posted 08-28-2012 09:45 PM ET (US)        

-Friday Night Dinner at Pier 33 on the Cheboygan River. It is a new restaurant located where M33 crosses the river. It is easily accessed by both boat and car and has plenty of dock space.

-Saturday the traditional cruise starting at my dock to Alanson via Indian River, Burt Lake and the Crooked River.

-Saturday Evening dinner at my cottage for a fun evening of Whaler talk, pictures and good times.

-Sunday Morning more boating “As the spirits move us”

So who is in for this year?

posted 08-29-2012 12:28 PM ET (US)            

Pat

posted 08-31-2012 08:56 PM ET (US)            

We'll be bringing up either the 21 or the 25. If it's the 25, we'll have room...

posted 09-02-2012 02:01 PM ET (US)            

In the past we have made our Saturday boating trip on Mullet Lake, through Indian River, into Burt Lake, into the Crooked River, and to Alanson for lunch, and then return by the same route. If the weather were ideal on this Fall's chosen Saturday, perhaps we could consider an alternative course.

The alternative would require some light winds and calm seas, but how about launching in Cheybogan, north of the dam, and heading out to sea? We could make a loop course from Cheboygan, to Bois Blanc Island, thence to Mackinaw Island. I bet there would be dock space at Mackinaw to stop for a break ashore. I don't suggest going out for lunch here.

Or we could visit the Mackinac Straits Marina--it would surely be empty in October and we could tie up there and walk to the little Bar in Mackinaw City. (I think the name is Keys Bar as it has a million keys on the walls. We have had a good burger there.) Then we could return via the shoreline course to Cheboygan.

This sort of trip might be a possible variation from the usual plan.

Another alternative might be to explore the Black River. I have been upstream in the Black River from its confluence with the Cheboygan River, but only for a mile or two.

I do enjoy motoring down the river--especially now that I get 10-MPG while doing it--but I just thought we might consider something different this year, if the weather cooperates and gives us a dead-flat calm Lake Huron on Saturday.

Course A:

Cheboygan Marina Ramp, around Bois Blanc on North shore, stop Mackinaw Island, around Bois Blanc South shore, return = 43-miles.

Course B: (traditiona)

Cheboygan River launch at "The Narrows", upstream to Mullet Lake, Indian River, Burt Lake, Crooked River, and Alanson, then return = 56-miles

posted 09-04-2012 11:42 AM ET (US)            

The Black River would take all of 30 minutes to do, you can only go a few miles before you run out of navigable water.

posted 09-04-2012 06:51 PM ET (US)            

Paying attention....but there's only a small chance I'll make it this year...it's a long drive for a day of boating.

posted 09-05-2012 03:48 PM ET (US)            

Yes, I remember you launching and retrieving from the site on the northwest corner of Mullett. However, I launch and retrieve my Revenge from The Forks. The Forks is a relatively new DNR site at the confluence of the Cheboygan and the Black Rivers. It is plenty deep has lots of parking and three launch lanes.. From there it is a 30 minute run to Mullett Lake..

On the way to Mullett Lake from The Forks you pass Pier 33 the restaurant that we are dining at on Friday night. Pier 33 is about 10 minutes from The Forks and 20 minutes from Mullett Lake. Dockage at Pier 33 is plentiful with 20 guest slips.

posted 09-05-2012 04:47 PM ET (US)            

But it is a bit of a slow ride upstream from there to the Lake if you really hold to no-wake speed.

I am hoping for really nice weather, and calm seas on Friday so we can tie up to the dock or anchor out--we have so many boats now we might have to anchor out!

posted 09-05-2012 05:41 PM ET (US)            

http://outdoormichigan.org/feature/9938

Was not there a song about paving paradise to put up a parking lot? ;-)

It's a great ramp and I'm paid ahead also.

posted 09-06-2012 11:17 PM ET (US)            

We stopped at Pier 33 Tuesday afternoon, very pleasantly surprised, nice restaurant, plenty of docks.

Some info from the other end of the waterway: Bob's Place in Alanson closed October 30, 2011, shortly after the last Mullett Rendezous. We learned that the hard way as we pulled on the door handle yesterday afternoon, then noticed the note on the door. There are still lunch options, the Alanson Depot Restaurant and a BC Pizza on the other side of US 31 and slightly south of Bob's Place.

We spent Tuesday and Wednesday this week on the Inland Waterway. Yesterday we passed zero boats on the Crooked River all the way from Burt Lake to Alanson and back. Wish I had known that while we were in the "resume responsible boating" zones, I would've went much faster around the corners.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FNwF2Nun4&feature=plcp

posted 09-16-2012 11:01 PM ET (US)            

djahncke Don, Elsa & Lily (Revenge 22 / Dauntless 17)
JimH Jim & Chris (Revenge 22)
HomeAside Pat (Revenge 22)
hmm do I detect a trend here?
Moose Steve, Mary & Willy (Outrage 21)
Hooiser Dave & Kathy (Walkaround 21)
Mateobosch Matt & Carmen (Moutauk 17)
dfmcintyre Don & Gail (Outrage 21)

So by my count that is 13 people and 2 dogs.

Still to commit:

Kevin
Jeff
Con & Martha
Pete
John Raby

We need to have someone bring a projector so that we can have our traditional slide show on a bed sheet.

How many of you expect to make it in time for the dinner Friday night? I want to give Pier 33 an approximate count.

posted 09-19-2012 05:56 PM ET (US)            

Matt - sorry to hear that you and Carmen won't be able to make it.

