Summer Family Trip - 2007

Kelsey and Kirsten on the bow.

Reading time.

Hot chocolate on the bow.

Sunset at Presque Isle Bay

8/3/07 Friday
Port Superior to Presque Isle Bay

We awoke to another sunny day and a hopping marina.  This was Superior Charters' busiest charter day of the summer and crews were loading boats and heading out to the lake from all over the marina.  The Superior Charters staff was hopping.  It is fun to watch the charters' preparing to leave on their cruises.  They are so excited and bring an energy to the marina.  Our family was rather lazy in the morning and took our time getting ready to leave the marina.  Apparently the charters energy wasn't contagious.  Once ready, safety stuff reviewed, and last bathroom stops made, we headed out on our week long cruise.

The day was perfect.  It was 82 degrees and an East wind of 8-10 knots.  This is a perfect breeze for the first day of a family trip.  Once on the water we could see all the sailboat heading out into the islands.  We counted over thirty boats in front of us.   Since they all seemed to be heading toward South Twin Island and places west we decided to go to Stockton and stay in Presque Isle Bay.  We sailed on a beat to Stockton and were able to pass several boats.  We did get into a fun tacking duel with a Tartan 34 and made a few close crosses with each other.  Eventually we separated and we lost track of their boat.  It's not that I'm racing but I do like to compare boat speed.

We anchored in Presque Isle Bay around 3:30 and soon after watched the boats begin to flock to our protected anchorage.  By evening there were well over twenty boats anchored in the bay.  Meanwhile, we launched our West Marine inflatable kayak and the dinghy and made the trip to shore.  Because of the low water in Lake Superior this year there is even more sand on the beach and you can walk ever farther out into the bay in the shallow water.  Michael snorkeled and the girls and I played Frisbee in the shallow water for quite a long time… very fun.  Kirsten won the award for most diving catches. The girls then changed and went for a 40 minute run on the trails on Stockton Island.  Jennifer, Michael and I went for a hike.  Once we all returned it was back to the boat for dinner.

Dinner was precooked and something that could be served cold.  We don’t like to heat up the boat on hot days.  Once our most excellent chicken wraps were consumed it was clean-up time and then relaxation time for the remainder of the evening.  Kirsten read the “The Odyssey” by Homer for an AP school assignment.  Michael, Kelsey, and I retired to the bow with our books, cushions, and blankets to begin a long evening of reading, sunset viewing, and star gazing.  It was a great night.  The sunset was pretty and the stars brilliant.  Another great day.

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