Detour Village

45.9945° N, 83.9028° W

Located on the shipping channel between Michigan’s Upper peninsula and Drummond Island, Detour Village is a good stop after exiting the North Channel. The DNR port of refuge is newish and well maintained. A outdoor covered area allows for docktails and potlucks. The harbour is well protected by a breakwater from the ferry running to Drummond Island and the lakers that pass by frequently. 

If you are down bound on the St Mary’s River, keep your AIS on and a lookout astern for lakers coming up behind you. They are up to speed and traveling at 12-13 knots. Certainly fast enough to overtake us at our pedestrian 7 knots.

Out of the marina parking lot and turn left to find the downtown, a few restaurants, churches, a grocery store and the Dollar General. The Dollar General carries a substantial grocery line. The grocery store has a meat counter with some pretty good looking meat. We picked up some thick cut pork chops that were good.

There were several looper boats in harbour, Gold loopers Sue and Bud Hansen were heading to the North Channel, Georgian Bay and the Trent-Severn which they missed during their loop because of covid. We joined then on Odyssey, an Ocean Alexander, for drinks and snacks as it was too cold to sit on the docks. There was also a Mainship Mark II with a flying a gold and platinum burgee. Apparently, they completed their loops in 1994 and 1996.