DAY 17 - PENTWATER TO GRAND HAVEN

Friday, July 29, 2016 - Grand Haven is one of Michigan's featured Lake Michigan beachtowns.  It has the world's largest musical fountain, a boardwalk, beautiful beaches, lighthouses, a historic downtown and much more.

We enjoyed a pleasant cruise from Pentwater to the Grand Haven Municipal Marina which is on the Grand River.  The town was just up the street from the marina .  We had lunch and a great walk.  This is by far the biggest town we have been at in days.  They are celebrating the centennial of the U.S. Coast Guard Aviators with ten days of fun.  Today was the first day.  We enjoyed a concert by ‘The Old Friends’ playing a tribute to Simon and Garfunkel.  This was followed by the musical fountain show.  We had front row seats on the bridge of the boat for both venues. 

Sculpture as you are entering the Grand River

Pere Marguette 1223 Steam Locomotive

Grand Trunk Western Coaling Tower

Stadium at Grand haven for the Concert

Grand Haven Sunset

Anchor on the hill to the right of the Musical Fountain

Musical Fountain

DAY 16 - MANISTEE TO PENTWATER

Leaving the dock at 10:00 am Lake Michigan had some interesting swells, but we were still able to maintain a speed of 22 - 24 knots.  We arrived at noon at Snug Harbor Marina, Pentwater and were given a slip on the wall.  Lunch was outside on the picnic tables provided.  Shortly after we were done it started to pour!!!!  Pentwater is an historic village on the western shore of Michigan.  Pentwater’s tree-lined streets show off charming victorian homes and cottages framed by beautiful gardens.

There are numerous souvenir shops along the main street.  We picked up some necessities at the grocery store and a new flag pole for our AGLCA burgee.  This flag will let other boaters know that we are doing the Great Loop!  Dock side supper of salad and hamburgers.  Too delicious!  And again it is raining.  Our wall dock is giving us some rocking issues.  Hopefully it gets better as the night progresses.

Snug Harbor Marina

First real rain we had on our voyage

BBQ on the Dock

Sunset over looking the break walls of Pentwater

DAY 15 - FRANKFORT TO MANISTEE

 We slipped away at 10:00 am for a short cruise to our next destination.  The Manistee Municipal Marina is on  the south shore of the Manistee River which joins Manistee Lake with Lake Michigan.  Magnets began as a lumber town around 1840 but today it is a beautiful and quaint Victorian town.  It has long beautiful beaches on the north side of the breakwater.  The marina is right in front of the the Maple Street Bascule Bridge (23’).  The town offers a variety of specialty shops, including a camera store where I was able to purchase a lens string to attach to my camera.  We visited the Family General Store and the Olsen Grocery Store, which unfortunately is closing on Friday due to nearby competition.  There is a Little River Casino 5 miles down the road.  We passed on it. Saving our $$$ for fuel!  Nice spaghetti and meatballs for supper with caesar salad.

Beach at Manistee on Lake Michigan

Ducks feeding in the morning behind Lady V

Entrance to Manistee ~ Large Anchor

Playing in the State Park, Manistee

DAY 14 - CHARLEVOIX TO FRANKFORT

Frankfort is the first Michigan Harbour of Refuge on Lake Michigan.  These Refuge harbours are about 20 miles apart all the way to Chicago providing protected marinas and anchorages.  Jacobson Marina, Frankfort is on Betsie Lake.  The waterfront along the marina is a municipal park making for beautiful scenery.  Main street is the shopping area with stores on both sides.  Our noon arrival had us having lunch on board before we visited the town.  There are numerous specialty shops, a bakery, candy stores and restaurants.  Our marina provided a full size BBQ for our use so we had a great meal of shish kabobs, corn on the cob, grilled zucchini and garlic bread.

Pyramid Point, Sleepy Bear State Park

Bestie Lighthouse ~ Most photographed lighthouse on Lake Michigan

A seagull perched on a pillar, Betsie Lake

The bow of Lady V as the sun is setting

DAY 13 - PETROSKEY TO CHARLEVOIX, MI

Monday, July 25, 2016. Laundry was on the list for this morning. When all was done we headed out for Charlevoix, just 14 nautical miles away.  There was some wind and the lake had white caps on it.  The captain took it easy cruising at  12 - 14 knots.  We arrived at the bascule bridge just in time for the 1:30 opening.  Our slip assignment was C45.  The wind was blowing us off but three hardy gentlemen were on the dock to give us assistance and we docked without incident.  After lunch we had a leisurely walk into town.  The petunia lined pavements of Charlevoix are a fragrant welcome to visitors.  This is a haven for boaters, golfers, beach goers and boutique shoppers.  

