Sunday, August 11: Working Our Way Up "The Thumb"

Date:                           August 11, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     118

From:                          Port Sanilac Harbor Marina, Port Sanilac, MI
                                       
To:                              Harbor Beach Marina, Harbor Beach, MI

Statute Miles:              31.2 SM

Time:                           3.67 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       2,728.3 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We are on Lake Huron tonight at Harbor Beach MI, still working our way up the "thumb".

Harbor Beach is near the top of "The Thumb"

At the marina in harbor Beach, MI

Internet and wi-fi is non-existent up here for getting the Blog out, so this may be getting published later than usual.

We had another short 30 mile day straight up the Michigan coast. The waves were flat and it was a smooth ride. Like Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach is a "harbor of refuge". This one was built in the early 20th century as a big harbor for Great Lakes freighters to seek refuge from storms. Port Sanilac was built in the early 1950's for small boat refuge.

Beautiful morning for a cruise on lake Huron

Here at Harbor Beach, there is a large power plant in the harbor. There is a town, but is is not an easy walk from the marina, so we have decided to forego any exploring. The marina is a municipal marina with a boat launch. There are many unoccupied slips here. It is not exactly a ghost town, but there is not much going on. The docks are wooden and seem old and weathered.

Middle Entrancee to harbor at Harbor Beach, MI with Power Plant in the Background

Protected Harbor at Harbor Beach Port of Refuge

Docks at Harbor Beach Marina

Breakwall at Harbor Beach, MI

After two days on Lake Huron, we are very impressed with the Lake. The water quality seems excellent. The water is blue and very clear. We have had two very nice cruising days. Sailing up here seems to be great. Sailing would be wonderful on this lake, particularly in a sailboat between about 30 and 40 feet.

Tomorrow will be a long day. We will go about 70 miles and make a 28 mile crossing of Saginaw Bay, then head up the coast to Harrisville, MI. The waves are forecast to be less than 1'.

Thanks for Reading!