Day 1 - Here we go! Relocate to Ludington

After a crazy summer season with little boating, we are all so eager to get some time on board.  This trip was originally a different route, a different destination… but we are just so glad to actually get to be on board that we are willing to compromise.  Almost every stop on our 16-day itinerary is a repeat for us and we dont mind.  So rather than cross the lake on one of our first outings of the summer, we chose our favorites and are staying along Michigan’s west coast.

We left the house around 8:05 am in two separate vehicles. The boys went right to the boat to get settled and start the systems. The girls picked up our grocery order for the week.  I premade most of our meals and have a freezer full of food that should help with the fridge inventory.  Keep in mind we have a college-sized fridge for 4 people for 16 days. And grocery stores dont often pay for lake front property so provisioning along the way can be difficult.  But we will not go hungry!

We made it to the boat and got unpacked in pretty quick time.  We left the slip at 10:10 am.  Needed to fill up our fuel before leaving port so we hit the gas dock at Grand Isle only to find out the diesel pump was broken. So, we moved over to Barrett’s in Spring Lake.  Not far away but the pump is considerably slower and it took a LONG time to fill our tanks.  We headed out and were exiting the pier at 11:30 am.

The weather looks great for our trip.  77* sunny with some cloud coverage. 7 mph ENE winds.  Calm seas. According to the forecast the winds will change around 1:00 pm bringing waves out of the north so it could get uncomfortable as we get closer.

Today’s destination is Ludington, 54 nautical miles between their piers. At 20 nm it should take us appx 2:45 hours.

The trip was smooth. Sammy put together a puzzle, I enjoyed the sun pad out back and Scott and Tyler took turns driving the boat. We have a known issue with the auto-pilot which is a little frustrating on these longer days but it should just need a recalibration which we will do on another day when we have more time.

Around 1:00 pm I made grilled cheese sandwiches while underway and we had a quick lunch. The forecast was right and shortly after that, the winds shifted and the seas got rougher.  This is also around the time we passed Little Sable Point (the furthest point into the Lake) which often affects the waves.

The air turbines of Ludington came into view and we pulled into the channel around 2:15 pm.  Arrived at the Ludington Municipal Marina and fueled up so we’d be ready in the morning and then backed into Slip 9 on the A Dock. We were tied up and settled in by 3:15 pm.

We took a little time to relax and enjoy the quiet and then Scott needed to find a hose fitting so he and I went out to find something. After a long walk, a few cancelled Ubers, a couple conversations with store clerks and phone calls, we returned to the boat with brats, chips and drinks.  LOL it’s amazing what you find when you aren’t looking for it.  We found what we needed online and scheduled a delivery to our next stop in Leland. 

The rest of the afternoon was pretty quiet.  Everyone stayed together in the salon or the back sun pad and did their own thing. Scott made brats for dinner and then after a short time for digestion, we headed out to House of Flavors for dessert.  Coco enjoyed the walk and we all loved the ice cream!

As we were getting back to the marina, the Badger was pulling in so we sat on a bench to watch them manuveur.  We recently watched a documentary on how the boat and were especially interested in the way they anchor and swing to dock the boat.  We got to see it first hand tonight!

I took a quick shower and we all settled in for a movie night. To be honest, I fell asleep pretty quickly. The last few days have been a lot of work and very little sleep. At some point our A/C stopped and a warning popped up on the chiller screen. Scott spent the rest of the movie in and out of the engine room trying to troubleeshoot the problem.  In the end, he couldn’t find the issue and we all headed to bed:  windows open tonight.

Day 12 - Returning Home

We were up by 8:00 for breakfast and showers. While Scott and I met on a zoom call, the kids got to work with chores and prepping for departure.  They delivered the outgoing mail, walked Coco, got Sea Keeper started, cleaned the kitchen and started securing items for the ride.

When we finished, Scott and Tyler got to work refilling the fresh water and disconnecting power.  We pulled out of the slip just before 10:30a and were on our way.  The weather is 75* and sunny.  The winds are only 4 mph out of the SW but those are changing throughout the day as some weather approaches later tonight.  Waves are fairly light with one footers currently.  

We hope to make it all the way to Grand Haven today - a little over 120 miles or so.  This will take appx 4-5 hours if we can remain at cruising speed.

Around 12:30 pm we passed Ludington.  There is a thick fog that has increased as we travel south.  We often cannot see shore but get little glimpses of it on occasion.  It was easy to tell we were near Ludington by the sheer number of fishing boats in the area. 

