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  From Canada Day in Midland, Ontario to the end of July In Grand Traverse Bay, it has been an interesting month.  We saw the beautiful cruising grounds of the Georgian Bay and North Channel.  Thus ended our Canadian visit, with our arrival at Mackinaw City, Michigan.  The Canadian cruising was  delightful with friendly folks, great small towns and beautiful scenery.  After the initial culture shock of mega-tourism in the Mackinac area, the stops in Petosky and Grand Travers Bay have quite pleasant.

DAY 104 & 105 & 106 July 29-31 After a week at Suttons Bay we moved the Goose. Okay, it was only 15 miles but we are now at Elmwood Township Marina on the edge of Traverse City, MI. Paul caught this phot of the sunrise. Purdy! When we left Suttons Bay around 8:30 the clouds and steam had moved in and created a very eerie look and feel. Things were back to normal by the time we arrived at the next marina. Paul took off for his evening walk and I went for a kayak ride.  Saw this family of swans. The local tour boat was out in the harbor ending its evening tour.  I paddled out to get pictures of them dropping the sails. I followed them into to the marina to get more photos. You can get a different perspective when you are right on the water looking up. Some mixed emotions, here.  I built this Eastport Nesting Pram two years ago and it was a great project.  I knew all along that I had little or no practical use for it and it has spent a great deal of time sitting...

DAY 99 & 100 & 101 & 102 & 103    July 23-28 Suttons Bay, Michigan.  Yup.  We're still here.  Quite nice, actually.   Two flights of wine at a lovely vineyard, with some pretzel bites.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.  Although, I think there was something loose on the bike going home.   It tended to wobble a bit. Saw crops along the bike path. The corn looks good. I have gone kayaking several times during these restful days. I felt like we were being watched. No, this isn't a picture of the porta-potties... look at the tree. The leaves are changing, in JULY!! We were happy to see these mats to make the beach more accessible. The water is quite clear. The families were enjoying it. I stuck my hand in it and quickly determined it is still too cold for me. The wildlife and the humans shared the water. The morning walk.  No deer.  I did not tell these three that Thanksgiving is a mere four months away. When we got h...

"...and people come to Casablanca and wait.  And wait. And wait." Hanging out in Sutton's Bay, on Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan. Someone paid for some cool metalwork art but didn't mow the weeds around it. The view across Suttons Bay. I don't think the conch shells were found on the beach here?!? Suttons Bay Marina    DAY 97    July 22 The TART!  Traverse Area Rail Trails.  Great walking or biking.   You can go all the way to Traverse City, 18 miles away.  The tunnel of trees was a nice surprise. The temperature dropped at least 5 degrees every time we were in the trees.  It only looks like I'm pedaling. We rode south about 5 miles on the trail and turned around. Very nice paved trail. We found a fixer-upper! I think this is some kind of voodoo alter to ward off bad taste.  It's not working. Oh come on, someone worked hard to make this  fairy garden for our enjoyment along the trail. Be vewwy quiet!  The twactor is swe...