Day 12 - Heading Home

Ugh. We were up for a quick breakfast of cereal so that we could get underway as soon as possible.  But the weather did not cooperate.  A morning shower came in so we decided to wait it out so as not to be doing all of our line work in the rain.  It was around 9:30am that we finally got disconnected and untied and left our slip.  We had to stop for more fuel and we on Lake Michigan by 10:30am.  It was still raining as we passed the lighthouse and headed south.  

As we passed Silver Lake around 11:15 am, the rain began to let up.  The waves were a slow timed 2-3 foot swells.  I was grateful we were going with the waves but the funny timing still made for some bumps every 3rd wave or so.  We kept the speed around 26mph but were able to speed up to our cruising speed of 29 mph as the swells died down.

12:00 pm passing Whitehall.

12:30 pm passing Muskegon.

1:00 pm pulled into the channel in Grand Haven.  There’s no place like home!

The kids and I went to work packing up.  It’s a generally small space but you know how it goes. Dirty laundry, linens, wet towels, unused groceries… it all had to be packed up.

1:30 pm Pulled into our slip at Safe Harbor Grand Isle Marina and they guys worked to retie our permanent lines (we brought on the trip so we’d have extra).  Sammy and I hauled our bags to the vehicles.  It’s 90+* here in Grand Haven and we definitely weren’t use to it.  We got on our way as soon as possible and stopped for lunch on the drive.  Pulled in the driveway at 2:52 pm (just in time for Jen’s 3:00 pm video appt).  

It was an excellent trip!  We really enjoyed all of it and especially the time shared together.  We made so many great memories and the laughs we shared will remain for years to come!

Weather: rain showers until Pentwater; then cloudy until Whitehall; Sun was out Muskegon and south
Temps: High 68* Low 59* in Ludington; 93* when we arrived in Grand Haven
Winds: 5 mph N, NE (gusts under 10 mph)  
Waves: 2-3’ swells; down to almost flat in GH
Travel Distance: 56 mi

Day 11 - Finally Heading Out

Since the family had visited so many wonderful breakfast places yesterday, they were eager to actually get breakfast so the three of them headed out again.  And boy did they find what they were looking for!

We did our own thing for most of the morning.  Sammy and I headed to the bath house for showers.  The guys played chess.  We grabbed Subway for lunch.

The original plan was to wait out the winds and leave Thursday morning but it’s been a long stay.  We LOVE Charlevoix it’s a great place to visit.  But four days with no bike or car is a long time without a lot of things to do.  So we spent most of the day checking the weather and seeing if the winds would in fact die down as predicted by supper time.  

Scott and I took a walk out to the lake around 3:00 pm, following the Beaver Island ferry and decided it looked like the winds were shifting and it was knocking down the waves.  So we decided to make a go of it.  

When we got back to the boat, it was all hands on deck to pack up and prep for a 3:45 pm departure.  We needed to stop for fuel and a pump out so we were hoping to catch the 4:30 pm draw bridge.  

We have 120 miles to go to make Ludington.  That would take 5 hours if we could remain at cruising speed the entire time.  It’s a long run on a good day but we are leaving at supper time with questionable seas.  So we just have no idea how far we’ll make it.  The good news is that the further go, the more the waves should improve.  And it did!  We had a few showers of rain and some haze / fog setting in but we pressed on.  

We slowed for supper around 6:00pm.  Brisket sandwiches, Velveeta Dip, Charcuterie.  Not so bad given our current situation.  

We pulled into the Ludington channel around 9:30 pm just ahead of a small rain shower.  The marina is already closed so we found our slip and quietly pulled in.  Tied off and settled in by 10:00 pm.  

On the way, we realized in our rush to pack up and leave we never let the dog go to the bathroom.  Oops.  Poor Coco was scrambling to get off that boat and Sammy was so gracious to accommodate her while we all tied lines.

We were all a little hungry and couldn’t find any pizza places or bars open past 10 pm on a Wednesday, so Jen got creative and made BBQ pork nachos and Pepperoni Cheese Breadsticks.  We laughed together as we watched fails until bedtime. 

