| CHAPTER 5 Mackinac to Chicago Page 2 |
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AUGUST 20 Charlevoix to Frankfort
We left Charlevoix at 0820 to make the bridge opening. We left with
the trawler and looper, Segue and another looper boat Ping. Our plans
were to head for Leland, but when we got close, we heard they were
full and were rafting boats. Ping did go in and found a slip, but we
decided to head another 50 miles to Frankfort which made our trip
today 78 miles. Segue called in to Jacobson Marina. We have to leave
here in the morning because of a fishing tournament. Our plans are to
head to Manistee which is 28 miles south.
Well, this is where we are, but here's how we got here:
When we left Charlevoix, the water was wonderfully calm...great
ride, we thought, until we came to Great Traverse Bay. I saw white
caps ahead, then saw Segue drop into a hole, sliding sideways, then
popping up. And that's the way it was for us for the next 10 miles.
Yes, we had 4-5 footers coming out of the bay in all directions. We
slid down one wave, hit another, rolled, took water over the bow,
splashing into the windows. Lily was brave and stayed in her spot
under Jim's feet. This lasted about an hour, then it calmed down to
an absolute flatter than flat lake. It was a beautiful ride the rest
of the day with blue water and high sand dunes. We ate dinner at
"The Dinghy"...barbecue chicken, stopped for an ice cream, walked
Lily, and now finally getting to wash dishes from this morning!
We left Charlevoix at 0820 to make the bridge opening. We left with
the trawler and looper, Segue and another looper boat Ping. Our plans
were to head for Leland, but when we got close, we heard they were
full and were rafting boats. Ping did go in and found a slip, but we
decided to head another 50 miles to Frankfort which made our trip
today 78 miles. Segue called in to Jacobson Marina. We have to leave
here in the morning because of a fishing tournament. Our plans are to
head to Manistee which is 28 miles south.
Well, this is where we are, but here's how we got here:
When we left Charlevoix, the water was wonderfully calm...great
ride, we thought, until we came to Great Traverse Bay. I saw white
caps ahead, then saw Segue drop into a hole, sliding sideways, then
popping up. And that's the way it was for us for the next 10 miles.
Yes, we had 4-5 footers coming out of the bay in all directions. We
slid down one wave, hit another, rolled, took water over the bow,
splashing into the windows. Lily was brave and stayed in her spot
under Jim's feet. This lasted about an hour, then it calmed down to
an absolute flatter than flat lake. It was a beautiful ride the rest
of the day with blue water and high sand dunes. We ate dinner at
"The Dinghy"...barbecue chicken, stopped for an ice cream, walked
Lily, and now finally getting to wash dishes from this morning!
| Click on the pictures for a larger view. |
Grand Traverse Bay as the
big waves hit. This picture
does not really show the
height of the waves, but
they were BIG!!!
big waves hit. This picture
does not really show the
height of the waves, but
they were BIG!!!
| Scenes of the sand dunes along Michigan's east shore. Notice how calm the water has become compared to the picture of Traverse Bay earlier in the day. |
AUGUST 21-24 Manistee, Michigan
We are finally taking a REST. After traveling 60 miles then 78 yesterday, we need to take some days
to relax. The weather has been beautiful and we made a lot of progress doing down L. Michigan. We are
almost at the half way mark. We could have gone another 25 miles today to Ludington, but that would
have been another 3 hours. As it was, we got here at noon with time to go out and have lunch with
Segue and set up the boat for a "vacation". Jim got a desperately needed HAIRCUT at a local barber
shop. Boy is his hair is short! We bought a small crock pot at the Dollar Store, Jim bought a
desperately needed new belt, and visited the cute shops on the main street, and hit the ice cream shop
along with Blue Max.
We are finally taking a REST. After traveling 60 miles then 78 yesterday, we need to take some days
to relax. The weather has been beautiful and we made a lot of progress doing down L. Michigan. We are
almost at the half way mark. We could have gone another 25 miles today to Ludington, but that would
have been another 3 hours. As it was, we got here at noon with time to go out and have lunch with
Segue and set up the boat for a "vacation". Jim got a desperately needed HAIRCUT at a local barber
shop. Boy is his hair is short! We bought a small crock pot at the Dollar Store, Jim bought a
desperately needed new belt, and visited the cute shops on the main street, and hit the ice cream shop
along with Blue Max.
< Jim with his new hair cut!
Downtown Manistee. This
town is registered in the
National Register of
Historical Places and has
historic beauty and charm >
Downtown Manistee. This
town is registered in the
National Register of
Historical Places and has
historic beauty and charm >
< View from our boat at
the Municipal Marina at
Manistee. It's a park-like
path for over a mile.
Another view of Main
Street in Manistee >
< Jim at the Farmer's
Market
Entrance to Manistee from
L. Michigan >
the Municipal Marina at
Manistee. It's a park-like
path for over a mile.
Another view of Main
Street in Manistee >
< Jim at the Farmer's
Market
Entrance to Manistee from
L. Michigan >
August 24 - Small craft advisory today, 3-5 with some 6 footers reported, so we are staying put
today. Tomorrow's outlook is 1 foot or less...let's hope for that! We took a walk a mile down the
road to the beach area of L. Michigan. The pictures don't show the roughness of the waves, but it
was extremely rough. Fishing boats were out there for the tournament and some sailboats, but not
very many people traveled today. Three looper trawlers did come in today, but told of very huge
swells. We made the right decision to stay here today.
today. Tomorrow's outlook is 1 foot or less...let's hope for that! We took a walk a mile down the
road to the beach area of L. Michigan. The pictures don't show the roughness of the waves, but it
was extremely rough. Fishing boats were out there for the tournament and some sailboats, but not
very many people traveled today. Three looper trawlers did come in today, but told of very huge
swells. We made the right decision to stay here today.
< Looking northeast with
sand dunes in the distance.
Looking north >
< Looking west out of the
harbor entrance.
Looking south >
sand dunes in the distance.
Looking north >
< Looking west out of the
harbor entrance.
Looking south >
AUGUST 25 Pentwater, Michigan
We got underway from Manistee at 0745 and after heading out the channel, got hit with 3-4 foot
rollers coming from the north which put them on our starboard quarter. Although a following sea, it was
still uncomfortable because we rose up on a wave, then slide down into the trough. They weren't violent
were behind us. We got to Pentwater around noon, tied up, and then I went walking up the main street
to hit all the shops with Blue Max. I was exhausted and took a nap later on in the day. For dinner the
whole bunch of us, plus Good News, went to The Antler where we all had Mexican food, followed by ice
cream at a shop across the street. The seas tomorrow are "supposed" to be 1 foot, but I'll believe that
when i see it. We have 60 miles to go to get to Grand Haven, a long day, about 6-7 hours. Blue Max
will be going along with us.
We got underway from Manistee at 0745 and after heading out the channel, got hit with 3-4 foot
rollers coming from the north which put them on our starboard quarter. Although a following sea, it was
still uncomfortable because we rose up on a wave, then slide down into the trough. They weren't violent
were behind us. We got to Pentwater around noon, tied up, and then I went walking up the main street
to hit all the shops with Blue Max. I was exhausted and took a nap later on in the day. For dinner the
whole bunch of us, plus Good News, went to The Antler where we all had Mexican food, followed by ice
cream at a shop across the street. The seas tomorrow are "supposed" to be 1 foot, but I'll believe that
when i see it. We have 60 miles to go to get to Grand Haven, a long day, about 6-7 hours. Blue Max
will be going along with us.
< Street and tower in
Pentwater
Sign on the green at
Pentwater. >
Pentwater
Sign on the green at
Pentwater. >