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.