Tuesday, August 27: Frankfort to Ludington, MI

Date:                           August 27, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     134

From:                          Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI
                                       
To:                               Harbor View Marina, Ludington, MI

Statute Miles:              54.0 SM

Time:                           5.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       3,127.7 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We are in Ludington, MI tonight, about halfway down the "Mitten".

Thunderstorms came through about 2:00 in the morning and woke us up. Wake up call was at 5:30. The first thing I did was check the weather and saw two big clusters of thunderstorms as far back West as Minnesota, moving to the East. No travel for a while this morning.

We watched the storms on radar all morning. We identified the final cluster and made plans to leave as soon as that passed Frankfort. The last line passed and it stopped raining at 11:30. We were off the dock at 11:45 and headed out the harbor. The forecast was for 0-1' then maybe 2' seas all the way down the coast. It actually turned into a pretty decent day until 2:00. The wind started to pick up and the waves got bigger. The wind was from the South and the waves were from the same direction. We handled the waves up to 3' fairly well. We didn't handle the 5 and maybe 6 footers well. For the first time on this trip, the boat would go airborne and crash down as waves came at us. Not good.

We played this game for more than two hours. Susan and Maggie hunkered down on the back seat on the Flybridge. I tried to hang on in the helm chair. It rained off and on and spray constantly came over the fly bridge. The wind blew out our port side curtain on the flybridge, which was hanging on with a broken zipper anyway.

We passed a 22 foot aluminum boat out in this mess. He was really struggling in the waves, and we were really close to shore. We also passed a 40' sailboat under power that was also struggling in the high waves. The harbor break wall and entrance came into view and we turned to make a run to get inside. This put us broadside to the waves, and we  really rolled. A big boat went into the harbor just in front of us and he had to move way over to get around a small aluminum fishing boat, maybe 16' long, who was right in the middle of the entrance to the harbor at the break wall. He was in calm water just inside the jetties, but he was in the middle of the entrance. I was struggling to steer in the huge waves and had to deal with this guy!

I blew a long blast on my horn and this did no good. I managed to get the boat way over to the left side of the entrance and got into the harbor, narrowly missing the small boat. I then called the Coast Guard Station at Ludington on the VHF radio and reported the guy as a hindrance to navigation. I have had it with idiot fishermen in these lakes. They deserve what they get!

We refueled and got a Pump out then got our slip. As soon answer powered up the shore power and turned the air conditioning on, it went off on a high pressure malfunction. I had to down into the engine room and clean out grass and fish from the raw water strainer for the A/C pump. This was the second time in two days that I had to dot his because of all the grass in Betsie Lake in Frankfort. Just what I wanted to do after a frazzling day on the water.

Our marina is right next to the big car ferry ship named "Badger" that goes between Ludington and Manitowoc, WI each day. This is a 60 mile trip each way. She came into Ludington about 6:30, then left back out just before 9:00 tonight heading back to Wisconsin. This ship is used by big commercial vehicles as well as cars. The ferry is the only alternative to driving down to Chicago and then back North to Wisconsin. It is an older ship that still has a coal fired boiler that provides steam to power the vessel. The boiler and the ship are on the National Historic Register. Environmental groups are trying to shut this ship down because it leaves coal ash in the air over the Lake.

Car Ferry "Badger " in Ludington, MI just before starting a run to Manitowac, WI

Car Ferry "Badger"

Coal Smoke Pouring From the Badger's Stack

We ate dinner at a local brew pub. It was vey good. Tomorrow we head back out for a 66 mile trip to Grand Haven, MI.

Thanks for Reading!

Monday, August 26: Weather Day in Frankfort but Better Days are Ahead!!

Date:                           August 26, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     133

From:                          Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI
                                       
To:                               Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                           0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       3,073.7 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Another weather day in Frankfort, MI. We woke this morning to thunderstorms and hard rain. The front passed about mid morning and by the early afternoon, the wind had died down and the sun came out.

Susan did laundry this morning. The Laundromat was down the street from the marina, and we got the cart down and she hauled the wash down using this cart. Thanks Amanda and Ben!

After lunch we took the cart and back packs to the grocery store down the street. It is very close to the marina, and it is a very good store. We stocked up on heavy goods such as water and cokes since we had the cart. It was a good shopping trip.

