Detroit, MI

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

042-19.980 N
083-1.440 W

Ahoy from Detroit, MI!

I decided to write a quick trip report about Detroit to offset some negative reports that I've read from other cruisers. Detroit seems to have gotten a bad wrap about it being a dangerous place to stop, but we had a very nice, albeit short, stop there. We departed from Put-In-Bay yesterday morning with virtually no wind and glassy seas. What happened to those SW winds as we were headed almost due N?

Within a few hours we covered the remaining miles of Lake Erie and entered the Detroit River channel, which is a long, straight rock lined channel which separates the deep channel water from the shallow water on either side. The current flow down the river is quite strong, varying between 1 and 3 MPH and probably averaging 2 MPH. This made our trip a lot slower.

We did have an interesting altercation with a trawler who decided to pass between us and a large freighter who was going the opposite direction. Instead of waiting to pass once we were clear of the freighter, he went flying by at full speed throwing up a large wake that rolled us heavily from side to side. I told him via the VHF that he needed to learn some courtesy and get some common sense. Sue had some other advice for him...

The Detroit River is heavily industrial, but in its own way, beautiful. I may be weird, but I like to the gritty business of making things. This country sure could use a lot more of this and I was also surprised at how little air pollution was emanated. I had no idea that there were steel mills in Detroit. It makes sense, but for some reason I thought that they were in PA. You live and you learn! The Canadian side is also industrial, but it appears to be much more agricultural or mining based.

We had a nice view of Detroit as we passed by and we pulled into the Milliken State Park Marina which is about a mile N of the Renaissance Center. We had been told that MI had wonderful state run marinas, and I couldn't agree more. The marina had 52 nicely built slips that can handle boats up to 50'. The staff was very attentive and even offered to help carry our laundry to the FREE washer and drier! You'll find parks and a boardwalk that takes you along the river to the downtown area. We walked it and even watched "The Double" being filmed with Richard Gere and Martin Sheen. There were lots of people out enjoying the area and we never once felt ill at ease. Of course, we're used to being in Central and South America, where we're often the only white people around.

Today we're headed to St. Clair Shores, where this evening I'll catch up with some of my Michigan State friends who I haven't seen since they left the Boston area and headed back home. That should be fun!

-- Geoff & Sue

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For the cruiser: Dockage at Milliken State Park was $1/ft + $3 for a $40 boat. Dockside depths were about 8'. The bathrooms were very institutional, but clean. Free laundry!

Log ID: 1372