Day 71 & 72 August 30 and 31, 2022

 Day 71 Tuesday August 30, 2022

Leland Michigan STILL

Lake Michigan travel advice holds true -- avoid any wind direction with a "W" in it and double the wind speed predictions.  Discussion and debate over which is the best source of weather info for the Great Lakes.  Popular aps include Windy, Windfinder, PredictWind, and NOAA.  The secret is to compare them all and hope for some consistency.

The Cottonwood tree stood for over 100 years at the entrance to Fishtown.   The tree stood 100 feet tall with a 20 foot circumference and a 76 inch diameter.  Sixty clones were created by snipping off newly formed buds in 2008.  The tree was taken down in 2011.

Kite surfers have been taking advantage of the wind.  The winds are strong enough to make it rough even inside the marina.  Waves are splashing over the 8 foot breakwall.  

Visit to Grand Traverse Distillery was interesting and fun, although we didn't end up buying anything.  They specialize in rums, vodkas, and some gins. 

Docktails repeated with many loopers in attendance and a couple boaters curious about the loop.  Fun sharing.  Captain's meeting tomorrow to discuss weather and planned travel onward for most boats.

 Beautiful red sky sunset

Day 72 Wednesday August 31, 2022

Walked to Van's Beach to check out the kite surfers and hunt for Leland Blue stone washed onto the beach from the strong waves.  Leland blue stone is the result of the slag produced by the Leland Lake Superior Iron Company which operated over 100 years ago.  I didn't find any blue stone but did find some good looking rocks.

         

The kite surfers were enjoying the windy conditions.

The windy conditions also impact the town of Leland.  Wind routinely requires the channel into the marina to be dredged.  When federal funding for dredging ran out the town found themselves facing a significant impact on the local economy.  The decision was made for the town to purchase their own equipment.  The channel is maintained at 12 feet -- it was only at 3 feet the year they purchased their own dredger.

Captain's meeting with fellow loopers, weather the topic.  Consensus that tomorrow was a "go" day with boats leaving between 6 and 6:30am.  Forecast is for 1-2 foot waves from the south.  Winds will be building in the afternoon so an early departure it is!

Day 69 & 70, August 28 and 29, 2022

 Day 69 Sunday August 28, 2022 

Leland Township Harbor, Leland Michigan

We extended our stay until Friday morning because of the weather but The Grand Wazoo decided to move on to Frankfort.  They left this morning at 6:30 am for the 5 hour trip.  They experienced 1-2 footers at the start but were in 5-6 foot rollers the last 4 miles! They arrived safely but that kind of excitement we would like to avoid!  If the weather should happen to improve the harbor master will credit us for any days we haven't used.  They know that Lake Michigan travel is fickle.

Some more exploring and dinner at The Cove Restaurant. 

  Both car and boat registration!  It was "motoring" in the channel in front of the dam. 

Tug Bussle arrived from Northport.  We had our own little docktails with them, Rachel and Don (from Beyond - a 27 foot Ranger Tug).  Beyond started their loop from Tonawanda, NY near Buffalo.  We headed to our boats with the threat of rain at about 9:30.

 Local wildlife enjoying our swim platform.  MESSY!!

Day 70 Monday August 29, 2022

Another windy day.  Explored more of the shops, this time with Rachel and Janet.  Another stop at Dam Candy, this time so Rachel and Janet could check it out. The store is named because the building is next to the dam; I suppose the name could reflect that each time you walk by you need to buy more dam candy! 

Ten loop boats are now at the marina, all waiting out the weather to move on.  We met for docktails and discussed the current weather situation.  Jerry, Russ and Don have a date to check out the distillery tomorrow.  Can you tell Jerry is feeling better?  Unfortunately, we got word that now it's our friend Joe's turn to have Covid....

Our trip so far.

Day 68 August 27, 2022

Day 68 Saturday, August 27, 2022

G. Marsten Dame Marina, Northport to Leland Michigan

Goodbye to Northport.  Time to move on.  We had extended our stay for 1 day due to wind and to let Jerry recuperate.  We had a smooth 4 hour crossing with waves 1 foot or less.  Jerry felt well enough to drive the whole way.  

The Michigan coast is so different from Lake Huron.  We are starting to see beaches and evergreens.  Soon we will see Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park.

Grand Traverse Bay Lighthouse

Sand dune-like shoreline.

Fishtown is located right next to the marina.  A national historic preservation sight it consists of original fishing shanty buildings used during the height of fishing commerce in the area. Three of the buildings were actually lifted off their original piers and placed on shore.  The rotting piers were replaced, the structures strengthened and then returned to their original locations.  The shanties are now souvenir shops and restaurants.  

 

Small dam separates Lake Leelanau from Lake Michigan

We checked out the town a bit and ate on the boat.   The Grand Wazoo arrived from Traverse City around 2pm.  

Winds continued to build; we were glad we were tied to a dock.  Weather/wind predictions with 30 knot winds and 4 footers have us here until Friday morning.

Day 64 - 67, August 23 - 26, 2022

Day 64 Tuesday August 23, 2022

Last day in Charlevoix

Bad day for us.  Jerry woke with a headache, cough, chills and congestion.  Time to test -- Covid 19 results are positive for both of us.  Oh happy day.... please note the sarcasm.  We walked to the local Urigcare (hospital emergency room) to confirm the results of our home tests.  I came out negative but Jerry was a definite positive.    BIG bummer.

