4th of July

Well I left 'campsite' at McLain State Park on the 4th. I wanted to do another long day and get to Ontonagon.. Or at least try. Early in the afternoon the slight ENE wind seemed to be creating waves bigger than it would seem. I heard distant rumbles but never saw anything. Then as I was headed for Fourteen Mile Point the sky ahead did begin to look dark.. I decided I best head for the beach in the bay and pulled into the mouth of the West Sleeping River. I took a swim in the river and then turned on the VHF radio.. They had this special marine warning going on so I started to prepare. Plenty of time an I waited and watched until I figured I might as well go in the tent? As much as I've always wanted to see a waterspout I hoped that portion of the warning wouldn't develop..and it didn't..that I saw. Anyway..it felt much better to be prepared than that much worse stormy night I spent in a changing room with no pad or sleeping bag..wondering if my boat and tent would still be there in the morning...

Leaving the north canal breakwaters .. The shore along the way...

The river mouth .. Preparing m boat for waterspouts?

Tenting in the woods

A storms a coming!

Security vs Park employee

So I posted about the night at the North Canal Park .. and that it was windy so I packed up on the inside beach there and paddled across the canal to the beach on the McLain State Park side.. Quarter mile maybe? I intended to get a site even if I had to walk a mile from where my boat was.. I got to where I could see the campground and park office but ? I just couldn't get excited about the haul. I thought about asking if I might pay but set my tent up over on the canal beach side but didn't want to risk being told no? So I made myself comfortable at the nice picnic pavilion with ice cream snack concession and found a weak yet best Verizon signal since Marquette. Now, july 4th, as I right this in my tent at the mouth of the East Sleeping River I have no usable signal once again.. I've posts from June 30 waiting to upload. The wind did drop off in the afternoon but I wanted an early start to get somewhere.
Anyway.. I took sunset photos down at he inside beach with the others waiting to set up my tent. It was hot.. Up at the pavilion earlier with the breeze it was nice. The late evening got hot. Finally everyone was gone and I set up my tent.. I was sweating in the tent stripped to my shorts knowing it would soon cool down. I heard voices.. Then a flashlight.. Then the intrusion of 'security'. I put on some pants and t-shirt as I tried to talk the dude into just letting me stay. This was not a State Park employee but rather a contract security..turn the lights off kind of guy.. He had a big flashlight and a big authority trip. He said I could go buy a site in the campground and move my stuff there..or pack up and get off State Park property. He said they close soon so offered to give me a ride down.. I grabbed my money and off we went. I could not believe this guy wouldn't just set it slide one night... Well we got to the Park Office just as the guy was locking up.. I saw a campground full sign.. He listened to the security dude and calmly said.. Well we could put him in the overflow camping area..which is near where I was.. Then he says.. Well if he's already set up just let him stay where he is. He asks if I'll be paddling on in the morning and I say yes. Then I offer to pay the fee as I thank him for his logical attitude but he waves off paying and says have a good trip. Then I get a rid back from the security guy and say..thanks for the ride... : )

Where I hung out .. Where I had set up my tent.. This is morning when I was taking it down

Waiting for the people to leave after sunset

Breakfast .. Heading out morning of July 4th

Across Keweenaw Bay & through Keweenaw Peninsula

I was eager to cross Keweenaw Bay so got up and started to heat water for coffee and oatmeal. Next thing you know down comes Phyllis with a cup of coffee for me and an invite to breakfast.. : ) Thanks again!!
Well needless to say the morning glass like calm was gone by the time I set out.. But a light headwind is good on a crossing. The night before it was said it was about 7 miles across from Sand Bay but considering how long it took I doubted that. Looking at the map it looks more like 10 or at least 9. It was nice to finally head into the Portage Lake canal waterway. It was hot and I reveled in the moments a breeze came up. Lots of boat traffic, pontoon boats, power boats pulling inflatable thingies and PWC's seemed the most numerous. Houghton..Hancock seemed nice from the water. I saw the Ranger III at dock...then a lift bridge with the same colors. I had lunch..my only out of boat break for the day, at a City Park with a big playground slide. Then I pushed on .. Eventually deciding to camp at the North Canal Park as I already mentioned.. Yes, I'm writing this days later as I never did one on the through he Peninsula day. I'll date it as it occurred..

Just starting out on the crossing .. Almost to the canal entrance!

Cool old masonry barn converted to a big home .. The route

Approaching the downtown areas .. A ski area on the Hancock side

The Ranger III .. Isle Royale Ferry

City Park I stopped for lunch .. Note the lift-bridge is the same color of Ranger III

On and on.....

Finally... The other side!

First I stopped to check out McLain State Park .. Then I went out and around to North Canal Park only to find out..no more campground .. So I decided to dry stuff and hang out ... Setting my tent up down near the water ? Hard to believe a night of continuous storms were about to develop.

Next morning.. Wind is picking up.. Note how the storm cases waves were passed the vestibule.