Choosing Peace Over Pace

Homeward Bound — Day Ten

The skies finally cleared. The wind behaved. And for the first time in what felt like forever… the lake was gentle. We sailed from Leland to Charlevoix wrapped in calm water and sunshine, and for the first time, pivoting didn’t feel like surrender; it felt like freedom. Charlevoix hadn’t been part of the original plan, but after watching a YouTube video a few days earlier, something inside me whispered, Go there.  So we changed course.

And honestly? It felt meant to be.

The moment we arrived, I fell in love. Charlevoix felt warm and welcoming, vibrant but peaceful, like it had been waiting for us to simply slow down. For once, we didn’t rush. We let ourselves enjoy it.

Sunshine, Dragging Anchors, and Happy Accidents

We spent the afternoon anchored right in the heart of Lake Charlevoix, soaking up sun and waterfront life like we’d been dropped into a postcard. Reading, relaxing, breathing… just being.  If it weren’t for the girls back home, I swear I’d pack up life and move there.

Eventually I noticed shore getting suspiciously closer. Yep. We were dragging. When Tom pulled the anchor up, we discovered we’d snagged an abandoned anchor. Of course we did. 😂 We laughed, sighed, and shifted over to the day dock to regroup.

Later, locals pointed us toward a peaceful inlet deeper in the lake a quiet, protected, and loved by boaters. It sounded perfect. And it was beautiful. A tucked-away pocket of calm shared with three other sailboats, like our own tiny floating neighbourhood.

But by nightfall the wind had other plans. The inlet wasn’t as protective as promised and our poor anchor fought a hard fight it couldn’t fully win. The alarm kept going off. The wind moaned. I stayed awake in the cockpit again, watching the night, watching our distance, watching every shadow shift across the water. By morning, we’d dragged about 80 feet.

It wasn’t peaceful sleep… but somehow it still felt like part of the experience.

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The Days That Didn’t Feel Like Traveling at All

(Homeward Bound-ish — Days 11, 12, 13 & 14)

When morning came, we tucked ourselves into the day docks. Tom and Ryleigh happily wandered, mingled, and soaked in marina life while I crashed into the kind of sleep your body practically begs you for. Then I joined them, rested, calmer, ready to simply enjoy.

And oh, did Charlevoix deliver.

We met people. So many incredible humans. Sailors. Locals. Adventurers. Scientists, all with fascinating stories who’d discovered and explored remarkable things. People drawn to Agra2, to our Canadian flag, Agra2's design, to our story; and suddenly strangers became friends in the simplest, most beautiful way.

I started casually researching anchors and rode lengths, realizing that while our anchor was the right size, our chain wasn’t nearly enough. One more lesson from the lake. One more thing to grow into.

We anchored two more nights. The winds were kinder; the anchor held. I still slept in the cockpit, because anxiety doesn’t magically vanish, but there was a softness now. A trust beginning to build. Mornings became slow and cozy at the day docks. Life shrunk down to simple comforts. No generator. No solar. Just us, a barbecue, a propane stove, flashlights, tiny personal fans for white noise, battery packs, and quiet. Like camping; something I never thought I’d enjoy, and yet somehow I felt incredibly at peace.

I wasn’t just living with less.

I was feeling more.

The Kind of Place That Stays With You

On the evening of Day Fourteen, we tucked into a slip to recharge batteries and so I could have a decent night's sleep before leaving. A storm system was on its way, and as much as my heart wanted to stay longer, we knew we needed to move on before we got stuck here longer than planned.

Charlevoix wasn’t just a stop. It was a pause. A reset. A reminder.

A reminder that this journey isn’t just about miles traveled… it’s about moments you actually sit still long enough to feel.

Sometimes peace finds you. Sometimes you have to pivot to meet it halfway.

⚓💙

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June 26 ➜ June 30, 2024

Leland, MI ➜ Charlevoix, MI

Anchor: Oyster Bay

Marina: Charlevoix Marina

33.3 Nautical Miles

321.9 Total NM