Fayette State Park to Detroit Harbor, Washington Island, WI

Detroit Harbor Entrance

It’s all about the weather, the UP was forecast to have high winds from the West switching to the Northwest later in the morning. Initially showers and thunderstorms through 10:00 AM, so we decided to sleep in. When we arose the winds were calm and the sun was out, still high wind and waves forecast for our area. We ventured out heading for Detroit Harbor at Washington Island. Swells still from the South from yesterday’s wind,  and wind from the west that began to build, skies darkened and became threatening, but the rain held off, winds did shift to the northwest and seas built a bit.

The ferry runs between Northport and Washington Island and it was loading cars

Washington Island Ferry

We have always had an issue with our auto pilot with winds on the aft quarters, it just cannot cope with seas from that direction. Yesterday, while talking with other folks on the dock, I learned everyone even the sailboats had the same problem, so I am a bit reassured that there is nothing wrong with my auto pilot. It seems everyone names their auto pilot, one was named Jimmy for Jimmy Buffett, another Capt. Morgan, and one Ethel. We call ours “auto pilot” so I guess we need a name. If you have a suggestion, please comment in this blog.

New Entrance Markers

Detroit Harbor is quite shallow reading 3 feet on the depth finder on the way to the anchorage. North winds have subsided to variable and the seas are calm. One of the Loopers with whom Carol has exchanged email is also in the harbor. After we got settled had a bit of lunch and began to work on Email, we heard “Carol”, then “Dennis” we looked at each other. They were at the back of our boat in their dinghy and invited us to dinner. So we will meet some new people for supper. I took a swim this afternoon to inspect the hull and experience the bow thruster. The hull is a bit slimy and the thruster is quite strong producing good water flow.

We had a very lovely dinner and conversation with Jim and Kathy Swanson aboard their boat JimKat. We hope to see them at future ports over the next several weeks.