Saturday, July 2, 2016

Day 4: From Beaver Island to St. Helena Island

"Anxiously you ask, 'Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction?' The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, 'This way to safety; this way to home.'" - President Thomas S. Monson

After as good of a night's sleep as is possible in a berth on a rocking boat we embarked again on our journey. We set sail northward and eastward.  We had planned to stop at another island, but when we seemed to be sailing toward the Mackinac Bridge we asked Captain Bob if we could could sail to St. Helena Island.  A phone call or two later, and we turned about toward St. Helena Island.  It is a much smaller Island than Beaver Island, but not quite as small as Dollar Island.  There is another beautiful lighthouse there.

We made a few trips from the dinghy, and we were welcomed by the volunteers who worked at the lighthouse.  They took us on a tour of the lighthouse and shared historical information about the island.  There is a great view of Lake Michigan and the Mackinac Bridge from the top of the lighthouse.

The volunteers had a lot of tasks ready for boy scouts, so we set to work clearing brush, scrubbing the dock, moving rocks, organizing the storage sheds, and so forth.  After we had worked up a good sweat, the lighthouse volunteers were pleased to share some delicious watermelon with us.  We ate cheeseburgers, chips and cookies, and some of the boys raced around the buoys in the kayaks that were on the beach.  It was refreshing to dive into the crisp water of Lake Michigan and to take a shower on the Island.  It was our last night of the trip, and we were worn out enough to sleep through a light storm during the night.

Leaving the Beaver

Captain Bob directs his sailors.



What a crew!
The indomitable Captain Isaac





The fearless Captain Ashton at the helm


Hoisting the main sail 
St. Helena Island

St. Helena Island Lighthouse
A trip on the dinghy

The Lighthouse 

A view of The Retriever from the beach
Can you guess what this is for? 
Ah. Showers.
Fueled by oil

The nob twisting challenge
A real challenge
Still trying
Another try
Not even a wrench could open that tank



The visionary Colin
The noble Matthew 
An old pump organ 
A beaver, a fox, and a coyote pelt 
Hands-on learning
Poor little fox 

Two hands-on learning
The lighthouse library
The spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse 

A view from above

The anchored Retriever

There she is







A beautiful orange and yellow flower


Who is that? 
It is none other than the stalwart Johnston.

Clearing away the brush 
Scrubbing the dock 
Good work!
  

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