Hessel to Mackinac Island

Friday 5:30pm, the engine was running, power and water disconnected we were in the process of untying the lines when the Harbormaster Gail walked by.  Mary asked if she was sure we couldn’t stay tied to the dock overnight and surprise, she said that she would be knocking on the boat at 6am for us to leave.    We decided to attend the Exhibitor’s Whitefish Dinner with Pam & Bill from Seabiscuit and Donna and Mark from Jenny Clark.  The only problem was when we got there they were out of whitefish.  So we went to the Hessel Inn and all had whitefish there.  

After dinner we acted as the dock hands as both boats moved over to their assigned spaces at the exhibitor’s dock.  On our way over to the dock there was a full rainbow that made a complete circle with it’s reflection in the water.  What a beautiful a sight.  After the boats were secured.  We all had drinks and pleasant conversation aboard Jenny Clark. 

Saturday morning we were ready at 6am but were able to hang around until almost 7am before we had to leave.  We just moved  a few hundred yards away from the dock, dropped anchor and dinghyed back to shore.  We ran into Bill and Pam and after looking at some of the old boats we went to the Pancake Breakfast.  After breakfast Mary visited the craft booths while John looked at some more boats.  When we went back to say good by to Bill & Pam and Bill was glowing.  Chris Smith who was the son of the founder of Chris Craft stopped by to look at their boat.  He told Bill that he and his brother were the designers and builders of his boat.  I think it really made his day.

We had an uneventful ride over to Mackinac Island a little rough the further we got from Hessel but very manageable.   There were six other Loopers here when we arrived and two more came in after us.  So we had our third final Looper dock-tail get together.

Tomorrow is the big day, we are not exactly sure how we will feel. Getting back to the cottage and then home in a couple of weeks will be great. As will being able to get reaquainted with kids and grandkids.  It will not be the same without seeing our felloow Loopers on a almost daily basis.

Time for bed goodnight,

John and Mary