Lake Michigan (Part 2)

August 16 2012

Well, the weather does control everything doesn’t it?

The US Coast Guard performing some excise manoeuvre in
Grand Haven

The super long Broadwalk in Grand Haven Michigan

The winds started picking up during the night and by the morning the surge from the lake was coming up the Grand River and beating us up, against the wall. We had secured the boat as well as we could and figured there was no reason to stay on her while she was bumping around, so Gary went and did some laundry and I went shopping.

Enjoying a PRONTO PUP, a local favourite
(basically a deep fried hotdog covered with batter)
INCREDIBLY delicious!!

After a long bike ride around the bay
we got this picture of Time and Tide on the wall in the background
With us on the wall is MV Wild Goose

A bus picked me up at the Chamber of Commons and took me to Wal-Mart for $1.50. I picked up a few items but mainly just enjoyed walking around and shopping. On the way back the bus driver drove down beside the lake and I could see it was not a good day to be on the water. The waves must have been 6 feet high!!

Gary took his bike and went to West Marine where he bought a couple of the big round fenders. We were told that they would come in very handy when locking down the rivers. Even with the big round fenders protecting us against the wall we were still getting banged around too much. We decided to move off the unprotected wall to an anchorage.

We had to travel a couple of miles but when we finally dropped the anchor in Stahl Bayou, even though  the wind was still howling, we were so protected here we didn’t even feel it. After being in a town on a very public wall the silence at the anchorage was a welcome change.

Thank you to our looper friends who told us about this anchorage. We will be here for a couple of days while Lake Michigan’s fury settles down.

August 17, 2012

MV Next to me supplied us with a weather update and we were glad to stay put for the day.

I do enjoy being anchored out. It is nice and peaceful and quiet and it is a wonderful day to relax and enjoy life on a boat.

August 18, 2012

We actually slept in till 5:30; a good weather forecast promised a smooth trip so we decided why get started in the dark when there is no reason to do so. Still, the sun never came up till 6:50 and by that time we were at the mouth of the Grand River heading out into Lake Michigan. (It is getting darker earlier and lighter, later; the seasons are changing, time to get south!!)

Leaving Grand Haven at sunrise

Even though the forecast was great for travelling it is always good to be prepared. So we close all the hatches and made sure things that could fall and break are put away.

It was a very fine day for travelling. Three and a half hours later we were anchored in Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck. A very pretty town and very artsy fartsy (that is how the guide book describes it, so don’t sue me) Saugatuck is also known for its large gay population.  The colourful pride flag flies proudly here and everywhere you can see the power of the pink dollar. Those of you, who know me, know that I love the company of gay men, so it was delight for me to chat with some of the guys in town.

One of many gorgeous mansions
on the Kalamazoo River

The Star of Saugatuckan authentic sternwheeler paddleboat
that takes tourist on trips around the bay to show them the town
from a different angle

Besides that, there are lovely little gardens, plenty of art work scattered around the town and then the usual ice-cream and fudge shops.

Oneof many little gardens in the village ofSaugatuck

In true looper fashion we ended the day with cocktails, in the company of SV Flying Free, MV Wild Goose and MV Next to me.

Anchored in Kalamazoo Lake before we were told by
the Sheriff to move cause there was
a big cruise boat coming in and she would need room
to turn. We only had to move a 100 feet or so.

August 19, 2012

The crew off SV Flying Free

We were planning on leaving today but we have 10 days before we want to be in Chicago, so we were convinced to stay for another day. We did some more sightseeing as we walked around town with the crew from SV Flying Free.

Chain ferry Diane Saugatuck, Michigan

The Saugatuck Duck , another tourist sightseeing vechile.
It kept coming past us while we were at anchor and
were amazed to see the cats
wondering around on the deck. We actually became part of the tour as the
guide kept stopping at our boat and pointing out the Canadian flag on our stern.

Gary said this game was made with me in mine: shopping
 at tourist traps in Saugatuck

I am so glad to have internet on the boat again. I had to go without for a few days and it drove me crazy to be disconnected. Thank you for friends who helped out with wifi connections and also to MV Next to me for daily (and sometimes twice a day) weather updates. Much appreciated.

…………………………………………………………to be continued