Hello from the United States! We arrived in Detour Village, MI yesterday after enjoying our time in Gore Bay, Canada and several different anchorages along the way.

We really enjoyed our time in Gore Bay and the Great Lakes Grand Banks Association Rendezvous. This was planned a year ago and the timing just worked out for us to join the rendezvous on our way back to the U.S.

It was a nice easy run from Little Current to Gore Bay.

We had to get a picture of Memphis in Gore Bay!! She did enjoy swimming in the bay several times.

We ate lunch one day at the famous CodMother’s! They have great breakfast and lunch if you are ever in the area.

Loved the cake with the logo burgee! The five stars are for the 5 Great Lakes.

They kicked off the rendezvous with a potluck dinner on Wednesday night. It was great to see our friends we made last year and to meet new ones.

It was a relaxing evening before the event officially started on Thursday.

The rendezvous started with a bag piper leading our group to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

The following day we were treated to a private showing of a local play.

We also had a lunch treat, poutine!

Our finale dinner included four different musical presentations from local talent. Above is the 80’s swing band. I called them that because they were all in their 80’s and 90’s. You should have heard them. I think I now know the answer to staying young!

This was the finale, a famous Canadian Opera singer and his wife who is the #1 fiddle player in Canada. Needless to say, I think there was more musical talent in this town of 900 people than we had in our neighborhood growing up!

They played several songs, and it was unbelievable entertainment.

The rendezvous ended Saturday night, but the weather did not cooperate for us to leave on Sunday. 14 of the 21 boats that attended the rendezvous planned to anchor for two nights in the Benjamin Islands. Our departure was delayed until Monday morning.

Because of the weather delay we had one more night at Gore Bay for the entire group to relax and enjoy again. Robbie even had the weather forecast for the night so we knew we would all be safe.

We left Gore Bay early the next morning to secure a spot for the group at the South Benjamin Islands.

We still had some 2-3 foot waves left over from the day before so we ran a little up to the Benjamin’s until we were in the protection of the islands.

Arriving at the Benjamin’s.

Anchor all set and tied to the shore.

The group all arrived by early afternoon and filled the bay.

There was a great rock beside the boat. This would give us something to climb later in the day.

The top of the rock gave us a view Crocker Island.

Amy climbed to the top of the rock, but not out on to the point for the picture of the boats.

I got a great Pano of all the boats in the bay.

Look at all those Grand Banks.

You can see the rock just behind the other two boats on anchor. It is the light tan spot in the water.

Our view from the top!

The view back up to the top!

All cleaned up and heading over to sunset rock for Rocktails with the group.

Memphis even joined us for the evening.

I brought a chainsaw on the trip in case we ever had a log caught in our anchor chain, but it worked out great for cutting the wood for our bonfire.

The next day the group broke up and we all headed our own ways back home.

Amy and I headed to Hotham for the day and night. This anchorage is known for the house in front of the boat with Elaine and Norm. They invite people over for drinks every evening on their deck.

Anchor is set and we are well protected.

We had a great time with Elaine and Norm.

The next day we left and headed to the west end of John’s Island.

It was a nice easy run through the Whale’s Back Channel.

There are a couple narrow and shallow areas, but this was the tightest, Little Detroit Cut. You have to call out on the VHF and announce your passage to opposing vessels.

No one opposing so, through we go.

It was early in the morning so there weren’t any other boats around at the time.

Continuing through the Whale’s Back Channel. There are lots of rocks and islands to dodge!

Once we arrived at John’s Harbor, we set the hook and met up with 4 other boats from the rendezvous.

Robbie was there with local knowledge, so we took a dinghy ride to see areas that we would not have gone into on our own.

All three of us went for the dinghy tour. Memphis does love her dinghy rides.

Our stern view of the anchorage.

The bow view at sunset in John’s Harbor.

Due to the weather forecast, we decided to move to Detour Village two days early. We took advantage of the calm water and light winds.

It was an easy trip to Detour!

You use a boarder app to arrive back into the US.

We were first denied entry into the U.S. and had to submit our request a second time. Good news, they let us in after a short video call.

All tucked into the harbor. We will spend 4 nights here waiting for good weather again.

I will try to post again before we cross our wake back in Ephraim. Our soft plan will put us back into Ephraim before the end of next week.

Until then I hope you have a great weekend and start to next week.