August 26 Kayak Chamber's Island

Paddle to Chambers Island, by Moonlight

Launched from the Tennison Bay Kayak Launch about 6 PM
Landed on Chambers about 7:15
Left Chambers 7:25
Arrived back at the put in at 9 PM

Launch in Tennison Bay

Nice paddle…wind started out light from the SW and built into the mid-teens from the S with 2.5+ waves, before I reached Chambers.   I hurried getting a snack and drink as I wanted to get headed back so I would be through the larger waves before it became dark. 

On the beach at Chambers

The sun was going to set in about 20 minutes so I left. The wind was still building up into the high teens aand the wave were pushing 3 feet just before I reached Adventure Island. They gradually calmed down as I closed the distance to Adventure Island and reached its lee shore.  The rest of the paddle was more sheltered by the Islands and mainland so the waves gradually calmed .

Shortly after I left Adventure Island the moon rose just about where the landing should be, but as I got closer to shore it was actually blinding me from seeing the shoreline until I was close enough so the trees blocked it out.  Of course in the dark, finding the landing was difficult…I was counting on someone to sit on the ramp and watch the stars…if they bring kids, there are always flashlights. The couple there didn’t have any kids, but the dude was smoking a cigarette, and I saw the glow. I yelled to them if that was the boat ramp, yes came the reply and I yelled back that I thought you were going to built a bonfire so I could find my way back…they chuckled and he offered to help carry the boat up.

The trip was about 11 miles as I wandered a bit to be in the shelter of the Islands on the way back.

I had a light on, kept eyes and ears sharp for boats...saw none.   Had a radio, flares, strobe and cell.
I enjoy paddling or sailing in the dark...usually little to no boat traffic and basically a different world

August 21, Kayak, Fish Creek, WI

This evening I went to Fish Creek. My daughter was curating a showing of new artists at the Peninsula Art School. I visited for a while, had a few snacks, and chatted with some folks. Stayed about an hour. I was dressed for the showing, but just so happened to have my paddling gear in the truck. Since I had not paddled in Fish Creek Harbor, this seemed like a good opportunity. Launched at Nelson’s Point about 7 pm, near the picnic area and paddled into town.

A small Drascombe boat anchored behind the breakwater of Weber’s Point caught my eye. The light was good, a low sun with the moon rising behind the traditional looking lap strake boat…nice. Then headed across the harbor and just cruised around.

The Steel Schooner "Friendly"

There were a couple steel ketches about 40 feet, a 38 foot wooden Ketch and a steel schooner. I didn’t realize there were so many small cottages with dock space along the water…It would be a nice place to stay for a week if you had a large or small boat (kayak)... So I followed the shoreline North, it was getting dark by the time I found Fish Creek and followed it up stream a ½ mile or so to “Not Licked Yet” a good ice cream/sandwich place. It was dark by then, but I took a few flash photos of patrons taking photos of the kayaker in the dark.

Up Fish Creek at "Not Licked Yet"

http://www.notlickedyet.com/

As I went back down the creek, 4 deer jumped across not more than 15 feet ahead of me, gee that would have been exciting if they had run me over...in a kayak. So the paddle back was in the dark, with a 3/4 moon. Had a little trouble making out the landing as it was just a path down to the water form the picnic area, with really not much of a landmark... After loading the car, I called Mag on the cell to see if she was still in town. She was, so we met up at Malabo Moos for a couple cones on the way home.

August 18, Kayak Sawyer Harbor

We launched in Potawatomi State Park about 5:30 at the

Park's boat ramp.

Light Winds, Partly Cloudy,

the water temperature was in the mid-60’s

Laurel, Tim, DD, Terrie, and I showed up.

Lost Creek

Headed over to the mouth of Lost Creek following the winding shoreline and found it pretty much choked with weeds, but I cut a path up the creek to the first old dock and turned around. Saw an ugly snapper, covered with moss and weeds peering up at me as he grabbed some air.

Lower end of Sawyer Harbor

We headed over to the mouth of Sawyer Harbor and around Cabot’s Point toward the Sherwood Point Lighthouse…one of the last manned lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

Heading Toward the Light

Sherwood Point Light
Now it is used as rental for military who need a little R & R.

Sherwood Point Light

A few small waves, but the water was mainly flat.

We rounded Sherwood Point passed the picturesque light house and headed at a leisurely pace back to Sawyer Harbor and the launch, enjoying the warm sunset as we pulled out.

Watching the Sun go Down

South of Sherwood Point

Inside Sawyer Harbor

The launching area at Potowatomie

We traveled about 10 miles.

The next few photos are from a trip I took to Saint Martin a few years ago.

It was nice to see Terrie during this paddle, so we got caught up on where we have been and she had just been to St Martin Island...with Laurel, Tim and some others.

They spent couple days on Rock Island, which my daughter and I visited last month, and a few on St Martin, exploring the islands with feet and paddle.

St Martin is private and about 5 miles N of Rock Island State Park.

It is pretty much out there subject to weather...20 miles to the west is Michigan, 15 miles to the North is Fairport, Michigan and 70 miles or so to the East is the other side of Lake Michigan. It experiences alot of severe, variable weather.  Each time I have visited, I was windbound by 25+ winds for an extra day.

St Martin Island

An old map of a previous trip to St Martin

St Martin Island Lighthouse

 

Poverty Island Light

They managed to take a side trip over to Poverty Island, which is an island 5 miles North of St Martin.

Cold fronts are coming through now, with the daytime highs in the mid-70’s and in the 50’s at night…summer is leaving and fall is creeping in…the warmth of summer is barely long enough to burn off the chill memories of our long winter…sometimes as a friend tells me, ya just want to walk south carrying a snow shovel until someone asks what it is, then you know it is warm.