We spent the rest of the day on the boat and notified all of our recent contacts.  A boat is a great place for self isolation but not really much fun.  AND we need to figure out how we handle all this for his 5 days of isolation.

Day 65 Wednesday August 24, 2022

Charlevoix to Northport, MI

 

Early 7:25am start to make the bridge opening.  Jerry is not feeling the best but hung in long enough to get the boat out of the slip and into open water.  I drove the boat (really more like babysat the autopilot) until we were just outside the marina in Northport.  Jerry tried to rest while I drove; he was there for moral support if I needed him.  Luckily it was a relatively smooth ride with waves 1 foot or less.  

We left Charlevoix with The Grand Wazoo but they split off and went deep into Grand Traverse Bay all the way to Traverse City.  

We couldn't get into the marina there so we reserved in Northport.  Just as well with Jerry sick.  We arrived at 11:15 -- only a 3 hour 45minute ride.  Traverse City would have been at least 2 hours more.

Jerry spent the rest of the day in relative misery, especially when he learned that our friend Laura tested positive too.  Hopefully tomorrow would be better.

Day 66 Thursday August 25, 2022

Northport, MI

We laid low while Jerry tried to rest.  I cleaned while he rested.  Beautiful day, I took a walk off the docks and checked out the small park located at the marina.  Looks like a quaint little town, if only we could explore it.  Plan for Friday is to move on to Leland for 2 days.

  Private residence next to the marina.

Day 67 Friday August 26, 2022

Northport, MI to nowhere

Okay, weather check is less than favorable.  Winds 1-3 feet on the beam, definitely not comfortable.  Jerry feeling a bit worse so we decided to stay put.  We extended our stay here and moved our Leland reservation to Saturday.

Well, since we're here, maybe I could adventure a little bit.  The Farmers' Market is held each Friday at the Marina park.  Lucky me, I checked it out.  I snagged some corn, beans, Michigan raclette cheese, and some yummy baked goods.  Laundry next.

The park also hosts "Music in the Park" Friday evenings in the summer.  People had already claimed their spot in the morning. We listened from the boat. 

Weather looks favorable for travel in the morning but not good from Monday through Friday due to very high winds.  We will probably be stuck in Leland for the week -- opportunity to rest and wash the boat.

Day 63 August 22, 2022

Day 63 Monday August 22, 2022

More Charlevoix

We walked downtown Charlevoix and greeted Tug Bussle on their arrival.  Our next adventure was the local Farmer's Market. Unfortunately, we walked a mile only to find out there wasn't any,  Huge bummer, especially since it meant we needed to walk the mile back to the marina!

Lake Michigan is a big change from Lake Huron.  Huron and Georgian Bay was scenic and beautiful but the rocky landscape left us wondering where our next granite encounter would happen.  Lake Michigan shores are tree lined with sandy beaches. 

Charlevoix is famous for it's "mushroom houses".  These homes were built by Earl Young of local boulders he "cultivated" from Lake Michigan.  He was a mason and built 31 homes and commercial ventures in the area.  In addition to boulders his homes feature "snow capped" rock walls and chimneys  with roofs that look like mushroom caps.  He started masonry at 15 years old and built his last house at the age of 86.  

The fence was built to remind you of waves.

Thatch roofed house.

Half-house is the guest house to the Thatched house.

 

 Doll house built for the children of the main house.

Many homes in Charlevoix pay tribute to Young by including rock features he is known for, even stone mailboxes.

Boulder Park marks the beginning of a neighborhood Young hoped to develop of his homes.

Day 62 August 21, 2022

 Day 62 Sunday August 21, 2022

Petoskey to Charlevoix, MI

Short travel day today and a bit later start, 8:30am.  We enjoyed Petoskey but time to move on.  Our 2 hour and 45 minute ride started comfortably but changed quickly with 2-3 foot waves on the beam.  Not so great.  Luckily that only lasted about an hour.  Skies remained gray and overcast.

To reach Charlevoix City Marina we needed to enter a channel and then wait for a bridge opening.  The drawbridge opens every half hour; we didn't have to wait long.  The channel opens to Round Lake which then joins Lake Charlevoix.  

The marina is around the corner from the bridge so we were in our slip in no time.  Charlevoix City Marina is situated in a park, with a splash pad, fish ponds, loaner bikes and a band shell. 

 

Our first stop was Oleson's for groceries located only a 5minute walk away.  It had been awhile since we've been in a real grocery store -- we've been restocking bread, milk and occasional veggies.  We dropped over $250 and should be set again for awhile.  

Grocery stores in Michigan can sell beer, wine and liquor. There must be a lot of Crown lovers in Charlevoix!

Next was a long awaited package -- our replacement Autopilot head.  Under warranty, Jerry had mailed our defective one back to Raymarine while we were in Brewerton.  The new autopilot was sent to our home address.  We waited until we were back in the states to have it sent to us.  Jerry had it installed in no time.  We'll get a chance to check it out when we head to our next stop.

Always the hosts, we joined Laura and Joe on their beautiful boat for cocktails and snacks. They were restauranteurs before retirement, lovely people and lots of fun.

Dinner -- Michigans in Michigan!  Beef chili sauce and local hot dogs found at Oleson's inspired us. Big disappointment with runny meat sauce and dogs that were a bit salty.  Nothing can match Michigans from home.