Charlevoix

As much as we wanted to stay, we knew we had to leave Beaver Island.  The next day we motored to Charlevoix. If we hadn't left when we did we would have been stuck there for days as bad weather came..... in spades!  So here we are held up in Charlevoix instead. Lol.

 

I will say, there are worse places to be "stuck".   Charlevoix, in my opinion, rates a 10 in the Wow factor.  This is not a sleepy little town.  Instead it's a bustling, artsy fartsy, affluent, area filled with nautically inspired boutiques, pubs and restaurants.   There are lots of art galleries too, which I LOVE and artists painting on the dock that lines the beautiful waterfront.

 

Just beyond the harbour where we are anchored is the magnificent Lake Charlevoix and it is big.....huge in fact, and is like no place I have ever been.  There is no way we could have explored it all with our dinghy.  The lake is long and narrow with high hills on either side.  The shores are lined with massive homes, parkland, and beaches.  Pictures do not do it justice

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Since we've been here we have had all kinds of weather.  The first day, just after we anchored, it started to rain and we thought it would never end.  It came in buckets along with thunder and lightning.  It did stop, of course, but then the wind came and blew all night between 30 and 40 knots with gusts to 45 knots!   Needless to say we didn't sleep much that night.  The next day was perfect and we could have left but I was out voted by 5 other people.  Since then, the wind has picked up again and coming from the direction we want to go.

 

 

 

  The entrance from Lake Michigan

  The town at sunset.

  Folly in the background

  Many beautiful homes.

 

  One of several "mushroom homes" built in this area by the same person.

 

  View of the harbour from the shoreline park.

  On Lake Charlevoix.

 

  A public beach on Lake Charlevoix

Of course, I'm not complaining; and like I said, there are worse places to be held up.  We will be here until Thursday and, believe it or not, we haven't decided where our next destination will be.  We will just have to see where the wind takes us.  But more about that.....next time.