This is a Log Story
by Dee Slocum
Welcome Aboard Jack’s or Better
First Leg: From Whitehall, MI to Tobermory, Canada
Retirement has arrived, I’m 59 and Jack my husband is 63. The year is1996 and we are ready to take on the journey of our life time. We
have sold our house and everything that doesn’t fit on our 41 foot
Irwin sail boat, with the exception of a few boxes of momento’s we
have stored at our daughter Peggy’s house.
The last two weeks of June are spent putting the finishing touches on
the boat getting everything tuned up and ready to set sail by the first
of July. Saying good by to friends and family with several parties and
a few tears. We plan to take the rest of the summer and into the fall to
make the trip from Whitehall Michigan to Jensen Beach Florida.
Our boat is an Irwin ketch, built in 1984. We named it
“Jack’s Or Better” (a poker term). My line is the Captain is Jack
and you can call me Better or Dee. The boat has a long shoal draft
Keel, it requires a depth of a little over four feet, we are told it will be
great for Island hopping. We have two sleeping quarters one in each
end of the boat with the galley, chart room and main salon in
between. We sleep in the aft cabin and use the vee birth for storage.
We try not to fill the vee birth too deep so we can accommodate
guests one in a while. We bought the boat two years earlier so we
would have time to get used to it and have time to equip it before our
trip. We both feel pretty comfortable with it by now.
July 1
We left Whitehall Landing as planned. Daughter Peggy and
grandsons Ryan and Craig came to see us off. We have to go to
Muskegon and have some work done on our engine and a crash
course on engine repair, this took care of the first day.
July 2
Leaving from Muskegon, We are out in Lake Michigan heading for Pentwater the fog is so heavy you can almost cut it with a knife, thank God for radar. The waves are building by the minute. One big wave caught the bow and broke part of the wood off our bow spirit. Jack had to crawl out to retrieve it before it washed right off the boat. We finally decided we would head back to Whitehall and wait for the weather to break. We really didn’t want to say good-by again so we decided to go the Municipal Marina, rather than Whitehall Landing Marina .We had called some friends Tom and Eileen Summers and left a message on their machine when we were in Muskegon. They showed up the next morning to see us off and have breakfast with us.We arrived in Arcadia MI in time to spend the 4th of July with friends Jim & Anita Elsener. We had spent about eight years sailing out of Arcadia as the only sail boat in the fleet of fishing boats. We caught as many salmon as some of the power boats. Considering the time spent fishing.Arcadia is truly God’s country the people are great and the country is beautiful. We renew some of our old friendships Jaybird (Jay Stafford), Smitty (Lavern Smith), Stan Gordon, Ron & Sue Stoops and their kids, all grown up. Stoops ran the marina we had stayed at It was such fun to see them all again.July 6 We left for the Manitou Islands about 10:00 AM Jim & Anita have decided to go that far with us. We were able to sail almost all the way. We met up with Doug & Mickey Zirkle from “ Z Boat” out of Whitehall Landing they traveled with us the rest of the way to the Islands. We arrived about 4:00 PM set our anchors and then did some socializing.July 7 We spent the day touring the Island which is pretty deserted except for the light house and a few residents. A ferry boat brings backpackers to and from the island once a week. We walked out about seven miles to see an old ship wreck off the tip of the island. When we finally got there the fog was so thick we could barely see the shoreline.. About four in the morning we wake up and look out and “Kinship” Jim & Anita’s boat is gone. We hear this little scared voice of Anita on the radio calling us. In their excitement Jack and Anita forgot to go to a working channel but are soon told by the Coast Guard to do so. It seems Kinship had dragged anchor. So we turn on lights for them to see and get anchored again. I do believe we played this game the year before on vacation. We had problems getting our anchors to hold in Greenbay, Wisconsin. in all the weeds. July 8 We left the Island around 8:00 AM heading for Northport Jim & Anita head back to Arcadia. We talked to several friends in the area by way of marine radio We ran into several thunderstorms and motor sailed most of the way. We made good time and were able to get a slip in Northport Michigan for the night. It is time to re charge