DAY 57- 61: St Clair Harbor Marina to Ports Sanilac, Austin, Alpena, and Presque Isle MI

Saint Clair Harbor Marina to Port Sanilac: 9.1 mph; 44.3 miles; 4:52 hours

Port Sanilac to Port Austin: 9.1 mph; 58.4 miles; 6:27 hours

Port Austin to Port Alpena: 10.0mph; 72.2 miles; 7:11 hours

Port Alpena to Presque Isle MI: 8.6 mph; 41.9 ,iles; 4:50 hours





Port Sanilac Harbor

$47/night: electric, water, showers/bathrooms, and coin-operated laundry. Fantastic staff and a clean facility.


The marina has a captain's lounge, picnic tables, gas grills, and a nearby ice cream store at Uri’s (Shepsl told us about it - great suggestion). It’s a cute little town to breeze through. There is this little hole in the wall called Ali’s Bar, a few shops, and an old hardware store. Like everywhere else up north, establishments seem to be closed Monday-Wednesday/ish.





Port Austin: ANCHORAGE

We dropped anchor outside the marina in the safe harbor area. Once we were set, we took the kayak and paddle board out for a spin. The water is so clear you can see ALL the fish and under water boulders. It's just so cool! I really love it up here.


There were Loopers at the marina, so we paddled over to say hello.





Port Alpena

Thunder Bay Shores: $47/night: electric, water, fuel, showers/bathrooms, bikes, and a captain’s lounge. There is a laundromat in town. Clean harbor, kids are on the ball, and the marina has wide open spaces.


Alpena is a GREAT stop and should have more coverage in the books. It's a little place with some of the best foods; I suggest the Red Barrel - the owner/chef is a genius and dishes up generous portions. Alpena also has a spa-o-rama, if you REALLY need a mani-pedi, and the goal is simply colored nails, you might luck out and find a technician. Not real sure who taught them the trade - pretty sure there are two coats of color followed by a topcoat - I directed as needed.





Presque Isle, MI: ANCHORAGE 

There is a beautiful Michigan marina in Presque Isle Harbor but we decided to head to the north side of the lighthouse, Harbor View, to drop anchor. This is the most beautiful anchorage to date. The water was calm and so clear that we could see down 40 feet (usually you can see 20-25 feet). If you are into diving/snorkeling, there is a shipwreck marked with a buoy. We paddled over to the lighthouse ($5/donation fee) - a very cool place. We could have stayed at that anchorage a lot longer but it's getting late in August and we need to be off Lake Michigan September first when the winds pick up.


*Presque is French for ‘almost an island’. What we thought we saw as beaches is really a mix of river rock and shell - heavy on the rock part. I wonder if all of Michigan is like this...








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