The Route: Lake Huron & Lake Michigan

We plan to spend much of our time in Lake Huron on the Canadian shore. See our previous post for a bit more about Canada.

As we transition from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, we'll approach The Mackinac Bridge. This bridge connects the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Lower Peninsula. It divides the "Yoopers" (Michiganders from the U.P.) from the "Trolls" (Michiganders from the Mitten). The Mackinac Bridge, also called "The Mighty Mac," is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac and opened in 1957. According to Wikipedia, this 26,372-foot-long bridge is the world's 27th-longest main span and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.

Before ducking under the bridge, one of our favorite stops in northern Michigan is Mackinac Island. This island boasts no cars; everyone gets around by foot, bicycle, and horse. The island is only accessible by boats, ferries, and the occasional small plane and was a favorite childhood destination for myself (Alison) and Chris. In 2021, our family enjoyed our first "long" stay on our 1980 Catalina 22 with four nights at the island's marina.

Our family on Mackinac Island in 2021, with our 1980 Catalina 22 at the dock behind us.

Our home is in West Michigan, and Lake Michigan is where we learned to sail. This lake is 22,404 square miles of fresh water, snuggled between Michigan and Wisconsin. Wind will be readily available, with the lake 317 miles long and 118 miles wide. The wind and storms will have the complete width of the lake to build up as they blow across, with nothing to break them up, and the weather can change rapidly. We've learned to keep an eye on multiple weather sources to plan our passages accordingly.

We'll travel along the Michigan side of the lake, visiting family, friends, and familiar places. While the lake is affected by lunar tides twice a day, they do not create any significant difference in water depth.