The Great Lakes

8-11-14

Drummond Island to Mackinac Island

We had a real good night for sleeping, cool weather and calm winds. Horst, Wendy and I drove the loaner car to the breakfast joint a couple miles away and returned to see if he was going to be able to work out leaving his boat here for the winter. He decided to go ahead and leave it and fly home. He gave us what cold food he didn't want and packed his stuff away. We have thoroughly enjoyed his company since Little Current and will miss traveling with him. We got a pump out and some fuel then headed off to Mackinac Island. I wanted to surprise Wendy with a stay in a Mackinac Island Hotel to get off the boat for a couple days. We were lucky and found a room and managed to get a spot in the marina. 

The ride to the island from the De Tour channel was a choppy one but we were headed down wind so it was a good ride. Once again our boat made the ride comfortable running about a 32mph cruise speed. 

We pulled into the marina and holy cow was it a choppy place. The wind was coming right into the marina and pushing the waves right in also. All the ferry traffic didn't help matters either. 

Edit: The vessel Sunshine behind us is a Looper also.

Rough as heck in the marina. Might be able to see the Ferry plowing into the harbor in the upper right corner of the pic. I guess that extra 1-200 yds they plow in makes all the difference in the world.

We humped our stuff to the room and walked around town. We decided to get dinner on the boat cause we had left overs to eat up. The place was crazy with people. Doesn't anybody work anymore? Retired to the room for a quiet night.

8-12-14

Mackinac Island

Today was going to be a complete washout. Forecast was for light rain on and off but mostly on. We didn't want to have our only full day here to be a wet one so we were going to stay another day.

Lots of rain and horse poop equals one lovely smell.

 We walked around the town and did some shopping, one of us shopped anyway, and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner out. Lazy was the plan for today.

8-13-14

Sunny day on Mackinac Island

I decided to go back to breakfast and get some biscuit and gravy at the same place we ate yesterday. Wish I hadn't. It was not good. Their pancakes are better. First thing we wanted to do was to rent bicycles and explore the rest of the island. Got 2 and headed around the island then decided to cut across middle, up a very long hill to the highest point on the island, almost to the other side. Then we turned around and went back to the other side just to finish the loop around the island.

Just got going and my butt already hurts.

The Arch from below

Where the British Landed to take the Island

The highest point from where the British got the U.S. to surrender the fort

The Arch from above.

The Fort from the top

The big Grand Hotel

 We got to see a lot of historical places about the War of 1812 plus the other cool sights. 3 hours later, and two sore butts, we turned them back in and ate leftovers for lunch. Relaxed the rest of the day for our trip the Charlevoix to get the boat serviced IF the weather cooperates. 

8-14-14
Mackinac Island to Charlevoix

We shoved off first thing in the morning with the winds blowing from the NW and we knew it was not going to be a very nice ride.

We had a much better video but it won't load.

 It was rough, but we slugged our way through it running into the waves at first but then we had to turn south and run with it kind of on our rear quarter. That 20 miles was the worst, with  a steady 3'-5' and several 6'-7' in there. On the run south, we scooped up a wave with the bow and it went right through the front curtain. It tore all the stitching right out. A couple hundred gallons of water shot right through the boat, everything soaked including us. Finally arrived in Charlevoix and the marina where we were staying didn't have a canvas shop but a local guy came down and picked up the curtain to fix it. To our surprise, about 3 hours later he showed back up with it repaired. And the price was right. Everybody we talked to later that traveled today said everything in their boat ended up on the floor. One boat said they laid over so far one time they scooped up water in their engine intake. With that taken care of, we put the dinghy in the water and headed over to the downtown area of Charlevoix. We were staying in a marina away from town cause they were going to haul the boat and service the engines in the morning. We saw Roger and Mary anchored in the bay area aboard the Ta Ta. They said there was a dock party with a couple other Loopers at 5:00 so we showed up for that. Got back after the dock party and walked up to the restaurant next to the marina and had dinner.

8-15-14 till 8-16-14

Charlevoix

Our first day was taken up by having the boat hauled to service the engines. Irish Boat works is a Verado certified Mercury dealer with haul out capabilities. While they were servicing the engines, we cleaned all the stain off of the bottom and gave it a wax job.

All spiffed up going back in

 It was an all day affair but she looked good afterwards.

I went to pay the bill and the service manager said come in the morning and he would have the bill figured up, sounded expensive. My back was give out. Barely moved the rest of the day. 

First thing in the morning I walked up to pay the bill and wish I hadn't. I was not happy to see it. They were over twice the amount for the same service we had done in N.Y. They said they were slow so I guess they were trying to make up for a bad summer on us. I mentioned it to him and he didn't seem to care. We were charged 9 hours of labor for a 4-5 hour job. Won't be going back there. We dinghyed over to town to see what was there and to see the Mushroom houses. Did some shopping on the sidewalk sale and actually got a good deal on 2 rain jackets we have been looking for. Back to the boat to cook dinner and crash. Still sore from yesterday and the raping we got today.

8-17-14

Charlevoix to Leland

With the weather much better, we pulled out in the morning and headed to Leland. The lake was much calmer. We were able to cruise at about 35mph and was in Leland pretty soon. It is a really cool little town. The marina is all new and everything is close by. Walked through town and stopped by the grocery store. 

Caught up with Roger and Mary on the Ta Ta

Our next loop boat.

Cool little water fall dam right in town.

Came back and had some people over for happy hour on the boat. Roger and Mary from the Ta Ta joined us for dinner at one of the restaurants. The little town was really hopping today.

