Mac Yakking

It was just about a year ago when I went with a group after work one day to kayak the Straits of Mackinaw. It was a last minute offer for a rare opportunity. One of those idyllic days with grand plans when everything goes perfectly. The day was sunny and warm and the water was like glass. We put our kayaks in a couple of miles west of the bridge and paddled toward the Mighty Mac. The water was so clear and calm you could see the rocks on the bottom even at 20 ft. or so. The plan was to paddle under the bridge to the east side (from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron) and have our brown bag dinners on the beach by the watertower watching the sun set. And that's exactly what we did, lingering for a long time under the Mac just because we could, and because it was so amazingly awesome. Of course the Straits is not without its hazards. The currents are unpredictable and eeeerie when you feel the movementof the water directly under you with just a 1/2" or so of plastic between you and two Great Lakes. And the swells, even in the calm water send your craft up and down in such a subtle but continuous manner, it's almost imaginary. Then, since you are in the middle of a busy shipping lane, there are those big, pesky freighters... . Another kayak adventure is planned for this weekend, in the Les Cheneaux Islands. To be continued...