Eagle Island, anchorage – St. Joseph’s Island, Hilton Beach, ON – Hilton Beach Marina – Oct 1, 2021
Today is the day we end this portion of our journey and wait for the Captain to take over from here. We are hoping for a best case scenario but that has evaded us thus far. The border is still closed and word has been said that it will be closed until at least November. Our plan is to have the Captain take her to Chicago where we have 3 options. She will get there and the border will open and we will have the ability to get a cruising permit. Or…..she will get there and the border will eventually open. We will fly home and wait it out. Or…..she will get there, the border will remain closed and we will put her on the hard until spring when we will go get her and bring her home going through the lakes again.
We head out of the anchorage very early and travel to St. Joe’s Island. We never would have thought that we would ever travel quickly through the North Channel but that’s what we have to do. It’s October, we have a Captain waiting, flights booked, cars and shuttles picking up his team. There is no time to waste.
Arriving at Beach Haven Marina proves to be much more convenient than The Soo. The St. Mary’s River that heads up to The Soo has a 10 km speed limit for several miles. It would take us a day up and the Captain a day back down. He charges by the day and all expenses are ours. So Scott found this island not far from the Port of Entry in Drummond Island, MI. It was about an hour away from the airport. Taxis have already been set up.
Hilton Beach Marina was a fabulous find. A large marina with everything you need. Laundry, clean docks, water, fuel, power 50 and 30, restrooms, etc. Some city marinas are not this great. A restaurant on the shore if that is your thing. One of the best marinas in the north we would say.