We had a charcuterie lunch today so it was quick and easy.  Tyler spent a lot of time at the helm which gave Scott a chance to sit with me and enjoy the ride.  He really needed some time in the sun... especially his upper thighs.  Hehe.

The further south we went the waves increased with 3+ footers toward the end.  The fog remained but seeing the Grand Haven pier come into view was a welcoming sight.

It was about 3:30p when we pulled into our slip and took us about 45 mins to pack up and load the vehicles.  Home sweet home around 5:15 pm.

Thanks for coming along with us on our latest Lake Michigan Adventure!

Day 10 - Northport, MI

We don't have far to go today, just crossing the Grand Traverse Bay and staying another night at Northport, MI.  We did a quick breakfast of cereal and then prepped for departure.

We left the slip at 10:20a.  The weather is gorgeous.  Calm seas here in the bay.  Temps are 71* with no clouds and a 12 mph SW wind.

Since we have a while before our checkin time, we decided to take it slow... around 10mph.  Our boat can travel at this speed for 47 hours on a single tank of gas!  It made for a comfortable ride, and I got some work done.  Scott came back and sat with me for a bit while Tyler drove.

I even had a visitor stop by for some coffee.

We pulled into the marina at 12:30p.  Same slip as we head last week (14) next to Buzz Lightyear!  Once we got settled, Sammy and I took Coco for a walk to the post office and then came back for lunch.  Most of the restaurants in Northport are closed on Mondays so I made grilled sandwiches.  

It's a quiet marina and super relaxed.  So we put out the sunshade and enjoyed the breeze on the boat.  I worked on a jigsaw puzzle most of the afternoon but had to move indoors when the wind picked up.  Scott got a pump out and fueled up from our slip since we are parked on the fuel dock.  The kids enjoyed some free time. 

We went to Northport Pub and Grille for supper and had a nice meal.

We wandered around looking at shops on the way back to the boat.

One we returned, we ate warm chocolate chip cookies and watched some fail videos before Tyler headed to work.  Scott went to bed early and I stayed up working on that silly puzzle.

Day 9 - Elk Rapids

This morning, breakfast was at 9:00a.  We left Bay Harbor to find our spot in Elk Rapids.  It's our first time dropping down into the Grand Traverse Bay.  

We left our slip at 10:15a.  Today we pulled Sammy into the chores and Tyler taught her how to wind up the ropes and where to store them.  It was fun having all of us on mics together.

The weather was beautiful again.  It’s currently 70* cloudy with a 9 mph WSW wind.  There are 1-2 footers on the lake but should decrease even further as we turn the corner into the bay.  There is a thick haze from the Canadian wildfires but otherwise it’s a perfect day.

We are staying at the Edward C Grace Memorial Marina in Elk Rapids.  We stopped quickly at the fuel dock for a pump out and then proceeded to our slip (6).  The guys had us tied off and plugged in by 12:55p.  

I had started baked potatoes in the oven on the ride down so we quick sat for lunch.  It was a warm day so we decided to cool off at the Elk Rapids Sandbar, just across the parking lot from our slip and a fun place to swim.  

Not all of us swam though...

After we got back, the kids took some free time while Scott and I sat on the back of the boat enjoying some shade and the breeze. I had a paper due for class so I worked on that pretty much the rest of the afternoon.  Scott made plans for dinner and we walked over to the Riverwalk Grill & Taproom.  The food was what you’d expect but the walk over was really nice.

After dinner and once my homework was done, we decided to celebrate and get some ice cream.  So we headed out again, with Coco this time, and found some treats.

Back on board for a quiet night.  Everyone pretty much headed to bed early!

Day 8 - Bay Harbor

It was a rainy morning so we planned to sleep in and just take it easy today.  It was just that.  

After showers and breakfast we hung out for a bit with just a short walk with the dog.  Once the rain quit, it was super humid til the sun came out around noon.

We walked over to the restaurant by the marina office.  To put it in perspective, it's over 3/4 of a mile to walk the dock over to the shore and back to our boat.  

We ate lunch at Brandy’s, a really unique space with lots of seating inside and out with live music.  There's two bars for drinks and four walk up windows for various food options.  It's a fun atmosphere and we ate well. 

Bay Harbor is a very small bay just south of Petoskey. There is a yacht club and the Bay Harbor Lake Marina which we are staying in... both are quite large.  The rest of the bay is lined with incredible summer homes and beautiful yachts.  It was impressive to see.  The marina office sits in the Village which is a quaint touristy line of shops and restaurants to keep us busy.  It was a fun place to stay. 

