Pictured Rocks

We woke to a very calm morning in Murray Bay. After checking the weather, we pulled anchor and motored towards Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We passed Miner's Castle just as the wind picked up. After a two big bowls Honey Bunches of Oats, we raised the sails just in time for a perfect starboard sail. At this point, we proceeded to enjoy the kind of sailing that converts people that sail into die hard sailors. We were heading Northeast, straight South wind, 10-15 knots, clear skies...and one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the Great Lakes! The temperature topped out at about 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

 We passed the Grand Portal going about 6.1 knots. I was so impressed with how sudden the landscape changes from rugged rocks to beautiful beach. With the combination of nice weather, good sailing, and great views, we began to really wish that our tiller (the steering wheel) extension had arrived before we left. It is a bit tiring to steer while the boat is heeling because we can't lean back; one always has to be sitting up straight in order to reach the tiller. After a bit of thought, I had an idea; what some might call a "McGyver moment". I rigged one of the chain plates which had been replaced and one of our spare turnbuckles to form a perfectly functional (yet ugly and somewhat white trash) extension.

 Later, as we were heading into Grand Marais, I opened a bottle of wine with a power drill and drill bit. Anyways, we sailed 12 mile beach and past the beautiful Au Sable Dunes. As we arrived in the Grand Marais marina, they were just finishing up a two-day fishing derby. We got anchored up and Megan made a delicious dinner of salad, some generously donated pizza given to us by some unexpected friends we ran into. The was went well, especially because our anchoring confidence increased even more after holding through a night of constant 15 knot winds!

We plan to stay the night and leave either Tuesday or Wednesday weather permitting. Everything is going so well!

-Corey