Cottage Kivela

St. Martin’s Bay and the Kivela Cottage

The weather gods shined on us once again as glassy calm seas accompanied us across the channel and around Mackinac Island to St Martin’s Bay where Ras Tanura friends,  Jeanette and Alan Kivela, have a cottage overlooking the bay. Since we had had no weather delays we were able to see the Kivelas before they had to leave for a family get-together further West and we had to check in for our reserved spot in Mackinac Island harbor. What a treat to anchor off shore and invade their beautiful “cottage” – like the cottages we have seen in other places this is not a simple structure but a spacious and gracious two-story chalet with double detached garage and freestanding sauna.  They have manicured the gardens to make a beautiful lake front retreat where they kindly welcomed us.  We received enthusiastic welcomes from two of their grandchildren, Colin and Sienna, who were visiting them. The children’s youthful energy and creativity brought back memories – long in the past – of our own kids at that age.  How did we ever keep up? Two better kids than these would be hard to find and they were kind to share their grandparents with us.  We talked through hours, delicious meals, car rides, and boat trips.  We also got a ride in the new Kivela boat which was perfect for exploring the islands on the North shore where our boat cannot easily go. From both the land and waterside we saw Hessel and Cedarville Marinas and St. Ignace across the bay. With the beautiful shores, towering trees and fresh air, it is easy to see why so many people summer in this area of the Great Lakes.

 

 TOO CUTE!

 

 

 

 

 

While we have our Aramco years in common with the Kivelas, we are also both a little nomadic these days. The life on Erben Renewal is remarkably similar to the life Kivelas enjoy with their spacious fifth-wheel which we got to tour. At some point we may trade up to a land yacht ourselves to explore the parts of the world without waterfront. In addition, Jeanette and Alan took us into Sault St. Marie to the Honda outboard motor repairman when our dink motor died on their beach.  They almost had to tow us out to the boat on their jet skis, but borrowing Alan’s outboard got us back for the night.  In our brief visit to the Soo we were able to make a run into Wal-Mart for oil, get the car washed and visit the famous Soo locks that connect Lake Huron via St. Mary’s River with Lake Superior. As a result of this jaunt, we have seen all the lakes except Ontario on this trip. Plus, the magic repairman fixed our motor in record time so we made it back to St. Martin’s for a boat trip before a whitefish dinner. After a pancake breakfast we putt-putted across the bay to the resort island of Mackinac.