Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Gore Bay

I had a nice surprise when I got up this morning. Kerry had my little coffee station all set up for me. It was a nice statement of love. Very touching for me. 

It was much warmer this morning than yesterday, 66 vs 56. It's supposed to be in the mid 70's today, vs mid 60's yesterday. What hasn't changed is the weather forecast winds for the Mackinac Straits. Still very breezy for today and tomorrow with high wind warnings in effect. Friday still looks very good. I'll get Peter's take as a double check when he stops over, but now it looks like 2 more nights here. 

Random thought. We are going on a Viking trip In August. I'll be gone when Ohio State plays Texas on August 30. I had resigned myself to missing it. But, I wonder if I keep the app Express VPN that I'm using to watch Direct TV in Canada, if it will work in Europe so I can watch the game? It would be 6:00 PM in Germany. Google says it will work- Whoo Hoo!

The judges have made their decisions for Photo Contest 8. Check it out. Congratulations to Kerry again - two in a row!

Peter came over for one cappuccino and for the last little white powdered donut of the trip. We had saved two. He agreed that Friday looks like the best travel day by far. We both walked to the marina office. Me to pay for Thursday night, Peter to see if he could remain in his current slip until Friday when he will also be leaving. We were both successful.

Kerry was up fairly early today. We enjoyed coffee and tea on the upper deck. Then we took another nice bike ride. We did the city this time and rode through a few residential streets, and also through a wooden walk in the marsh. Her bike is in need of a major tune up which I will have done once we return. I offered to switch with her, but she declined.

Gore Bay Marina as seen from the marsh. 

We packed up the bikes once we returned. Kerry made lunch while I grilled a slab of ribs. We'll probably eat the ribs on Friday night in Presque Isle, MI. We wanted to get them cooked so they did not spoil in the fridge.

Our friend Randy in the American Tug, Heart Tug, pulled in. He did a great job of backing into the dock in a pretty stiff breeze. I would never have attempted it. In fact, I don't attempt backing in even if there is no breeze. Last time I backed into a dock the repairs were $2,000!

I took a little walk around the marina stopping by the boatyard to see all the boats. Some abandoned it appeared, some loved but parked, others waiting for a repair. There was a large blue Mainship, Big Blue, waiting for some repair. The crew is living on it. I recall seeing that boat in an anchorage two years ago when we were last here. How could I forget a name like, Big Blue? I found Norm the mechanic and introduced myself to him. He has a sterling reputation with everyone I've spoken to about him. He was happy I did not want anything or need anything other than to just meet him. Later Randy told me that Big Blue hit a rock. He dinged his propeller and bent his strut and is waiting for repairs as I thought.

Ice cream was the next activity. We both went back for more salted caramel. Peter came by our shaded park bench as we ate. We convinced him he needed ice cream too, so he got his favorite, mint chocolate chip.We talked about fishing this afternoon, but it was really breezy, so we decided to wait until tomorrow morning.

Plans were to go to Water's Edge Restaurant across the bay at 6:00. Peter was going to dingy us all over. But the winds picked up so much that it would not have been a comfortable or perhaps a dry trip over. So we decided to walk on the marsh boardwalk instead. Of course we stopped for a photo op.

We all had good meals at the Water's Edge Restaurant. But just like last time, the waitresses are so stressed. They have too much to do and are impatient if you are not quick at ordering. First, there are not enough of them. Second, they have to make the drinks and the salads too. Their stress diminishes the experience. Too bad, as the food, prices and facilities are good. I would not return if we were staying longer. 

On the way back we were kind of afraid that rain was coming. We did have a few little sprinkles, but stayed mostly dry. Voyager was open so the Orros were glad the rain held off. It did rain hard a couple of hours later.

Peter and I may or may not fish tomorrow. We are both a little indifferent so we decided to see what the weather is doing in the morning. I'm getting a little stir-crazy sitting around, and am ready to move out. I updated the CBP-Roam app this afternoon, which is what we use to gain reentry to the good ol' US of A. 

I invited Randy to join us for dinner tomorrow night. He was very pleased with the invitation. He is doing a boat repair and will join us if at all possible, based upon the work done by supper time.  I think he is the most "together" boater I know. His boat is 20 years old and looks like it just came out of a showroom.