We made it!  So glad to be tucked in for the night… and grateful to have gotten this far south.  We should be home tomorrow!

Weather: Cloudy, with intermittent rain showers throughout the day
Temps: High 77* Low 63*
Winds: 18 mph, gusts up to 33 mph; S > SW > W > NW > 6 mph N
Waves: high earlier in the day; Super sporadic 2-3’ when we left Charlevoix; 1-2’ as we arrived in Ludington
Travel Distance: 120 mi

Day 10 - Still Here in Charlevoix

It was a long hot day again here in Charlevoix.  It hit 82* but I’m not complaining (well maybe a little) cause the weather temps in west Michigan are over 90*.  Crazy!

I have a paper due for school so I was up early to get a start on that.  Scott and the kids went out to breakfast because no one loves breakfast more than Scott.  Unfortunately they returned within 45 minutes or so because apparently all of the breakfast places take Tuesday off.  I couldn’t help but giggle listening to them recap the story of all the places they visited with so much disappointment.

We had a pretty relaxed day overall.  I made pigs in a blanket and Velveeta dip for lunch, using up some of the last of my groceries for the trip.  

It was around then that we discovered our air conditioner had fully frozen and we needed to turn it off to thaw it out.  So on the hottest day of the trip, we didn’t use our A/C. Ugh. 

Scott made pork chops on the grill and Tyler made green beans and a blue cheese sauce.  Supper was delicious.  Scott and I took a walk around sunset to drop off the mail and check out some of the local homes. 

Once we returned, we all hung out on the back bench and finished the day together.

It was another good day in Charlevoix although we are all itching to get on the move again.  

Weather:  Sunny
Temps: High 82*
Winds: 20+ mph, SSE  
Waves: didn’t check
Travel Distance: 0 mi

Day 9 - Charlevoix

Everyone slept in today.  It was almost 10:00 by the time everyone was up and eating breakfast - scrambled ham and cheese omelette and bacon.

Jen had to make a follow up call to the IRS so she was otherwise committed for two hours.  After that she did her quiet time at the boaters lounge while Sammy took a shower, Tyler played some video games and Scott laid down with some sinus pressure. 

Then we had grilled sandwiches for lunch and the kids watched a movie.  

After Scott got up, we walked up the hill and found a bench in the shade. We enjoyed the view while playing a game of ticket to ride.  

Tyler won this time.  The kids headed back to the boat for some free time while Scott and I remained on the bench.

We walked over to a restaurant that overlooks the water and drawbridge called the Weathervane.  It was a great meal.

Sammy and I did devotions together on the back of the boat while Tyler and Scott looked at boats online.  

Then Jen wrapped up some work for church and after that, she and Scott took Coco for a walk to the post office and then out to the pier to check out the sunset.  It was a beautiful night and a perfect ending to a very relaxing day!

Weather: Sunny with cloud cover off and on throughout the afternoon
Temps: High 75* Low 66*
Winds: 4-7 mph, gusts up to 7 mph (much different from Grand Haven)
Waves: pretty flat with some swells from the south
Travel Distance: 0 mi

Day 8 Repositioning

 We woke up and checked the weather   The winds for the next few days are not in our favor but we hoped to relocate down to Charlevoix to wait it out.  Petoskey has been a great stop but if we are going to be inside for a few days due to rain, we’d like to have better wifi and closer food options… both of which Charlevoix has.  So we decided to reposition.  It’s only about a 30 min ride if we can go full speed so we decided to get the kids up, have a quick breakfast of cereal and get under way.

We were on our way just before 10:00 am and were able to ramp up to full speed.  There was 2-3’ chop but the wind coming from the south made for a bumpy ride.  As we approached we slowed down to time out the 11:00 am drawbridge opening and were tied off in our slip B19 by 11:25 am just as a rain shower passed through.

We went to a new restaurant, Bridge Street Tap Room, that overlooks the marina for lunch.  Once we got back we shared our cards with Scott for Fathers Day.

It was a hot day with off and on rain showers so we were so happy to have a slider door to close rather than zipping canvases like our last boat.  

