Sunday, October 1, 2006

Gitchigume


My wife, Liz, and I spent our 10th anniversary up at Bayfield, WI sailing around the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior. We agreed to spend half our time sailing and the other half exploring the sites of Bayfield and the surrounding area.

Knowing what Gitchigume can dish out without much notice, I did buy a VHF radio with DSC to interface with my GPS unit. We left, we did get a MMSI registration assigned before we left in case something happened.

I found us an awesome bed and breakfast that we stayed at in Bayfield just across from the grade school.

We arrived to find Bayfield in a flury of activity preparing for their annual Scarecrow Festival and Orchard Tours, a two week celebration at the end of September. It was fun to see the whole town get into this celebration and contest.

Liz was on the bow securing the headsail when we turned out of the harbor. Immediately we started pounding the 4 foot waves rolling down the North Channel.

Liz took the helm on the stretch heading south back to Bayfield through the West Channel, with Basswood Island to out port side. The breeze was perfect for reaching all the way back to Bayfield with our colorful genaker.










The city of Bayfield operates a public launch on the south side of town. The harbor area is well protected.

We shall return one day to cruise these waters again!