Port Huron, FOG on St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, and Detroit, Michigan

July 9, 2017 We left Harbor Beach at 6:00 am bound for Port Huron at the base of Lake Huron and the northern most reaches of the St. Clair River, the boundary between the US and Canada. We’ve transited two Great Lakes but we’re still in Michigan. Interestingly, Michigan is bordered by four Great Lakes…Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie!

Arriving in Port Huron, we tied up at Desmond Marine’s sea wall in Black River just off St. Clair River. This part of town is slightly depressed but we found things to do. Thunderstorms were forecast for yesterday so we stayed another day at Desmond’s and enjoyed the weather while comfortably tied at the dock. This morning, the forecast was for clear skies and no wind! Really?!! We haven’t seen that this trip!

Today We got up at our usual time (5:30 am) this morning to light haze/fog. By 5:45 it was definitely fog…and by the time we shoved off at 6:00 we couldn’t see the St. Clair River less than 75 yards away! I guess this is a case of “be careful what you wish for”…I had been wishing for no wind or rain…I got my wish.

Intently monitoring all our resources: chart plotter, depth gauge, radar….and a test of our horn for good measure…we cruised down the St. Clair River, otherwise blind of anything around us. Eerie. Our eyes and ears were on high alert for any movement or sound. The long, low blasts of a horn in the distance were eerie reminders that a 700 ft long Laker/freighter was headed in our direction in this fairly narrow channel in the river.

As the ship finally came into range on the radar screen, we answered their next long horn blast with a long sounding of our own and continued to do so as they approached. We hugged the edge of the channel to starboard and continued to strain for a visual sighting of the channel markers according to their position on the chart plotter and radar while we watched the ship approach on the radar screen. Its a little disconcerting to hear a horn of that caliber sounding as though its right above you and not see a ship at all. When the ship finally came into view, I realized I had been holding my breath. It was a welcomed sight!! It really wasn’t scary or stressful, it was challenging and exciting…weeeeeee!!!

As the ship faded into the fog a small aluminium boat carrying a fisherman motored towards us motioning with his arms. I stepped outside and he approached the pilothouse. I asked if he was okay and he answered, “which way to the United States?!…I’m lost!!” Not what you would expect to hear while cruising in Michigan. 🙂 He had gotten turned around when he got out of the way of the huge ship.

The fog eventually lessened but continued through Lake St. Clair, even past Grosse Pointe, and only cleared as we entered the Detroit River. The Waterway Guide says the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair are some of the most scenic miles of cruising in the Great Lakes. Well…we transited both today and unfortunately we can still say we haven’t seen either 😦

We docked at the Detroit Boat Basin north of Detroit….questionable facilities but nice people. Again, as with the Lake Huron portion of our trip, we were limited due to the size of Who Cares and our 50 amp service requirement. We didn’t leave the boat. If you ever have the chance to go there….don’t.


: Harrisville Lighhouse, leaving the harbor