It was 55 degrees when we awoke this morning in and we actually had to wear jackets!!  The winds were light and the harbor was smooth as glass.  At 7:30 AM after filling our water tanks we were off the Thessalon dock.  Shortly thereafter as we began to cross the North Channel the wind picked up 10-15 and the waves were 2’ on our nose. At 8:45 we officially crossed the border into the USA.  Hooray!!  Before we left FL we had registered with Customs so  we could cross the border with a telephone check-in rather than having to stop and show our credentials.  We checked in by phone with Officer Meiners at Sault Ste. Marie and were officially cleared at 9:15 AM.

At 10:00 AM we passed Drummond Island, Michigan, an official customs check-in station and we were glad we weren’t required to stop.  Our Looper friends on Paddy Wagon and Wind Song were planning to check in there.  Our other Looper friends on Kismet are traveling with “Ziggy” their very smart African Grey parrot.  They were required to make an appointment to take Ziggy to Sault Ste. Marie at 4:00 PM this afternoon to clear their “exotic pet.”  They were quite concerned about the weather because if they missed today’s appointment, they could not get another for a whole week.  They left the Thessalon dock an hour ahead of us which should be plenty of time to keep the appointment.  Traveling with a dog is a lot easier – we just needed Striper’s current rabies vaccine certificate.

At 10:30 we turned into De Tour Passage which leads from North Channel into Lake Huron.  The seas were steep about 2-3’ and  spaced closely together so we were rockin’ and rollin’ till we got through.  A beautiful old lighthouse marks the intersection of De Tour Passage and Lake Huron.   We arrived at our destination, Whitney Bay, a lovely little anchorage, at 11:40 and were anchored by noon.  Four jet skis cruised in shortly after we arrived but just took a whirl around the Bay and moved on, so we have the anchorage all to ourselves.   We’re so very blessed!

Crossing the border -- back in the USA!!

Rocky crossing on North Channel this morning

De Tour Passage is a commercial area

Entrance  to Whitney Bay

This lighthouse marks the junction of De Tour Passage and Lake Huron

Whitney Bay

The outer section of Whitney Bay