Moose - I will check to see if we have a hull stretcher in the Ship Yard.

posted 09-29-2012 11:31 AM ET (US)            

SO - we do see some daylight - she is elegible to retire March, 2013 and I am advocating that option for sure. She likes, loves her work so I don't want to get in the way of that.

Unless something changes - we are out.

posted 10-02-2012 12:05 PM ET (US)            

Mary and I are going to pull out. We've been watching the weather and it appears it's not setting up well. Being without an E-tec that I could instantly winterize for Saturday night was one of the factors that made the decision for us. The way our boating luck often works if we stay home the weather will come around and be pretty nice for those that make it up there.

posted 10-04-2012 06:56 PM ET (US)            

Have fun and stay warm!. Burt Lake will be a fun run across!

posted 10-04-2012 08:01 PM ET (US)            

Elsa and I came up to Mullett yesterday. The weather was great today and we went to Pier 33 for lunch by boat.

The weather forecasts for this weekend are not the best we have ever had for this gathering. But, the colors in the trees are the best we've seen for this gathering. The trees are turning early this year it promises to a colorful cruise.

Elsa and I were thinking that 6:30 would be a good time for dinner at Pier 33. I will be calling them to setup a table for 9 people.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone.

posted 10-04-2012 08:16 PM ET (US)            

Elsa, is the anything else you would like us to bring? Breakfast casserole is in the oven, will pick up the nutty donut holes on our way thru TC and have packed the coffee thermos.

posted 10-04-2012 09:27 PM ET (US)            

Thanks for checking, I think we are all set. We appreciate what you are already bringing.

posted 10-04-2012 09:27 PM ET (US)            

Thanks for checking, I think we are all set. We appreciate what you are already bringing.

posted 10-04-2012 10:01 PM ET (US)            

See everyone tomorrow,

posted 10-05-2012 10:53 AM ET (US)            

Don't write me off for this event in the future, it's been one of my favorites for sure!

Regards,

posted 10-06-2012 06:56 PM ET (US)            

We got to the ramp on the North end of the lake and got the boat in the water just as the brilliant sunshine began to fade a bit in some gray clouds coming in from the Northwest. We moved the boat over to Don's dock at ByBrook, where it spent a quiet night on the hoist.

For dinner we went to PIER 33 and had a delightful setting at the Captains' Table. Everyone raved about their meals. The chef there previously worked in a very well-known, expensive, and respected restaurant in the Detroit area. The food was great.

On Saturday morning we got off to a slow start, but by 11:30 a.m. all the boats were in the water and headed for Indian River in strong sunshine. We had a nice cruise, hugging the West shore of Mullet Lake to stay out of the 15-MPH West wind. We proceeded to Indian River where we had lunch at the Inn-Between. After lunch we proceeded upstream to Burt Lake, but it was a mess of white caps, wind, and waves. We turned around, headed back to Indian River, and then back to ByBrook. We got back to the dock about 4:30 p.m., with the sun still shining. We had no rain at all, and many people thought this year's weather was great. The cold air temperatures brought out a lot of Fall colors in the foliage.

posted 10-08-2012 08:21 PM ET (US)            

This morning the first thing that Lily did was run upstairs to try and find were all of her friends went!

posted 10-08-2012 09:24 PM ET (US)            

Salad: Spinach salad with hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, bean sprouts, sliced almonds, red cabbage, and a sweet and sour dressing:

Bread: Crostini with warm roasted garlic cloves to spread, or whipped butter for the less adventurous;

Main Course; Beef tenderloin with peppercorn crust and sauteed mushrooms and onions, with a very tangy horseradish sauce on the side;

Side Dishes: Baked potato with whipped butter and sour cream, and roasted Brussels sprouts;

Dessert: Fine Swiss Lindor Chocolate Truffles, Montauk cookies, and Ghiradelli Dark Chocolates

A variety of red and white wine was available on the side table.

posted 10-08-2012 10:00 PM ET (US)            

Glad you guys dodged the weather. Sounded like you were having a fine time at the Inn-Between when we spoke.

posted 10-10-2012 08:14 AM ET (US)            

The weather was dodgy--and we did dodge around all the big rain cells. And the sun came out and warmed up the crews. Once underway with the canvas up and in the sun, it got so warm that I had to take off three layers of clothing to avoid getting overheated. It was really quite pleasant.

My idea of perhaps getting out into Lake Huron and heading toward Mackinaw was not practical this weekend. There were big winds and big waves on the open water--even on Mullet Lake there were some three-footers when I ran the boat over to ByBrook from the launch ramp on Friday.

posted 10-10-2012 10:26 PM ET (US)            

I did some research on this topic and found the following authoritative source of information on Topinabee as a place name:

The tome Indian Place Names in Michigan, by Virgil J. Vogel has the following reference to Topinabee:

quote:

---

During the first third or more of the nineteenth century no Potawatomi chief had more authority or distinction than Topenebee or Topinabee. His home band lived on the St. Joseph River in Berrien and Cass counties, but the town of Topinabee, which commemorates him, is in Cheboygan Country, far to the north. It was named in 1881 by a hotel operator who platted the village.

---

Source: http://books.google.com/books?id=T5d5wS7so14C&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58& dq=topinabee+%2B+1881&source=bl&ots=VbLdtZRosy& sig=dgvZyN7LDgAZurzFzV6XLWfomx4&hl=en&ei=Fa81Su3jIZ_cM_aOlJ4K&sa=X& oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=topinabee%20%2B%201881& f=false