BEAVER ISLAND, MI

Trip Day:	149	Latitude:	45° 44.79 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	44	Longitude:	085°30.67 ' W	Locks Total:	81
Total Miles:	2,999	Location:	Beaver Island, MI

Today was a day that would be nice to take back. We rose early this morning to check the weather forecast to see if we should travel to Beaver Island, some 40+ miles to the west. The forecasts were consistent, moderate winds from the west then shifting to the northwest by midday. We decided to stay put another day and arranged for the Straights Regional Bus to take us to     Petosky at 9:30. Around 8:30 we checked the forecasts again and noticed they were updated now predicting mostly 10-12 mph, less than earlier, and with a longer window for travelling.

Changing our minds, we canceled the bus, disconnected, and took off. Hindsight is always cleared, but the prudent decision was made earlier. While the winds were in the 10-12 mph range, the seas were not yet abated once we got past the Mackinac Bridge and through the Mackinac Straits.  Gemini’s don’t power into seas very well, and we didn’t.

Beaver Island, which is the largest island in Lake Michigan, is pleasant and the anchorage is well protected. There are 9 of us easily fitting into the  designated area, including Jim and Ann on Wild Goose.

 In the mid 1800s James Strang founded a Mormon settlement on Beaver Island and crowned himself king.  His reign did not last long and the island was left to the Irish who settled and   remained. 

Hoping for abated seas and wind  from anywhere but West tomorrow. Both are currently predicted to be better than today. We’ll see in the morning.

 Spot us on Google Maps by clicking on Location: Beaver Island in the footer below.