Off to Anchor on South Manitou Island

H F and F, 

Decided to leave just before the 10 am South Manitou ferry .

It was an easy trip across to the big natural c shaped  bay, a favorite anchoring spot for boaters.

There are no facilities on the island , just a few camping grounds and the summer in resident park ranger and his volunteers.No wifi for sure.You can anchor almost up to the shore line  as there are good depths of 30 ft very close in.We found our spot near three other power boats who were anchored there for the day. Later several sailboats came to anchor for the night. Graeme put out about 150 feet of chain, the most we had ever done! Expected winds in the night.

We realised we were getting bitten  by these small deer flies and the boat was full of them inside.

Apparently the hot weather brings the out.We shut the doors and proceeded to use the fly swot to eradicate the problem.

Erica made lunch doing a dance as the little creature bit ankles , legs and arms. The plan  was to go for a picnic on the island, but once ashore we realized that was impossible , the flies were even worse on land.Change of plan, picnic lunch on the boat and a change of clothing, jeans and long sleeved shorts were in order!

Erica had bought a book on the Island  history and a walking plan, so we set off to first see the Sth Manitou lighthouse .

It stands 104 ft high.We climbed  up the 117 steps with the park ranger volunteer and learned the history of the lighthouse.Had a fabulous view of the surrounding area  and the bay. It was commissioned in 1871, and was a familiar landmark for sailors negotiating the Manitou Passge , a tricky piece of water as the many shipwrecks in the area prove.

Then we walked back through the abandoned village houses , whch are now used by the park rangers and volunteers. We walked a mile down a long leafy lane to Lake Florence an inland lake named after 

Florence Haas ( 1863 -1943 ) She got her pilots license to operate a motor launch and was the first woman postmaster carrying the mail between the island and the mainland.She also acted as midwife on the Island. As we neared the inland lake the flies were gone ,but now we were being attacked by scores of mosquitos! We broke off large fern leafs to act as switches.

Erica still got many bites , thank goodness for after bite cream back on the boat.We then walked another 1/2 mile to see the school house.It sits all on its own far away for the village .

Most strange! The one room school house was also used for meetings and social activities.

Some where further  in the center of the Island are the remains of giant white cedar trees.Some more than 500 years old. We decided we had had enough of creature attacks and headed for the shore and back to the boat.Generator on and air con on , oh the relief.We probably walked about 5 miles today.

Dinner on board later ,Graeme even ventured out to the cockpit to use the BBQ.

Actually by then the fly attacks had lessened and we were able to eat outside.

Beautiful views from back of the boat and we watched the sun go down in still and quiet.

So much nicer in a way that being in a Marina, where everyone is stopping by looking into your boat and discussing it.Bit like being a goldfish in a bowl sometimes!

Over and Out, 

E and G