The ZiggyCam will be live for the month long trip. With the exception of when anchored after dark (i.e. saving battery usage rather than broadcast a cam feed of the dark) or during a rare lack of cellphone signal the cam will be live 24/7 along with the chat room even miles offshore. The soft goal this year is to hit Mackinac Island and round Drummond Island at the top of Lake Huron before heading back home to Detroit.
Rich and Lenny headed out at about 11am to start their trek back home to New England and jane and I spent a wet day in Alpena.
We hit the showers and took advantage of a lull in the rain to wander up to the local laundromat and then do some shopping.
Alpena is a classic tiny midwestern industrial town. The hard times brought upon Michigan's democrat Governor's over taxing industry right out of the state has hit this area hard.
It still has a small town naivety that i like and the people are always friendly. The marina leaves bikes out unlocked for anyone to use and the bags of ice freezer is left unattended with the honor system.
That is a breath of fresh air compared to down state where you have to lock your door even when your home. Case in point my laptop that was stolen the day before this trip from my truck that was within sight the whole 2 minutes I left it.
Later we grabbed some marina bikes and wade our way up to 
the Latitudes bar 5 blocks from the marina in the rain. We partied there with a fellow boater and local madman Dave and all had a good time.
The ride back to the boat was a bit more spirited after over $50 in drinks and the boat felt warm and dry when we made it back.
The rain was relentless all day and left everything feeling damp before it was done. The bright side of it was that a week long dry spell was following the front for the sail home.