Weather looks OK for tomorrow, and it gets better each day at least through Friday. So, we bit the bullet and made our marina reservations through Labor Day. We actually got into the marina that we wanted in Chicago, and we will be there Friday afternoon if the weather holds. We will leave Chicago on Tuesday of next week.

Tomorrow we are headed out early for a 50 mile run to Ludington, MI. Looks like the waves will be OK, but we may see some thunderstorms. We are really ready to get South.

Thanks for Reading!

Sunday, August 25: Please Pass the Salt

Date:                           August 25, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     132

From:                          Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI
                                       
To:                               Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                           0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       3,073.7 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We stayed in Frankfort, MI today because of high winds and waves in Lake Michigan. The winds came across Betsie Lake where we are docked, and hit us from the stern all day. We retied the boat and added another bow line to lesson the "to and fro" movement of the boat, but it was still very rocking and rolling. Susan was more than ready to get off the boat to go to dinner.

We found Frankfort to be a very charming town. With just the one main street heading East and West along the shore of Betsie Lake, there are still plenty of restaurants and shops to explore. The West end of Main Street terminates into a beach on Lake Michigan.

Dinner was at an excellent place called Dinghy's. It is small, but has a lot of atmosphere. It is decorated as a maritime bar and restaurant. The food was very good, and we will surely go back. They feature Barbeque, and Susan had ribs. I had pulled pork nachos.

After dinner we walked down a few blocks to the beach on Lake Michigan. The high waves were pounding the break walls that form the outer harbor before you go into Betsie Lake. It was easy to see tonight how important the break walls are to these harbors along both coasts of Michigan.

Looking South along Lake Michigan

Rough Seas on lake Michigan

Looking North along the Beach

Looking North along the Beach

The harbor entrance from Lake Michigan

Sand Dunes to the North of the Beach

Light house at harbor entrance

Waves from Lake Michigan crashing against the break wall

We were treated to a beautiful sunset over the far side of Lake Michigan. It was too far to see the Wisconsin shoreline which is about 65-70 miles West, but the sun surely did set over Wisconsin!

DAY IS DONE!!!!

The town of Frankfort has really done a good job with the beach area. North of the harbor break walls is a huge beige sand beach that, except for the color of the sand, rivals some beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. The waves from Lake Michigan were very big this evening and there were a lot of swimmers, paddle boarders, and kite surfers in the water. There is a concrete sidewalk along the beach, and the Town has placed benches along the sidewalk for old farts like us to use to sit and watch the water. Just beyond the beach area, the big sand dunes come right down to the water.

We sat on a bench along the sidewalk and watched the sunset. Here is where our senses played tricks on us. The picture is this for those of you who are familiar with beaches along the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts: beach sand; wind blowing in your face; waves crashing on the beach; the sound of waves crashing on the beach; the sun gently setting on the horizon; the colors of the sunset both on the horizon and among the clouds in the sky. Ah, but what is missing we ask? Please pass the salt! We were missing the smell and the sticky feel of the salt air. To both of us, this missing ingredient was so integral to what we know as a true beach experience, that our senses just would not trigger the fact that we were at the beach! Are we truly creatures of habit?

Wind in your face!

Waves Crashing!

The setting on the Horizon!

The colors of the sunset!

The colors of the sunset

Where is the salt air?????

Tomorrow we are staying in Frankfort. Winds and waves are too high to be out on the Lake. You know it is bad when they cancel the last day of their fishing tournament which they actually did at the Marina this morning. More rocking and rolling for tomorrow.

Thanks for Reading!

Saturday, August 24: Petoskey to Frankfort, MI: We go Over the 3,000 Mile Markon Our Trip!

Date:                           August 24, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     131

From:                          Petoskey Harbor Marina, Petoskey, MI
                                       
To:                               Frankfort Municipal Marina, Frankfort, MI

Statute Miles:              91.9 SM

Time:                           9.25 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       3,073.7 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We traveled 92 miles today and tonight we are in Frankfort, MI.

On the other side of the "Michigan Mitten" about a third of the way down the Lake Michigan coast

Another milestone was achieved on today's trip. We have cruised over 3,000 miles on "Blue Moon" on our Great Loop adventure. Tonight we are feeling every mile of it, too. This was another long day. We felt like we had to do it because not only was today a good weather day, but it may be the last good day until this coming Wednesday. The forecast is for very high waves in Lake Michigan, including some in the 6-8' range.

