Tuesday, August 20: Maintenance Day in Mackinaw City

Date:                           August 20, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     127

From:                          Straits State Harbor Marina, Mackinaw City, MI
                                       
To:                               Straits State Harbor Marina, Mackinaw City, MI

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                           0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       2,924.1 SM

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

Still in Mackinaw City today. Not much going on. Another nice day, but certainly warmer. Very breezy!

My other charts for the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers arrived today. Also picked up a cruising guide that covers the route from Chicago to Mobile. From glancing through it, looks like we have some decisions to make.

The water route on the Chicago River through downtown Chicago requires going under 40 bridges of varying heights, including one fixed bridge of 17' that does not open. I have, I think, 16'-4" to the top of my Bimini over the fly bridge. 8" to play with. Hmmmmm. What if the water is higher! Bad! What if the water is lower? Better! Roll dem bones??? Not sure yet. What we are sure off is that the bimini top ain't coming down again on purpose.

The water route on the Cal-Sag Canal goes off Lake Michigan a little farther South of downtown Chicago and comes into the Chicago River near Lockport Lock, below the 17' bridge. It is mostly an industrial route, which is OK, but we won't get to cruise through downtown. Probably the boat - safer and less riskier route. Hmmmmmm.

Other decisions are what do we want to see in Chi-town and what Marina to stay at? Food for thought for the next week or so.

The boat yard came and changed the oil in our main engine today. Changed the oil filter and fuel filters also. Glad to have this done, and it means we won't have to find a place on Lake Michigan to have it done and spend another maintenance day.

I walked across the street to the open air lifestyle mall to try together a haircut. The place that was suggested is a salon and spa. No dice! Where is Rod Siggers when you need him? Just kidding. He did a jam up job when he gave me a 60 day haircut before we came back to Portsmouth. Now I need to find a stop gap for another month before I can get back to see him.

Tonight is a full moon, and it is also a rare blue moon. A blue moon is a second full moon in a month. Tonight a blue moon will be shining down on "Blue Moon" docked in Mackinaw City, MI!

Tomorrow we will remain in port. Forecasts are for 3-4' waves in Lake Michigan. Thursday still looks OK to cruise. We will go to Petoskey, MI on Thursday.

Thanks for Reading!