Day 82-85, September 10-13, 2022

Day 82 Saturday, September 10, 2022

Milwaukee, IL to Waukegan, IL

Calm seas, light winds with waves at 0.5 foot until about a mile away from Waukegan.  We had a long day but good travel from 7am until our 1:30p arrival.  Waukegan Harbor and Marina is huge, with cement (!) decking on the fixed docks and 4 bathhouses due to its size.  We all ended up on the same section of docks, so handy for docktails.

 Leaving Milwaukee

A word about docktails.  Although the word implies that cocktails are involved, that is not always the case.  Conversation, boat comparisons and upcoming travel are ALWAYS part of docktails.  Friendships are made and a greater understanding of boat life and travel have been our big take aways.  Docktails included Table Six, Arion, Tug Bussle, Grand Wazoo and us.

Passing Racine Wisconsin. Can you see all of the cormorants sunning themselves?

 Gypsum Manufacturing Plant

 Arriving in Waukegan.

Waukegan Marina offers a special on your slip - buy 2 days, get 1 free!  Good deal, in a nice and big marina.  It's so big that it has 4 bath houses placed throughout the marina docks!  Unfortunately the town of Waukegan has lost its appeal.  At one time the area around the marina was thriving but now the area doesn't really have much to offer.  We were warned by locals not to walk too far away from the docks, especially in the dark.  Lots of cars in parking lots, but not a soul walking on the streets.  Maybe it was the detention center just a few blocks away.  Jerry and Joe hoped to get propane tanks filled for our grills but there wasn't a taxi or Uber to be found.

Since there wasn't much to do in town we knew we would be doing boat projects.  

Day 83 Sunday, September 11, 2022

Well, church was out of the question!  No transportation and raining cats and dogs.  We attended virtual mass instead.

  The weather was terrible, with 3 inches of rain, thunderstorms and WIND.  Waves were 8.5 foot on the lake and over 5.5 feet at the break wall.  Ten foot waves in Milwaukee!!  

   Visual of the winds on Lake Michigan. Purple is good. Yellow and greens indicate bigger waves.  This pic shows the effect of fetch as the wind travels from the east (purple) to the western shore where we were.

We were so glad to be tied snuggly to the dock. I cleaned and made chicken parmesan, then spent the day planning.

Day 84 Monday, September 12, 2022

The rain stopped, but the winds didn't.  Cool, sunny, breezy.  What a great day for an oil change and defrosting the refrigerator!  Best part -- the marina will take the waste oil!  Both good jobs done.  Everyone was glad to be out of their boats.  Everyone had worked on boat projects.  Besides discussing our accomplishments and yesterday's weather we needed to talk about Tuesday - another wait and see weather day.

Day 85, Tuesday September 13, 2022

Another windy day.  General consensus -- stay one more day.  We had been told to expect one good travel day for every 4-5 bad days on Lake Michigan this time of year.  Seems to be true for us.  Spent the day doing laundry.  Our reward was a walk with Tug Bussle and The Grand Wazoo for ice cream. Jerry and Joe ventured further out to the local marine store.  

Docktails and decision that the weather tomorrow would support travel to CHICAGO!!  WOO HOO!!!