Day #8: Happy Birthday to our son Mark! Up at 5 A.M. this morning the air was cool but no wind. We were underway at 5:45 A.M. with a beautiful sunrise at 5:59 A.M. We passed 40 Mile Point Light at 6:40 A.M. The waves were 1 foot or less. We started to see the bridge towers with Spectacle Reef in view about 10 miles on the horizon. At 10:00 A.M. we passed Poe Reef Light. Multiple power boats entered the harbor just ahead of us. There were 5 boats that were waiting for the gas dock. The harbor staff told us to go ahead and go to our slip as we were in not need of fuel. As Mike tried to maneuver "Parrot Bay" to our slip a boat started backing up so Mike had to sound our horn 5 times which signifies danger. The boat stopped and we were able to proceed to our slip. After lunch Mike and I walked up to Mickey's Mini Mart for a few food items. We than went to Shepler's Marine Supply for a few boat items. At 3 P.M. we launched the dinghy. There was no wind so we proceeded under the Mackinaw Bridge. Mike hopped off the dinghy for a short swim with a view of the Mackinaw Bridge and the Fort. The water was so clear and you could see every rock and fish. We traveled down the shore enjoying the view from the dinghy. At 5:32 P.M. we watched the "Stewart J. Cort" go under the Mackinaw Bridge. Very hard for Mike and I to go back to the boat as the water was so calm and beautiful. There are very few of these days in the Straits. Mike and I were able to FaceTime with Mark and Leah seeing their new home. Plan is to stay here in Mackinaw City for a week.
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| Beautiful sunrise on our way to Mackinaw City. |
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| 40 Mile Point Lighthouse |
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| Poe Reef Light |
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| Fourteen Foot Shoal Light |
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| One of our first views of the bridge. |
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| Our Loop flag and Mackinaw Bridge. |
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| "John D. Leitch" |
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| Mickey's is close to the marina for beverages and snacks. |
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| Museum ship "USCGC Mackinaw WLBB-30" |
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| View from under the Mackinaw Bridge. |
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| Mike floating in Lake Michigan with the Mackinaw Bridge. |
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| Mike floating in Lake Michigan with the fort in the background. |
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| "Stewart J. Cort" (the first 1,000 foot freighter) going under the Mackinaw Bridge. |