Scott and Jen took Coco for a walk through town and visited the sweetest book store.  The owner was a gem and certainly loved what she does!

The kids took a few minutes to run through the kids splash pad at the marina when out for a walk.

Honestly the day was back and forth between outside and in but we all found our place.  Eventually Scott and I headed over to fill up on groceries and met our delivery driver from BC pizza.  We walked home in the rain but it was worth it!

Scott and Jen finished the day out on the back of the boat - one of our favorite places.   

Weather: Partly Sunny, with intermittent rain showers throughout the day
Temps: High 73* Low 60*
Winds: 13-15 mph, gusts up to 26 mph;  SE, switching to S  
Waves: 2-3’ sporadic chop
Travel Distance: 18 mi

Day 7 On to Petoskey

After a great night on the island, we woke up early to the boat bouncing around.  No lines came loose but the wind had shifted and the waves were rolling right in the harbor.  Scott and Jen took Coco for a walk and found some breakfast goodies… cinnamon rolls, donuts, breakfast burritos and coffees.  We talked through options for the day and decided to leave the island a day early and add a stop in Petoskey.  We spent several weeks in our RV in the area and have lots of memories riding our bikes past the marina in search of the best playground.  We thought it would be fun to return since we dont have the option often to visit it by boat.  

We were untied and heading out around 9:00 am.  It was a relatively smooth ride out and improved as we passed the shoals and headed south.  We found a website that described the 16+ shipwrecks in the Straits and read a loud a few of their stories.  It was pretty fascinating! Our route took us much closer to one of the lighthouses so I got some good pics.  

We pulled into Petoskey around 12:00 pm and were tied off pretty quickly.  It is a very nice marina with a nice bath house and laundry available.  It is right at the heart of downtown so everything is close.

Since we were in a little early, Jen prepped dinner on board and we enjoyed Taco Triangles while chatting with our neighbor who is out of Florida.  They are an elderly couple who seem to be doing the Great Loop at a leisurely pace.  After we wrapped up our lunch, we took Coco out to stretch her legs with a walk to the end of the pier.

Then we headed into town to find a Kilwins.  (Honestly, I can’t believe they aren’t sick of Kilwin’s yet).  We struck up a conversation with some ladies on the sidewalk and I happened to mention that I liked their bag and it just so happened that we were standing by the store where they purchased it.  So Jen and Sammy headed in to do some shopping.

Once back on board, Scott took a little nap while Sammy wrote her book, Tyler worked on a coding project and Jen worked on her school work.  Unfortunately our internet connection was really spotty so the video I was trying to upload wouldn’t go through.  So, I found a nice bench about halfway up the dock and finished my assignment there. 

As I finished, the family met me and we headed up to Beacon for a 7:15 pm reservation.  We happened to be seated after two large parties so it took a long time to get our food but boy was it worth it.  Scott had the rack of lamb, Jen had the iron steak and the kids split a monster ribeye.  It was an excellent meal for all of us!

 

Then it was back to the boat for a quiet night.  Sammy headed to the bathhouse for a shower so Jen sat on a nearby picnic table and read. Scott relaxed on the back of the boat while Tyler got back to his project.  

It’s dark now at 10:40 pm.  I’m finishing up the blog on the back of the boat with a gentle breeze and the slightest sound of the flag next door rippling in the wind.  It’s a quiet night - just beautiful!

Weather: Sunny
Temps: Hi 72* Lo 55*
Winds: 10-12 mph SE; switched to E after we arrived  
Waves: 2-3’
Travel Distance: 63 mi

Day 6 on Mackinac Island

 We had an 11:00 am check out but weren’t technically able to check in on the island until 1:00 pm.  So we had a really relaxed morning.  Sammy and I took the dog for a walk and grabbed breakfast from Starbucks.  Then we cleaned up a bit and prepped for the move.  We moved to the fuel dock at 11:00 am to vacate our slip but there was another boat ahead of us so we waited almost a full hour before we were ready to head out.  It is a gorgeous morning with relatively low winds and calm seas.

