Hey everyone! Guess what? We stumbled upon another incredible harbor called Roger City! Have you ever felt like you’ve been to a place before, only to realize it’s totally new? Well, I thought we were here years ago when we took our kids on a three-week cruise on Boatniks. But I got confused with a different place. This harbor is amazing!

Bryce crafted a 3D umbrella holder for the stanchions in the hard top area to keep my pink umbrella from getting too sunny. After relaxing for a while, we walked to the Save A Lot grocery store, which is just two blocks from the marina. However, we first went for lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. They had a delicious lunch buffet.

As we strolled through the town, we stumbled upon a captivating mural that simply enchanted me.

Look at how massive that propeller is! I can hardly fathom the size of the vessel it belonged to. Darn, I can easily hold our propellers in my hands. Haha!

An American Great Lake self-unloading freighter met its tragic end in a Lake Michigan storm on November 18, 1958. Out of the 35 crew members, a devastating loss of 33 lives occurred in the sinking. Among the victims were 23 individuals from the port town of Roger City, Michigan. The probable cause of the sinking was structure failure, which was likely attributed to the brittle steel used in her construction and its extensive use throughout her 31-year career. For an impressive 22 years, she held the prestigious title of “Queen of the Lakes,” proudly serving as the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes. Roger City is another great place to learn about history, it’s like stepping back in time!

Well, I had no idea what the Great Lakes Maritime Trail was until Bryce mentioned it and shared his knowledge with me. I heard in Alpena, Michigan, that they have glass-bottom boats that take you out to show you some shipwrecks. If the weather permits, we’ll be stopping by Alpena on our way home. Roger City and Presque Isle State Harbor both have these Maritime posters hanging on their beautiful harbor wall, which allows us to see all these neat areas of shipwrecks. If you can tap on the picture and expand it, you’ll learn about W.G. Mason, Duncan City, and Chester B. Jones.

There are places where you can snorkel and see shipwrecks. We had no idea that we could do this here in the Great Lakes.

This small section of the break wall is an excellent place to walk. We’ve probably walked it twice already. This trip is definitely helping us get our exercise.

The break wall is right there, as far as you can see. And if you have your step tracker on, you’ll definitely get your steps in!

I guess smaller sailboats can take care of their own masts. This mast stepper can lift up to 1200 pounds. It was such a nice little stopover. We’re both learning a ton about the area.

This cute patriot arm will guide you to their charming town of Roger City if you turn right and start walking. You can also spot a beach if you look towards the water.

This is a free-flowing water area where fresh water enters the marina. Most of the marinas we’ve visited are super clean and have crystal-clear water.

While out walking, be careful not to get any surprises on your head!

Hammond Bay State Harbor

After leaving Roger City, we drove up to Hammond Bay. The checking-in process was a bit of a hassle. If you don’t book a day in advance, you have to use a yellow phone hanging on the wall outside the building. You can’t use your own phone, and the Harbor master can’t accept your payment or make a reservation. This can be a bit of a concern for late arrivals, as safety is a top priority. Despite its peaceful atmosphere, it’s important to be aware that anything can happen in the dark. Interestingly, it’s known as a certified Harbor of refuge.

I stepped onto the narrow dock and froze, like an ice cube. Panic started to creep in. Bryce asked me what was wrong, but I couldn’t move. He took my hand and led me off the dock. I just wanted to cry. I had a deep-seated fear of falling off the dock. I ended up staying on the boat all day, but the thunderstorms made it easy to do so.

Well, this blog has come to an end and we are now heading up to Cheboygan. Thanks for reading and following our blog. 🌷

You can also see our tracks on; https://trackmytour.com/g366T