Our departure from Petoskey this morning came right at sunrise. Once out of the harbor, we dodged fishing boats trolling for God knows what out in Little Traverse Bay. One guy trolled right in front of our boat, crossing our path close enough to spit on him. He pointed to his lines as if to say "don't run over these". I threw up both hands in response. He then just put his boat in neutral and dared me to run over his lines. What a jerk!

Departing Petoskey this morning after getting past the fishermen

The seas were calm enough for the most part. Making the 10 mile or so crossing of Grand Traverse Bay was pretty rough. The wind was blowing out of the Bay into Lake Michigan and we were on the weather side of a long fetch. Once past this big bay and back in the Lee of the land, it was OK.

Seas today

View out of the Front Door this Morning

We saw a huge yacht making its way North out in the ship channel. Looking at the AIS, its name was "Blue Moon". I googled her and found out she is a big 198' long mega yacht and is owned by a wealthy Chicago business man. And she is available for charter for $375,000 per week plus expenses. Such a deal!

Mega Yacht "Blue Moon" cruising North on Lake Michigan near Leland, MI

We passed the famous sand dunes of Lake Michigan. We were running with the Isinglass zipped down because it was so cold, and we really couldn't get real clear pictures, but these brown sand cliffs were pretty impressive. Some are as high as 450'!

Huge sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Point

Tall sand dunes along the coast

Very tall dunes along Platte Bay

Brown Sand Dunes North of Frankfort, MI

Vista of Sand Dunes

Frankfort is in a protected natural harbor called Betsie Bay. We are at the municipal marina docked bow-in. There is a big fishing tournament here this weekend. (I hope I don't see that jerk from Petoskey down here.) They are fishing for Salmon. The docker told us that someone caught a 34 pound Salmon yesterday. And I thought all these guys were fishing for perch!!!

The lighthouse at the entrance to Frankfort Harbor, MI

Heading into Frankfort Harbor, MI

The Municipal Marina at Frankfort, MI

The Municipal Marina at Frankfort, MI

We are in Frankfort for the next few days anyway.

Thanks for Reading!

Friday, August 23: Doing Petoskey

Date:                           August 23, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     130

From:                          Petoskey Harbor Marina, Petoskey, MI
                                       
To:                               Petoskey Harbor Marina, Petoskey, MI

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                           0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       2,981.8 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We stayed in Potoskey today to check out the town some more. I found a barber shop and got a much needed haircut. Susan and I enjoyed walking through all the shops in this delightful town.

Marina in Petoskey on a beautiful day

Marigolds were planted at the base of all the trees downtown

A beautiful park in the downtown area near the marina

Looking down the hill at Little Traverse Bay

Little Traverse bay in the background on a beautiful day

City park right in the heart of downtown Petoskey

There were a bunch of tourists here, as this is a very big vacation area for the region. Across Little Traverse Bay is the town of Harbor Springs which is also a big vacation town. Both Petoskey and Harbor Springs are quaint towns with lots of shopping downtown.

We picked up a small print of the four lighthouses on the shoals between here and Mackinaw City. This was done by a local artist. We navigated our course around these light houses out in the middle of the Lake the other day coming in from Mackinaw, so it will be a nice keepsake. Susan finally found a tee shirt with a Great Lakes theme that she liked. So, it was a nice day.

We did Docktails with three other Looper couples from "Barefootin' ", "Raydiance", and "Passport". "Raydiance" had just come from cruising Lake Superior where they had met our friends Doug and Jan on "Day Dreams" from Toledo who are doing a 4 month cruise on Lake Superior with another boat. "Passport" has completed the Loop. "Barefootin' " was at the Rendezvous in Norfolk. They are from the St. Petersburg area and have a standard size schnauzer named Heidi who also partook of the Docktail adventure! We enjoyed getting to know these Loopers. Thanks for the company!

We are on to Frankfort, MI tomorrow. It looks like a good cruising day to go the 90 miles down the coast of Michigan. Labor day is approaching and we are getting concerned about being able to get reservations somewhere.

Thanks for Reading!