We took our time heading over to the island.  At 8-9 mph, the 7 mile trip across took just under an hour.  It was a nice ride and allowed for us to sit on the bow and enjoy the sun and the views.

The marina on the island is NOT well protected from waves.  Because of the amount of commercial traffic that comes in and out hourly, they intentionally left it less protected.  So, most boaters know that the overnight accomodations are a little bumpier than normal and the marina warns ahead of time to use bigger lines and extra fenders.  So we did!

The marina is located just east of the ferry dock and at the start of the downtown shops.  We have a beautiful view of the fort and the grassy space below.  Once we were tied off we decided to grill up some burgers for lunch.  We enjoyed the perfect weather and made a plan for the rest of the day.

First stop, rent bikes.  We couldn’t find a good option for Coco so she had to stay back onboard but we got our bikes and headed out.  Typically we just do the outside perimeter but today we thought we’d try something different and do the interior tour.  Unfortunately I didn’t think through the hills.  We made it but there were some moments that I know the kids would have given up.  We saw the Grand Hotel, Governors Mansion, the Fort and Arch Rock.  We passed many houses that have belonged to families for generations.  And then ended with a cool ride along the shore.  The breeze was glorious.  

Then we headed back into town to return the bikes and look for a restaurant for supper.  We ate at the Grand Turtle and had a great rest, good food and lots of water!

On the walk back, we stopped for some groceries at Doud’s Market… a great option with lots of choices to stock up - just in time!

Once we got back to the boat, we just relaxed aboard, listening to the water lap against the hull of the boat.   Scott and Jen spent some time on the bow just staring out at Lake Huron. 

Then we took a walk into town to grab some ice cream.  Kilwins (Tyler’s favorite) really let us down in that they didn’t have Tyler’s usual order of a chocolate shake.  So, I think we visited almost every candy / fudge / ice cream shop in town looking for blenders… there were a lot of stops, but not a lot of blenders.  LOL.  We finally found one at the last stop on the way back to the boat and Tyler got his long awaited chocolate shake.

As the sun set, we watched as the final ferries wrapped up their runs and heard the taps play at the fort to signal the end of the day.  It was a gorgeous day at the island!  

Weather: Sunny
Temps: Hi 77* Lo 62*
Winds:  
Waves: 2-3' chop with slow timed swells
Travel Distance: 8 mi

Day 5 - Mackinaw City

We started our day around 9:00 am.  Jen didn’t sleep well last night so she started ham and cheese crescents before the family had woke up.  After breakfast, we strapped on our sneakers and walked over to Colonial Michilimackinac.  It was about a mile to the fort so we enjoyed the walk.  Coco came with us so she was glad to stretch her legs too!

The fort was originally established as a Catholic mission by the French in the 1600s and held until 1760 when the English took over just a few 20 years before losing the American Revolution. We learned about life at the fort and all kinds of shenanigans with the local Indians.  It was fun to imagine the area without the bridge in view.

On our walk back, we decided to order some BC Pizza and got it to eat on board.  Coco was exhausted after the walk and slept most of the rest of the day.  

We relaxed on the boat for most of the afternoon.  Around 4:00 pm the winds picked up and a nice storm blew through. 

We waited until the rain quit around 5:30 pm and then headed to dinner at The Hook.  It’s an elevated restaurant next door to our marina which provided a great view of our boat.  We played a game of Ticket to Ride while waiting for our food to arrive and really enjoyed the meal. 

After dinner, we headed to a local theater to watch Inside Out 2.  We have been waiting for the movie to open and today is the day!  It was a great show and we all really enjoyed it. 

After the movie, we stopped at the post office to put out the mail and then headed back to the boat.  Tyler and Jen watched a show together… although Jen fell asleep pretty much immediately so she’ll have to go back to watch again.  By 10:30 pm we were all in bed. Tomorrow we head to the island.  Excited for our next destination!

Weather: Sunny, a thunderstorm late afternoon 
Temps: Hi 72* Lo 59*
Winds: varied but pretty strong 
Waves: whitecaps on the straights
Travel Distance: 0 mi