Monday, August 12, 2019

Baie Fine Anchorage to South Benjamin Anchorage

Day #405: Mike and I got up at 2:30 A.M. to look at the meteor shower but they only saw a few shooting stars. The two of us were then up at 5:30 A.M. to prepare departure. John, Gina, Mike and I talked before leaving the anchorage about just bypassing Little Current heading straight to the Benjamin's due to the fact multiple boats were heading to Little Current and that it is a very busy stop. The decision was made that heading to the anchorage was a better plan.  Mike checked the anchors due to the swing of the boats during the night "Parrot Bay's" and "Alysana's" anchors were twisted a bit. John and Mike decided to start the engines a bit sooner then planned to allow time to get the anchors untwisted. The two boats had a bit of a schedule as the Little Current Swing Bridge only opens at the top of hour for only a short period of time so the plan was that the two boats would transit at 10:00 A.M. The two boats untied Mike maneuvered "Parrot Bay" away from "Alysana" getting the anchor untwisted without difficulty.  It was the tree that was more the issue but he was able to use the boat hook to get the tree off the anchor. "Alysana" had lots of weeds attached to their anchor. At 8:00 A.M. both boats exited the Baie Fine channel with calm seas. At 9:10 A.M. both boats passed Strawberry Island Lighthouse. At 9:50 A.M. "Parrot Bay" and "Alysana" were both holding station at the Little Current Swing Bridge. At 10:00 A.M. 10 boats transited through the swing bridge into Little Current. At 12:45 P.M. "Parrot Bay" and "Alysana" were secure in the Benjamin's with "Parrot Bay's" anchor down and "Alysana" rafted after traveling 44.1 miles (5,138.6 miles total for the trip). At 3:00 P.M. John, Gina, Mike and I got into "Parrot Bay's" launch heading to do some exploring of the rock formations and blueberry picking. The winds picked up with strong gusts but no issues with the anchor holding. At 5:00 P.M. the group returned to the boats. Mike let out additional rope of the anchor hence there needed to be an additional "anchor watch beer" so Mike and I joined John and Gina on "Alysana" until 8:00 P.M. The group decided to sleep in on Tuesday morning as it is only a 2 hour trip to Kagawong. Mike and I played cribbage Mike won.
Beautiful sunrise while leaving Baie Fine. 


Strawberry Island Lighthouse. 

Little Current Swing Bridge. 

Little Current Swing Bridge open at 10:00 A.M. 

North Channel excursion boat. 

"Pearl Mist" cruising ship docked in Little Current. 

Ruins on Picnic Island just outside of Little Current. 

Five loons. 
                                                                                  
                                           Beautiful rock formations in the Benjamin's. 

Mike calls this the "ski slope". 

The look from the top of the "ski slope".

"Parrot Bay's" launch parked at the bottom of the "ski slope".
 
After a bit of a climb and some blueberry picking this is the view out over Lake Huron from the Benjamin's.

Mike and I with the "Parrot Bay" and "Alysana" in the background.

John and Gina with the boats in the background. 

Time to enjoy the Benjamin's. 


Rock formations with the boats in the background. 

Sunset in the Benjamin's.