everything that runs on batteries. Our cell phone runs down when we don’t have shore power so from now on we advise our family we will turn it on from 7 to 9 in the evening and leave it off during the day.. We had hoped to find a laundry but Northport doesn’t have a laundry in town, so we reschedule clothing changes. So far we haven’t had to start wearing anything inside out.July 9 We go from Northport to Harbor Springs hoping to meet up with Ray & Debbie from “Live wire” a 40 ft Viking We are able to do laundry but Ray & Debbie have left, power boats have a way of leaving us in their wake.July 10 We left Harbor Springs heading for Beaver Island. We were able to sail all the way making 7 to 8 knots most of the time, which is exceptional for Jack’s or Better. We arrived about 6:00 PM got into a slip and had dinner at the Shamrock Cafe a good meal. The village of St. James has a good Harbor with nice facilities and a nice Harbor Master.July 11 We left Beaver Island heading for the Mackinaw Bridge which connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsula. With good wind we were able to sail most all the way. We sailed right under the bridge it sure doesn’t appear that the mast will clear but it somehow does by about 80 feet. You can hear and see the cars as they pass over the mesh road way as you pass under the bridge. Jack took videos of our sailing under it, needless to say it was quite an experience. We could see the bridge for about 16 miles before we got there.. We decide to stay another day at Mackinaw City as the weather doesn’t look very good and it will give Jack time to change oil and I can give the boat a much needed cleaning. We met up with Bill & Kathy from “Inspiration’ and had dinner with them. They are taking the same trip we are but are stopping at different places than we plan to. We talked to “Glenda Jean” from Whitehall they are making the trip also We had made previous plans to try and contact each other every Wednesday. We have never able to make contact with them again and have always wondered what happened to them.July 12 Ray from “Live Wire” called on cell phone about 9:00 AM to say they were on the way and in true power boat fashion showed up two hours later with Paul & Maggie from “Magpie”, more sailing friends from Whitehall. We left for Harbor Island about noon and arrived about 8:00 PM set our anchors in the most beautiful spot. We grilled chicken and had all the fixings. We took some videos and Paul took a swim, brrrrrr, North channel water is cold.July 13 We left Harbor Island about 10:30 intending to meet up with “Live Wire” again at Meldrum Bay in Canada. Around noon they called on VHF telling us to skip Meldrum Bay and go on to Gore Bay. We could hear them but they couldn’t hear us. Power boaters don’t realize how long it takes for sail boats to get where they are going as they get there so much faster but at a much greater cost. Anyway another fifty miles with no wind, we say forget it. So we pulled in at Cockburn Island. We tried to call customs but they said we would have to stop at Meldrum Bay the next morning. There are three boats at the marina and can you believe it, Doug a young man on one of the boats knows our son Steve and his wife Ann. Doug is crewing for his father. We have a bit of a chat and compare sailing notes. There is are no stores of any kind and we aren’t supposed to leave the boat until we check in with Canadian Customs so we eat on board and retire early.July 14 We are up bright and early to get started and again nothing but fog, good old radar. We arrived at Meldrum Bay about 11:00 AM. We called Customs and they decided they needed to inspect us.. They are about an hour away , so we take a slip for the day and wait. The Harbor master tell us this seldom happens so we are a little worried --What have we done?? The lady officer from Customs shows up , it seems as we don’t have a permanent address and are headed for Florida they are concerned and also wonder if we have a gun on board, so we tell her of course we don’t!. We answer all her questions and she goes on her way and we breath easy again!!!!July 15 & 16 As we leave Meldrum bay heading for Gore Bay I can’t help but think of my two oldest brothers, they are great fishermen and hunters and love the outdoors, The North Channel is pure wilderness and they would love it here. Jack says its nothing but one big rock but I think it is beautiful. The water is so clear and clean it is cold but I can’t wait to go for a swim anyway.We plan to spend another day in Gore Bay to pick up supplies, wash the may flies off the boat and fill water tanks