Salute Canada

Since we were at Sarnia Bay Marina and since the Desmond Fuel dock is just across the St. Clair River we of course decided to fuel up. The difference in cost was $3.029 in the US as compared to $4.40 at Sarnia. For you non boaters out there, this deal only cost $719.70 USD.

Linda, of course, checked us into the US. We will now be foreign visitors in the US for 183 days (ie. the maximum allowed). The interrogation went like this:

US Customs and Immigration: Where are you coming from?

Linda: Sarnia Bay Marina.

US: Across the river??

Linda: Yes, we need fuel and it is cheaper here in Port Huron.

US: Are you getting lots of fuel?

Linda: Oh yeah, 200+ gallons.

US: …..chuckle, chuckle, snort. Are you ready to write your arrival number?

Linda: Please go ahead.

I guess everybody knows that Linda and I are no threat to anybody, certainly we are not terrorists, so they welcomed us without any reservations. So now with the cruising permit that we received last week from the Port Authority, we are good to go for our whole trip, or at least 183 days; but who is counting.

From Port Huron we headed out onto Lake Huron and my-O-my it was fairly flat; less than 2 feet. EXCELLENT. Of course, it was flat because there was no wind. Since there was no wind the fog was as thick as cotton. At the best of times we could see about 1.5 miles, but through the fog patches visibility was down to 200 yards or so. We learned to appreciate the radar unit and of course, Otto. Otto is our new best friend who is taking the pressure off the captain and the first mate. Thanks Dave, George and Grant. We never realized how useful an autopilot can be (Otto for auto for autopilot). For six hours we could not see anything; nothing but fog and haze. We took turns watching the radar screen and the water in front of us and let Otto take us to Harrisville. Even crossing Saginaw Bay north of the thumb (for those not familiar with Michigan, the lower part of the state looks like the back of your left hand when extended in front of you) the seas where calm. It was a long day but we wanted to take advantage of the calm seas and since we have been by these waters a couple of times already, we were anxious to get to new territory. We are about half way up Lake Huron. Our target is Mackinaw City.