With a forecast of rain for all day on 8/3, we decided to head further west past the end of the Whaleback Channel to the Town of Blind River. Rainy days are good for getting boating tasks done in port (provisioning, laundry, pump-outs, etc.) as well as a chance to get Wi-Fi, catch-up with boaters we’ve met at various anchorages and stretch our legs with long walks and bike rides. Blind River Marina is relatively new with floating docks and a very helpful staff who helped us dock in 15 knot winds. The marina also provides loaner bikes with big baskets which came in handy for the 2 mile trek to town. There is an M&M Meat Shop here which carries a catalog full of frozen meats—just perfect for packing our tiny freezer in our small fridge.
Fog engulfed us the next morning, but lifted by 11 a.m. so we cast-off for Turnbull Island, east about 8 miles. The u-shaped harbor is formed by Turnbull/Bassett Islands to the north, east and southeast, and a bracelet of unnamed islands fill in the west to give full protection with a mud bottom and plenty of depth.
Here’s a picture of Baby Grand at anchor. You’ll notice our riding sail which keeps us pointed into the wind and we swing less back and forth. If you zoom in, you can see our blue aft awning which we can set-up in 10 minutes with a front track, a rear pole, and side bungees. It has flaps all around that can be raised or lowered. This awning has really kept us cool all summer. Baby Grand is an 1985 boat without tinted windows but we cut the heat down by adding phifertex sunscreens. All of these, as well as our flybridge bimini, were made by Jim Wilinski of Ship Shape Products in Duluth, MN and we highly recommend him.
This small archipelago of islands is another great place for dinghy exploration. We’re told it’s a pretty good place to fish for pike and bass. GLCC developed a campsite just perfect for going ashore and having a campfire. Here we are on Sanford (“Clara”) Island looking for interesting rocks. The island was habited by a gang of marauding boars in the 1980’s but no sightings today.