 

Bascule Bridge to Charlevoix Marina

Petunia lined Waterfront

Charlevoix Marina

Mushroom Houses (aka Hobbit Homes)

DAY 12 - PETOSKEY MARINA

We did not have much time to see the town yesterday so we decided to stay over another night.  Petrosky is a sublime city overlooking the brilliant and alluring water of Little Traverse Bay.  The morning started off with chores done by all.  After lunch a walk into town for some site seeing and shopping.  There was a collection of sweet, boutique shops, natural food markets, artisan micro brews and art shops.  A simple supper at Duffy’s was all we needed to end a perfect day.  We experienced some light drizzle in the early evening and the fog rolled in making the lake invisible.  

Petoskey Clock

Dinghy Ride to Harbor Springs

DAY 11 - ST. IGNACE TO PETOSKEY

Saturday, July 23, 2016 - We were up early to do our chartering for our next destination, Petoskey Marina.  Cruising through the Straits of Mackinaw and then south on Lake Michigan on this warm sunny, windless day was amazing.  The lake was almost flat as glass.  At 12:30 we arrived at the beautiful marina.  Much of it has new docks.  We docked stern in on the starboard so we could take the dinghy off and go for an afternoon cruise.  Off we headed for Harbor Springs across the bay.  There was a lot of boat traffic on this beautiful afternoon so we had some interesting wakes to say the least.  Harbor Springs has three marinas with some spectacular mega yachts.  When we were home bound we managed to gather more speed and got the dingy on plane and were airborne a few times.  Supper was out on the town at a pretty spot called the Twisted Olive.  Well worth a visit.  The town is very clean with many unique stores and lots of shopping.

DAY 10 - ROGER'S CITY TO ST. IGNACE (MACKINAW ISLAND)

We left the dock at 8:30 am for a nice cruise on Lake Huron.  It was bit choppy at our speed of 22 - 25 kph.  I know I am on vacation now because I do not know what day it is anymore and have forgotten how many times we have filled up with diesel.  After docking in St. Ignace we took the 15 minute ferry across to Mackinaw Island.  The island is very unique in that there are no cars allowed.  Transportation is by waling, biking or horse and buggy.  We first walked along the main street just checking things out.  We have never seen so many fudge shops.  We then took a two hour buggy tour of the island seeing many historic sites and receiving a great history lesson from the buggy driver. There are only 500 permanent residents and one school from kindergarten to grade 12.  The Grand Hotel on the island is outstanding in character and beauty.  The grounds are immaculate with beautiful gardens.  There is an 18 hole golf course.  There is much to see and do on Mackinaw Island.  The ten o’clock ferry took us back home to the marina.

DAY 9 - HARRISVILLE TO ROGER'S CITY

We are up at 7:30 am and looking at the weather on the GPS.  There is a front coming in and it looks like it will be passing right over Mackinaw Island.  Hence we decided  that we would only go half way and tuck ourselves in at Rogers City Marina.  The cruise started off with sunny skies, but as time progressed it clouded over and the lake became more choppy.  We arrived at our destination at 11:30  and were happy to tie up.  You could feel the rain in the air.  But all it did was drizzle for about ten minutes. We took a walk into town.  When we got back to the boat the wind picked up and was pretty gusty all afternoon.  

DAY 8 - HARRISVILLE, MICHIGAN

It is Wednesday, July 20, 2016.  We left the dock in Port Huron at 8:00 am and had a great five cruise on Lake Huron to Harrisviile Marina.  Arrived at 1:00 pm and headed for the diesel dock again.  This is our third fill up!  Not much happening here, but they have great laundry facilities and a grocery store.  Laundry got done and fresh fruit picked.  

DAY 7 - PORT HURON

July 19, 2016 - We left Detroit at 9:30 for a beautiful run across Lake St. Clair to the St. Clair River.  The river on the U..S.A. side is lined with beautiful homes mile after mile.

