Day on the Cruise: 115
From: Public Marina, Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, OH
To: Milliken State Park Marina, Detroit, MI
Statute Miles: 56.5 SM
Time: 6.0 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 2,602.5 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are right downtown in Detroit, MI.
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| We are making headway to the North |
Lake Erie is in our rear view mirror now. She spared no effort to usher us out of her waters in a style fitting of her reputation as a fickle place to cruise. We got up to winds of 10-15 from the NE, which all forecasts disputed, of course. We watched some other, smaller boats leave PIB, and decided to give it a shot. We only had about 18 miles to go to get to our waypoint to turn North into the Detroit River.
Naturally it was a mistake. It was very rough. Roughest ride yet on the trip. Waves were easily 2-4 with some bigger. Autopilot did remarkably well allowing me to brace and hold onto the seats. The aft bilge pump light came on about mid way into the second leg. Sent Susan into the bilge and she could find no water. It stayed on for a while, so I went down and could find no water. It was very difficult to stand and walk and climb up and down to the fly bridge in the rough seas. I got nauseous and tried to go "New York", but to no avail. It was really rough. Thank you Lake Erie!
We turned North and intercepted the channel going into the Detroit River. When we got to the Detroit River Light House, the seas flattened out and we started to get into the lee shore formed by Canada. We crossed into Canadian waters. The channel into Detroit runs back and forth across the border.
Soon we got to a decision point where there are two channels. One is for commercial shipping coming down from Detroit into Lake Erie. It is straight and runs about North and South. The other channel runs East along the Canadian shore line and is not straight. I had talked to some Michigan boaters at PIB and they assured me pleasure boats can use the straight channel for down bound ships. I checked my AIS, saw no commercial ships, and stayed straight. The channel was still in Canada. It was wider than I thought it would be. There are two banks on either side with lots of trees, so it was protected from the wind. It was a good ride, and we saw lots of pleasure boats in this channel, so I was relieved. The channel reminded me of the C&D Canal between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
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| Staying Straight in the Down bound Ship channel |
After about 4 or 5 miles we turned back to the Northwest in the Detroit River. I got over to the Western shore as far as I could to make sure we were in the US. You are allowed to cross the Canadian border in a boat without clearing customs if you don't touch land, anchor, or come in contact with another vessel, so we were OK.
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| Big Freighter in the Detroit River heading South |
We passed a big steel plant. We also passed the River Rouge Steel Plant which I believe is part or was part of Ford. They were unloading iron ore from a Great Lakes type of vessel. There were three blast furnaces there. It was neat to see steel making places like we used to see in Birmingham, but which have waned in the past years.
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| National Steel Co in Detroit |
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| Great Lakes freighter unloading iron ore at River Rouge Steel Plant |
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| One of three blast furnaces at River Rouge |
We passed under a big bridge connecting the US and Canada, and then we were going into Detroit proper. The crown jewel of downtown Detroit is the Renaissance Center which is right on the River. It is home to General Motors. I have stayed at the Hotel there when I was visiting our Detroit office. It is vey nice.
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| The Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Canada |
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| View of downtown Detroit from the River |
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| The "Ren Cen", home of General Motors |
Our marina is located about a mile further North from the "Ren Cen" along the River. It is a State of Michigan Marina and is very nice, if not small. It is in a State Park that also has a big amphitheater which had a concert of some sort tonight. The marina is fenced and gated.
Tomorrow we head across Lake Sinclair and up the St. Clair River to Port Huron, MI.
Thanks for Reading!
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