Captain's Choice blog: Presque Isle, Michigan

Wednesday morning we made the 95 mile trek to Presque Isle, meaning "almost an island" and pronounced "presk eel", which is the French pronunciation. Both Mark and I were amazed how clear the water was when we anchored, it was like looking into a fish tank as we could see the weeds and shells on the bottom at 15 feet.

We took the dinghy ashore and toured the "old" Presque Isle lighthouse and museum that was built in 1840. Then we walked to the "new" 1870 lighthouse that replaced the original one. The "old" one was only 38 feet tall and was really just a light for the harbor entrance. As Great Lake shipping flourished, there were more and more ships and also ship wrecks, so they built a 113 foot tall lighthouse approximately a mile away, just north and near the tip of Presque Isle.

I am afraid of heights, but Mark talked me into walking up the 134 steps to see the view. What a view! This is the tallest lighthouse in the Great Lakes that is open to the public.

There is a house at the base of the lighthouse where an assistant lived that operated the fog horn. The assistant had to maintain the steam powered foghorn by transporting the coal from the lighthouse (where it was delivered) out to the foghorn. The light keeper lived in a separate house next to the lighthouse. The light keepers were know as "wickies" because they were responsible to keep the wicks lit in the lighthouse.The town has restored the house to its original condition including furnture of that era. The coast guard automated the lighthouse in 1970.

The temperature was close to 90 degrees, so once we got back to the boat we swam in the 72 degree water. It was cool but refreshing!

Thursday morning we awoke to another beautiful sunrise. There is nothing like waking up to calm water, sun and the beauty of the land. We headed to Cheboygan where we will stay for several days due to the threat of high winds and thunderstorms.