To Beaver Island, North Lake Michigan

Beaver Island.

Left for Beaver Island in not perfect weather but the sea improved as we cruised under the Mackinaw Bridge through the Mackinaw straits. This was a small island on the route that had some interesting history. We anchored out in the small bay and dinghied ashore to the museum where the local historian filled us in on the strange story of the Mormon & Irish war. A Mormon leader, James Jesse Strang, had been travelling through upper USA seeking out a place where he could settle with his followers to establish a Mormon community after breaking away from the then leader Brigham Young. He found Beaver Is where there was a thriving fishing & lumber industry and established a kingdom and declared himself King Strang. He ousted many of the locals including the Irish. His followers became disillusioned with him after he began to declare rules for the followers to live by. He called them revelations – men could have more than 1 wife, all women must wear bloomers - so eventually a couple of his disgruntled followers assassinated him. The ousted Irish quickly returned and persecuted the remaining Mormons until they had all left the island. An influx of Irish immigrants followed and a huge fishing industry was established here. The population in 1910 was 1095 and over 30 fishing boats worked from the Port of St James on Beaver Is. It is now a small community with an interesting history for tourists to seek out.

We also met “Dan” the owner and boat builder of St James Boat Shop. He is a wood craftsman making oars, boats, canoes etc. and keeping a dying skill alive. He is going to be on a National Geographics show called “Boonies”.

The weather in Lake Michigan can be very fierce with winds whipping up from the south or west and often changing direction. Waves can be like those in the ocean. Planning your route is important and also having a back up in case the weather changes. Tomorrow we are off to Charlevoix a 40 mile trip in fairly open waters, forecast is not great, but we intend to leave at first light to try and beat the wind.