Hilton Beach, ON – Drummond Island, MI – Sturgeon Bay WI – Oct 2
Best news ever. Sault Ste Marie, MI is giving out cruising permits. Just heard that they just issued one yesterday. So I was all over that getting names, numbers and what we needed to get this done. The day is looking up and we are super excited about this development.
Scott says the engines are ready to have their filters changed so he heads off to the engine room to do maintenance. I prepare the berths for the 2 crew coming onboard. We had stocked up on food in Tobermory and made sure to have the Captain’s favourites. Cleaning up inside and making sure it is presentable, after a few weeks living aboard, was very much in need. Changing all linens and towels, prepping the galley, windows cleaned…..check.
By the time we are done we have a couple hours before the Captain arrives. We pack up what we will need to head to the hotel in The Soo. We will be taking their taxi back to the hotel.
We did get a ride back to The Soo, ON and stayed at the hotel on pins and needles wondering if the Captain would have the ability to get a cruising permit. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the call. Finally, Scott gets a call from the head of the port of entry area on his day off, no less and it’s Sunday. The director was quick to reference to us that this was something that we had to arrange before the Captain arrived but he would let us have the permit after asking many questions to fill out the paperwork. He was so accommodating and kind. A huge thank you to him.
Once we received the number for the cruising permit our plans changed. Now the Captain can to take HP to Sturgeon Bay, WI because we are now able to drive ourselves. That was the best news we have heard on this journey from St. Catharines. We always knew that Chicago plan would be okay but this news makes our dream work. So now the Captain heads out from Drummond Island, MI at the port of entry and starts heading south. Heading south as a nice ring to it.
Somewhere in Lake Michigan Heliopause will jump the timezone and be in Central Time rather than Eastern Time making her an hour behind us.
We are at the hotel for the next 3 days until Heliopause makes her way to an area that can get our Captain home easily by plane. We figure Sturgeon Bay is a good fit being close enough to Green Bay, WI. We make plans for our flights from The Soo, ON to Green Bay, WI and a shuttle to Sturgeon Bay. Literally planes, trains, and automobiles yet again.