8-18-14

Leland to Frankfort

Pulled out of Leland late and everybody else had already gone. A fast boat also makes you lazy. Get up late and still beat everybody to the next town. We are getting lazy. The ride to Frankfort was a calmer one. We got in close to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and got some pics and I wanted to go climb them. We saw some people at the top and bottom of the dunes and they looked like ants. They are pretty big.

 Pulled into Frankfort and after I did I wish we had kept on running cause tomorrow's weather didn't look so good. Got to bike into town in between rain storms, the marina had a couple loaner bikes. 

Cooked some pizza on the grille and hid in the cabin, the rains came again. Roger and Mary stopped by and said they did stop and climb the dunes, that made me angry, I wanted to.

8-19-14

Frankfort to Ludington

It was going to be a so so day to travel but we went for it anyway. Wasn't to bad once we got going, we ran right into the waves at first but later we turned around a point and they were coming from the side so it was a little better. We passed the Sunshine boat and their travel partners Wayne and Muriel on their boat. We first ran into them at Drummond Island when we all cleared customs and several times since.

Fog was the order of the day, all day.

 Stephanie and Paul on the Infinite Sea

Dom and Lois on the Sunshine

Wayne and Murial from Canada headed to Nashville

 Pulled into Ludington and was right next to the Infinite Sea with Stephanie and Paul. A little while later the Sunshine and the others pulled in. We walked into town to look around for a while and one of us did some shopping. Got to the boat and some of us went to town for dinner. 

There is a big ferry ship, the Badger, that runs from here to Manitowoc WI several times a day. It has been foggy as heck lately so whenever she comes in and out of the Port, she blows her fog horn. You can hear her coming for miles and she passes right by the marina so you can expect to be awake when she comes and goes. It was a really cool sight to see. Looks like a ghost ship passing by in the fog. Thought we might be staying another day, depending on weather, tomorrow's weather will dictate.

8-20-14

Ludington to Grand Haven

An OHV park we will have to find with the Rzr

After a couple early morning hellos from the Badger, we got up and the weather said we should go. We decided to go to Grand Haven. The run down was an easy one. 

Passed the Infinite Sea along the way and got a slip in the Municipal Marina right in front of the ice cream joint. Gotta love that. Walked around town and couldn't find a "supply" store, good thing the alcho-hold was stocked well.

 Went out for dinner so Wendy could get that Lasagna she has been craving. Went back and hung out with the Infinite Sea crew on their boat to watch the lighted musical fountain across the river.

 It was a nice show. Once again went to bed not knowing what tomorrow's weather would bring.

8-21-14

Grand Haven to South Haven

We were actually able to get up and get going almost early. Pulled out to calm water and putted for several miles until the wind picked up a little so we picked up the pace and got to South Haven before the storm that was coming across the lake. Finally got a spot and pulled into the marina right next to several other Loopers. 

Serenity Now, who we first saw In Fenelon Falls.

Charis, saw them in Orillia and the Infinite Sea, who apparently
has a whole IT department in the boat. Thanks again for the boat cards.

Thanks Dad, first time meeting them.

And the Fruitcakes, first time meeting also. And no, I am not

calling them names, it is the boat name.

Later on we all gathered in the club house for a docktail party. Before that Paul and Stephanie called us over the their boat and actually made us some boat cards. Is that awesome or what. We have been talking about getting them but could never remember to order them. What was even more amazing was that they had everything on their boat to do it, printer, card paper, computer. Way more technology advanced than us. I did offer to rebuild his engine if it needed it right there, that I can do. We certainly appreciate what they did.

 A little while later, my brother and his wife showed up from there business trip in Wisconsin. They were headed to Ohio and then home to Florida. We went out for dinner and called it a day. 

8-22-14

South Haven to Hammond In.

We decided to just head across the lake due to the weather looking good. It was an 80 mile journey but it didn't take long. We putted for about 10 miles out and then set the cruise around 33 and ran till we were about 18 mile out of Hammond and then putted some more to save some fuel.

 The weather stayed calm the whole ride. We were there in no time. Was a little hazy which blocked our view of the Windy City.

Pulled into the marina and walked the 5 miles to the office and the price was right, 40 bucks. Saw the Atla coming in and he docked right next to us. We saw Steve in Orillia and Perry Sound. 

Boat-In casino, I like it.

Cooked dinner a little later, cleaned up and hit the casino right in the marina. Lost a couple dollars, mainly paying $5.00 for a beer, and called it quits. Going to try and stay in Chicago tomorrow. 

8-23-14

Hammond to Chicago

No need to hurry this morning, only had 12 miles to go. We pulled out after the fog looked like it was going to burn off. We made it exactly half way and the fog met us and was thick as soup. Turned on the radar and literally had to drive with it around several boats and into the marina. We were in the marina before we could see it.

It actually got a little clearer as we approached

the harbor. We came up on this cruiser on the

lake and was about 100' from him when we 

could actually see him. Wendy was watching

around us and I was watching the radar. That is the city right in front of him.

 Being the weekend, all the locals were out partying on the dock. Looked noisy but a big storm came and chased them all inside their boats. They were a friendly bunch, one guy told us where we could go to find the restaurants. Cleared up later so Wendy and I decided to walk into town, or city I should say, to a restaurant and to see if we could find some supplies. Ate a good dinner and hauled our supplies back to the boat about 2 miles. The weather was kind of crappy so we turned in early. Not much excitement, other than the boat ride here.