Beaver Island is our waypoint on the way to Manistique from Petoskey. Out in the middle of the northern part of Lake Michigan it has special significance to us because we had planned to stop here two times earlier on our transit from Mackinac Island in 2017 and again this year from St Ignace. In both cases the winds/waves/weather were not favorable for making the turn west at Grays Reef and we ended up missing this stopover.
The only way to get here is by private boat or the daily ferry ride from Charlevoix. With one grocery store and some B&B's the atmosphere of this small seaside community is quiet and relaxing.
Our stay coincides with an annual "Homecoming" gathering of a dozen or so boaters from Michigan and Wisconsin that come back to visit with their friends who live on the island and the docktails and stories make our stop welcoming.
The daily ferry is the only other way to get to the island and it's arrival is accompanied by shouts and cheers from those on board to their friends at the docks. It's a homey place.
Some of the things that come and go by ferry have stories to tell.
Another classic beauty!