We docked at the Riverside Marina at 1:30 and had lunch on board and and then walked into town which was just up the street. We explored the hardware store, the convenience store and an amazing antique store.  We came back to the boat and had an amazing steak dinner on the dock.  

DAY 6 - DETROIT

We left Put-in-Bay for Detroit.  It was a choppy crossing until we hit the Detroit River.  There is an unbound and a down bound channel.  Reservations were made at Gregory’s Boat Marina.  We have been having trouble with our inverter and the batteries needed to be replaced.  Brian had all ready found them.  All we had to do was make the arrangements for the install.  We contacted the dealer and Jeff came out with the new ones at 3:00.  They are 130 pounds each.  It was quite the ordeal to remove and replace the old ones.  Once it was done we decided to walk into town.  As we approached the gate we realized we did not have a pass to get out or in.  A vehicle was leaving so I spoke to him.  It was Reverend Smyth.  He was very nice and drove us to Sinbad’s Restaurant for supper and offered to pick us up.  We walked home and were lucky enough that another marina member opened the gate for us.  Frans took apple pie home!

DAY 5 - PUT-IN-BAY

It is Sunday, July 17, 2016 and we had a lovely bacon and egg breakfast on board.  It was time to do some laundry.  We left the dock at 11:00 for a nice run to Put-in-Bay.  We docked at The Crew’s Nest, Dock B.  Never seen so many boats in one place.  It was awesome.  We rented a golf cart, one of thousands used on the island, and had a wonderful tour, stopping at the Perry Monument, the water front, an ice-cream parlour and the beer store.  Supper was at one of the Boardwalk Restaurants.

DAY 4 - CLEVELAND

July 16, 2016.  We left Port Colbourne at 9:00 am for a great 6 hour run to Cleveland.  The day was perfect for this long run and Lake Erie was pretty flat.  We had to stop at East 55th Marine to check into U.S. customs.  We also had to refuel.  Our destination marina 

Edgewater Yacht Club was at the other end of the Cleveland break wall.  It was a pretty sight to view the city from the water.   We were very lucky to get a slip because the RNC was going to start on Monday!  The entire city was under very high security.  Once we docked we had hydro issues and had to be relocated.  After this long day the yacht club restaurant was the perfect place for supper.

DAY 3 - PORT DALHOUSIE PIER MARINA AND THE WELLAND CANAL TO PORT COLBOURNE

Friday, July 15, 2016

We woke up to great weather and left the marina at 5:30 am for the Welland Canal.

After we tied up at the Pleasure Craft Doc, Frans called the Lock Master for further instructions.

It was bad news.  Our wait was 12 hours, which would make it 6:00 pm to start through the locks.  The lock master took Frans' cell phone number in case there were any changes.  We were all very disappointed and headed back to the marina.  We are thinking of we will call them later to-day and hopefully we can proceed through the locks tonight.  The average time takes 7 to 14 hours.

At 1:15 we received a call from the Welland Canal that if we could be there in an hour and fifteen minutes we could lock through.  We arrived at the pleasure dock for the second time to-day. There were three sail boats already waiting. The lock through time had changed. Maybe by 4:00.  At 3:30 we received the green light.  It took the four boats 10 hours to lock through.  We were out at 1:30 am.  We had to proceeded to Port Colbourne Marina in the night in the dark.

DAY 2 - PORT DALHOUSIE PER MARINA

It is Thursday, July 14, 2016 and we have been watching the radar all afternoon yesterday on The Weather Network and NOAA  applications.  There are numerous thunder storm fronts coming through our area.  Frans and I woke up at 5:00 am too double check if we would be leaving this morning for the Welland Canal.  We made an executive decision and decided to stay.  It was cloudy most of the day and the winds were 30 mph gusting to 60 mph.  We felt that we had made a wise decision.  That left us time to walk into the town and enjoy a five cent merry-go-round ride.

DAY 1 - PORT DALHOUSIE PIER MARINA

Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Day 1 - Left Port Credit for Port Dalhousie.
Weather on GPS was not working.
Brian had to meet us at the marina and change a connection.
Watching the radar carefully. Lots of thunderstorm warnings.
Possibly not leaving Thursday morning for the Welland Canal.