September 4, 2008: Leland, Michigan

We woke up this morning to gray skies and the prediction that Gustaf is working his way up the center of the US to Michigan. We are expecting a storm and several days of rain. But we are hoping to get to Leland before the deluge begins. So we were up early to get our diesel fuel, 260 gallons at $4.35/ gallon ($1.25 per gallon cheaper than Beaver Island) and cast off into the rolling waves of Lake Michigan. On the way south, we took a side trip to see Charlevoix from the Pine River. We cruised past the restaurant where we ate on Monday night and saw the beautiful mansions and boat houses on Round Lake. We were lucky enough to arrive with the ferry that takes travelers out to Beaver Island because that provided the open bridge. We had to smile to see its name was Emerald Isle.

When we arrived in Leland it was just starting to rain so we docked quickly in the still water in the marina. The docks were sheltered behind a tremendous stone breakfront from the long fetch across the lake. There is no natural shelter here. Leland was a small fishing town and they had preserved many of the little fishing shanties on the waterfront. The history of the town begins in 1900 with primitive gasoline engine oak built boats fishing with gill nets in Lake Michigan. The little weathered silver buildings are now serving as little shops. We saw the falls of the Leland River and the fishing charters lining the narrow channel as well as the nets drying on huge racks by the water. It was good to stretch our legs walking around town, but the rain sent us back to the boat to cook supper on board.

Tonight we made a trip home in soul by finding our Raleigh minister’s recent sermon on the internet and hearing his familiar voice and heartfelt message on “finding your place”, discovering your God given gift and exercising it for His Glory and our own blessing. He reminded us that God never calls us to do anything that He is not able to do through us. This is a very thought provoking question as Tom and I figure out who we will be when we grow up.