, approximately 50 miles long and 25 miles wide. Orientated southwest to Northeast. Entering the bay the winds of course were more WNW then WSW so it was a sporty last hour heading into steepening wind driven chop. Approaching Port Austin Light house, nearly square 2-3 wave chop was bouncing us around.
Port Austin winter time Clearing the light house a course change to the south put Serenity on the beam and it was pretty rolling all the way to the breakwater entrance.
We entered our slip, secured the lines and secured the diesel. 1415 all quiet.
(Map). Glad to be safely around the thumb. Will be here tomorrow as thunderstorms, along with 20 knots of wind will kick the bay up to 3-5 footers. Hope to be able to transit across Friday morning.
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