Benjamin Islands to Meldrum Bay

8/6 Benjamin Islands to Meldrum Bay

We had no wind, as usual, but nice sunny weather. Since we were motoring we decided to make a really long step again, especially since there’s nothing much interesting on the southern shore of the North Channel. We decided to skip Gore Bay, thinking Meldrum Bay sounded just the same – this was before we heard from several sources that Meldrum bay has 24 or 64 or so year-round inhabitants only.

Meldrum Bay Marina, where we arrived in the early evening, had to rebuild their docks every year since the ice of winter would regularly destroy the old docks. Eventually they got tired of this and build a big breakwater. We got one of ‘last years’ docks though which was close to sinking, had no electricity and no water. We didn’t mind that too much with our solar panels, but the price was the same – 50$. And that didn’t include showers which were $5 extra! We had a delicious dinner at the historical Inn, now run by a Persian owner. Fish and Chips and Smoked Trout Linguini made a welcome change from cooking for ourselves every other day.

We met a nice couple from Traverse City here, Beth and Jack, on a beautiful C&C 37 called Cirrus. They reported that most people would mispronounce their boat ‘Circus’, which we promptly decided was the only way to call their boat, too.

The next day was rainy and had a strong northern wind, and since we weren’t in a hurry we decided to stay another day and had happy hour with Beth and Jack. Of course we got the tour of their boat and I insisted on checking the engine, in the process not finding the dipstick hole anymore and soiling Dana’s pants with oily dust.