Epharim Trip Jun 02'

June 28 02' we took the boat to Cabot Point on the outer edge of Sawyer Harbor and anchored there overnight. Saturday, the next morning we set sail to go straight north in a gentle 15 mile/hour southwest breeze. We had the whisker pole up for four straight hours and arrived Eagle Harbor in the Ephraim anchorage area at 4 PM. We set the anchor with about 120 feet of chain in 15 feet of water on gravel pebbles. The anchor set well, so off we went in our little 10 foot inflatable to go to our favorite restaurant the Second Story at the Ephraim Shores Motel. As soon as we got there I asked to use the phone so I could call one of our sons to let them know we arrived safely as we sent them a float plan on Friday afternoon so that if we did not call at least someone would know we did not meet up to our expectations. The motel did not have a phone for public use, but there is one two doors to the south at the village hall and it is only seventy five cents for the first three minutes anywhere in the country. That is a lot cheaper than using a credit card, but about the same as a prepaid calling card.

Then after dinner we went for another ten pounds of ice as the forecast called for severe heat with heat indexes between 100 and 105 for the next day. The forecast also called for breezy conditions and that means winds near 25 miles/hour. While the sun was setting between Eagle Bluff and Horseshoe Island we lowered the 150% Genoa folded it up and sacked it. Then we got the 120% Genoa out of the sack. It pulled up rather hard, almost as if the halyard jumped a block so Judy got to feed the luff bolt into the rotating air foil of the furling system while I cranked on the halyard.

Next morning we got off to an early start in very gusty conditions probably a result of the big bluff that the south wind came across on its way to Eagle Harbor. Anyway, we put a reef into the main and only let out about half the Genoa for starters. Then as we approached the Horseshoe Island it became even more blustery so that as soon as we got past the Nicolet Bay, swimming beach with the protection of a point of land we put the second reef into the main. Nicolet Bay had about 16 motorboats anchored for the night as well as 20 sailboats. They were packed in there pretty tight.

Now we sailed closed hauled and very comfortably in a steady 25 knot breeze straight west to the Pirate Island's red buoy. Once we got to it we did a come about and sailed a bit east of due south directly towards the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and once there we did another come about, etc. till we got through the Strawberry Channel and out in the open water of Green Bay where took out the reefs in the main and fully unfurled our 120% Genoa. We sailed west for two hours on close haul and then south for 3 hours till we got close to land just outside of Sturgeon Bay. We made it in time for the five o'clock bridge opening and were back home by 6:30PM.

The strawberries are now being picked about 10 blocks from our house and they are delicious. I have not found the U-Pick them places yet.

The Le Levant has stopped in Sturgeon Bay twice already this summer.

She must be about 350 feet long, and docks next to the Edward Ryerson Ore carrier at the old Peterson Builders dock.

She runs on all five of the great Lakes and has nice prices too.