We had a nice breakfast at the Indian Casino and headed out with cloudy skies and brisk stocking cap weather. They tell us July is the best month up here and that around mid August Superior really starts to pick up. The temperatures on the lake as we travel are constantly changing. We go from T-shirts to multiple layers of fleece in no time. Isle Royal is 20 miles off the Minnesota shore. The Islands have some hills so we could see them as soon as we left Grand Portage Harbor. At times our depth gauge could not find the bottom today. The charts said 852 feet.
We met a kayaker camped out this morning. He built a beautiful wood Kayak and was paddling and portaging the voyageur route a cross Canada. He told us those 3 foot rollers we were experiencing were 6 foot waves along the shallow shore line he was paddling. He was about to depart and carry his 53# Kayak 9 miles up a mountain. He planned on hiding it in the woods and then hiking 9 miles back to get his gear. Here we sit purring along with our 6 HP Honda.
Isle Royal is a National Park. The Island is around 50 miles long and has a moose and wolf population. We saw one other boat on the way over here and we are sitting at a dock at the visitor's center with one other sailboat. This is in fact a wilderness park. But nothing much is wilderness anymore. Hot shower last night ($6 for a 5 minute token) and I met a college kid who tells me he has set up internet in his room for the summer. I am going to go try and use it this morning (Tuesday).
A cold passage over to Isle Royal, we figure around 45* with the wind chill. Shirley curled up in her sleeping bag down below and looked out the ports at things of interest. I spent a fair amount of time down below as well, popping my head out the hatch all the time. We had a good wind and flew the Genoa on a Port tack most of the way. Nice to have the hull up against the waves..
Isle Royal is beautiful. Pine Forests, very green, loons calling as you fall to sleep on a cool brisk night. Put a visit to Isle Royal on your list, crowds will not be a problem. Can't drive the car here though.