We relaxed all afternoon.  There was tv, Ticket to Ride, reading, computer games and plenty of singing/dancing for Sammy.  For supper, we ate at Nomad.  Scott ordered the whitefish and the kids and I the fillet.  We were all very pleased.  

After dinner, Scott and I took a walk and enjoyed this little boardwalk along the Little Traverse Bay.

Then it was back to the boat for a quiet evening before calling it a day.  Not too much to report today, but the slower pace was definitely appreciated.  

Day 7 - Bay Harbor

 We wanted more time on the island so we booked an extra night here.  However, the weather tomorrow looks rainy so we plan to leave around supper time tonight instead.  

We decided to sleep in and have a nice breakfast on the boat.  Scott made eggs to order, toast, bacon and sausage.  Because our griddle is mounted outside, everyone passing by on the dock mentioned that it smelled amazing!

I called Burton Rentals right away this morning but wasn't able to get a rental car, so we opted for E-bikes instead.  We walked down to the other side of town to grab our bikes and got under way around 11:00 am.

The bikes are great but more like a motor bike than a bicycle.  We headed down Kings Highway following the directions we were given.  But apparently he missed the first turn and we found our way to the two recommended stops in a round about way.  On the island, only 10% of the roads are paved, so we spent the majority of our time on dirt roads.  

We rode 22.5 miles in total and returned the bikes after two hours.  

We stopped at the big rock.  I'm glad there was only one other group there because we were ridiculous  trying to get up and then slide down.  OK it was me, maybe it was just me.  

Then we stopped by the largest Birch Tree in Michigan.  Scott's got a thing for old trees so really, this stop was just for him.  But it's sweet that the kids rode all this way just to see his smile... well, and to tease him a bit...  that happened too!

After we returned the bikes, we stopped for lunch at the Wild Strawberry Cafe.  The boys took the scooters back to the boat to start prepping and Sammy and I walked.  Then I ran back out to get milk (grocery store) and Brita filters (hardware).  Apparently the hardware had never had someone carry milk in when they came to shop but I figured it was better than leaving on the sidewalk out front.  We had a good laugh.

I absolutely love this island and the people who live here!  It is not crowded.  It is safe.  The people are kind and hospitable.  There's lots of green space, forest, and views of the water.  We will definitely come back.

We pulled out of the slip at 2:45 pm and headed toward Petoskey.  The weather is 73*, sunny with a 3 mph NE wind.  Waves are under 1foot.  Another amazing day!

We have a slip at the Bay Harbor Lake Marina for the next two days.  When we pulled in at 4:15 pm, we were surprised that there was no fuel available.  So we turned back out on the lake and continued up the bay to the Petoskey Municipal Marina just a quick 10 minute ride away.

We pumped out and fueled up and returned to Bay Harbor at 5:25 pm.  This is a gorgeous marina with just a few slips for transient boaters.  We are at the end of the South dock in slip B86 for the next two nights.  The slips are fabulous with a main dock and a small dock on the other side for tying.  We have 100 amp service and there are pump outs mounted on the dock for the larger boats.  Fun fact... our boat was originally slipped in this marina by its first owners.  And according to the board in the harbormaster office, they are three slips down from us.  They are out for now, but I hope we can introduce ourselves before we have to leave.

I made a pasta dish for dinner and the kids had some leftover pizza.  Then we took a walk for ice cream and enjoyed the loud music from a wedding on the lawn and window shopping in all the little shops.  It's a busy area with so much to do but I'm grateful that we cant hear any of it from our slip.

We all settled in and had a quiet night. We are expecting rain tomorrow so it'll probably be a relaxed day on board.

Change in Plans

The original plan called for us continuing from Beaver Island northwest to the UP, and then follow the shores of Lake Michigan down into Wisconsin.  Unfortunately we've had a few alerts pop up with our engine and bilge.  Neither of these are overly concerning at this point but out of an over-abundance of caution, we will adjust our plans and remain on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan. 

So when we depart Beaver Island, we'll head back east instead.  I spent a lot of time yesterday reworking our reservations and think I have most things set now.  

A friend always reminds us that when traveling, flexibility is MOST important.  Even more so when traveling by boat.  

The family seems satisfied with the new itinerary so we will shift our path and continue our adventures!  

Day 6 - Beaver Island

Scott had spotted a sign for "the largest breakfast buffet" in Mackinaw City.  So we decided to get up early and check it out.  We dined at Toast-A-Go-Go and if I'm honest, it was pretty disappointing.  Maybe it's because I'm not a fan of breakfast, or buffets, or even those vinyl covered booths that make it impossible to get in or out of.  But, either way, we had a nice walk and at least half of us had a good meal.