and get a pump out. We have been advised that you get a better rate of exchange for your money if you use a charge card so we fill our diesel and use the plastic. I have made arrangements for our retirement and Social Security deposits to go into our credit union account also for the credit union to pay my charge card while we are on our trip. Don’t know how we would get by without our ATM card, visa or touch tone teller.Russ & Robin Barnaveld from “Robins Nest” called on our cell phone and want us to pick up a few supplies for them. We plan to meet up with them and Craig from “Vodeodo” on Fox Island tomorrow.July 17 We arrived at Fox Island about 1:00 PM and are met by two dinghies, with Russ & Robbin and Craig’s assistance from their dinghies we make it back into the neatest little cove. In the North Channel the best way to secure you boat seems to be setting your anchor then take another line and tie to the trees, shrubs or rocks on the shore. We have lunch and head out for shore by dinghy to pick blueberries. We fill our bucket and decide to make blueberry pie , but we have no pie tin so we used a square cake pan. We have no rolling pin so we use a cold beer can. We have no shortening so we use oleo. It was delicious!!! Guess that proves “Pi are square.” We went for a swim, had a camp fire then played dominos until it was safe to open the hatch and not fill the boat with vicious mosquitoes. They are out every night for a couple of hours. The bull frogs sang us to sleep, what a neat sound.July 19 We woke to a cloudy day and decided to try another little Island called Hotham about 3 miles away. Russ and Robin belong to a cruising club that provides island hopping information, which assists in finding the out of the way harbors and anchorage’s. We arrive about noon have lunch and spend the rest of the day reading and napping and catching up on our logs and letters as it is raining. After dinner we played cards and board games aboard Jack’s or Better until about 11:00 PM which is about when the mosquitoes leave.July 19 & 20 We wake to the loons calling. We used the last of our blueberries for blueberry pancakes. Craig joined us for breakfast, after all he helped pick the berries. Later in the day we found more berries and some bear poop at least that’s what Jack said it was. Must be time to find a laundry again, Jack washed out some undies and run them up the mast to dry. Mary Kay cosmetics must be going broke as I haven’t used anything but sun screen for daysJuly 21 We left Hotham Island about 9:30 headed for Little Current. We are down to our last beer, time to restock the cupboards. Some tanks need to be filled and some need to emptied. We can go about 10 days to 2 weeks then we need to fill water tanks and empty holding tanks and restock the larder and do laundry. We are all going to treat ourselves to dinner in a restaurant.Once again what a small world!!! We ran into Rick & Jan from “Second Wind” friends out of Whitehall. They are taking over as crew on a boat of a co-worker of Rick’s. They are taking the boat back to Traverse City, the co worker is driving Rick’s car back and go to work. a good deal for both parties.. We spend Sunday here in Little Current, it is one of the few places here in the North Channel to fuel up and get supplies. Russ & Robin headed to Gore Bay to meet more friends. Craig is staying for the day also, we aren’t sure where his next stop is nor is he. We plan to head to Kallarney in the morning.July 22 We left Little Current in time to make the 9:00 AM bridge opening. The water is clear and beautiful sparkling with diamonds. We arrived in Kallarney about 1:00 PM and went to Mr. Perch (in the old red bus) for lunch of fish and chips, we also bought fresh whitefish to cook for dinner. We went for a dinghy ride over where Craig has anchored. It is called Portage Cove, it the most beautiful spot surrounded with rocks as high as mountains. A very protected little cove it would be a rock climbers dream. We get back in time to call it another day in paradise and turn in.July 23 We are calling this the first leg of our journey as we are headed for Tobermory in the Georgian Bay today and will be leaving the North Channel. It is one of our longest days 9 hours with the wind on our nose. We thought for a few minutes we might just be able to sail, but no such luck. We arrived at Tobermory at 5:00 PM, one of the last boats to find a slip for the night (at the gas dock). Glad to be off the water and out of the wind. So far the trip has been everything we dreamed it would be.
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