When we got back to the boat, we decided to pack up and get out a little early.  It was 10:45a when we pulled out of the slip.  Weather is 67* and sunny with 3mph NW winds.  Back under the Mackinac Bridge we went on our way to Beaver Island.

The water again is so smooth.  The cruise to Beaver Island took just two hours.  We enjoyed the turquiose waters and marveled at how easy it is to see the bottom of the lake as we approached.  We pulled into slip S16 at the South Dock and settled in.  

After we pulled in, a gal from a nearby boat came over and asked if we had been in Saugatuck and South Haven a few weeks ago and then if we had been in Northport last week.  She remembers seeing us - wow!  It's crazy how many boats and boaters we are getting familiar with.  

While the guys got our systems up and running, Sammy and I checked in and then prepped lunch on board.  Then we used the afternoon to finish some chores.  We gathered some dirty laundry and headed to the marina washer/dryer to do a load to refresh our closets.  Then Scott ran to the store to grab some grocery refills.  They folded laundry and got the kitchen cleaned up while I finished a Zoom meeting in my room. 

After that, we had reservations at the Sunset Restaurant at Beaver Island Lodge, recommended by our neighbors that we met on Mackinac Island.  The Lodge sent a van to pick us up so we enjoyed a quick 5 minute ride over the island.  

We had another excellent meal.  Ribeyes and Fillet with mushrooms and a demi glaze, grilled asparagus with an amazing potato casserole dish that I had to finish.  Afterwards, we headed back to the marina so Tyler could get to work.  I wrapped up some computer work while Sammy practiced her choreography again.

We enjoyed the evening on the back of the boat, snuggled in blankets.  Beaver Island is designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary - one of only 22 worldwide - so we are eager for the sun to set!  

This is a great spot!  A quiet marina, in a quiet part of town, on a quiet island.  With our chores, we didn't get much time this afternoon to explore, so we've decided to extend our reservation for a second night.  We still plan to depart tomorrow but will likely leave closer to supper time. 

Day 5 - Mackinaw City

We were up early today for showers and cereal and were leaving at 8:45a to hoof it up the hill to the backside of the fort.    

Each day, one person gets to fire the opening cannon at the fort.  I've tried several times to get a spot that worked for our travel plans and its never worked.  But believe it or not, when I called just last Thursday, our preferred day was open.  Yay!  

We met the staff at 9:15 am.  The young man that led us gave us a brief history of the cannon Tyler would be firing.  He went over the liability waiver and safety briefing and then got to the logistics.  The trumpet started to play, he gave Tyler the agreed upon ready sign and "FIRE!"  

It was so cool to be a part of!  Afterwards, we looked around the fort for a bit and then headed back to the boat.  We took a brief stop at the first church on the island and looked at the incredibly old stain glass windows.  Then I ran to Doud's Grocery Store for a few items and then back to the boat.

Once aboard we got busy with prepping to head out.  Our check out time is 11:00 am.  Just before we headed out, we saw some visitors in the water - 4 otters.  It was fun to watch and listen to them play in the water behind our slip.

We pulled out by 11:00a.  We have 12 miles to go but technically aren't supposed to arrive for 2 hours.  So we set our speed at 10 mph and just slowly made our way across to Mackinaw City.  The lake was super calm yet again with very little wind.

We stopped to fuel up and pump out and then made our way to slip A10 around 12:30p.

I ordered lunch from BC Pizza and while the boys finished setting up our water and electrical, Sammy and I took the scooters to town to pick it up.  We ate lunch and played a game of Ticket to Ride.

Then the kids took the scooters to find Tyler some ice cream.  Scott and I were gonna walk to Starbucks but found some bikes that are available to rent from the marina.  I was grateful for some wheels but have never rode a tricycle before and I was surprised how difficult they are to ride.  LOL.  Anyway, in spite of our how silly we looked, we pressed on and met the kids at Starbucks.

Then it was back to the boat for a relaxing afternoon.  We had ravioli lasagna for supper onboard and then decided to go play a round of mini-golf.

Tyler needed to head back for work so he and Sammy took the scooters to make good time.  Scott and I walked over to the postoffice to deliver some outgoing mail.  Then walked back.  Sammy worked on her audition choreography while I worked on church stuff.  After Tyler finished work, we listened to Sammy's latest script and then headed to bed.

It was a wonderful day!