Final Leg

OK, all good things must come to an end. But we are already getting ready to leave again on Thursday!! The entire family (except Spike) will be on board for the Fourth of July fireworks in Chicago. Hopefully the Lord will continue to bless us with smooth seas and also a cloudless night (Independence Day Eve actually) for the fireworks. Then we travel back to Grand Haven for the annual Van Hall family reuninion/golf outing.

Pentwater was very nice as usual. This is actually one of our favorite ports to visit. We grilled at the dock but I was interrupted by wind and a downpour. I had watched the radar and thought I could get it done prior to the storm but we had to finish the loins in the convection oven on board. The temp dropped from 80 to 59 degrees in just a short time.

Pics are Julie's breakfast in bed, Snug Harbor marina and the view from our stern at dock here.

Woke up this morning to bright sunshine and a nice temp. We are looking for a smooth ride home (1-3 foot waves expected). Then to the fuel dock and pump out to be ready for the Chicago trip!

We will continue this blog on that trip as well as anytime we spend some time away from our home port this summer. See youall soon.

Frankfort

Nice trip from S. Manitou. Hard to leave such a perfect setting but need to back to GR for that four letter word on Monday....
Had to tie up on the wall until they sorted out slip assignments at Jacobsens but got a nice SW facing slip late afternoon. By the way, they have new ownership, a great new pool and hot tub and they are oh so friendly now. This is even a better destination than when we last visited! A great marina and a cool little town. Just not enough time......
Talked to "Shenanigan's" in the next slip. They too are from GH and are just leaving on a 6 week trip....yes six weeks!! They just retired and have only planned the first couple weeks then they just go wherever their heart leads them. Someday.......
Excellent dinner at Coho Cafe. Shrimp spring rolls and salad for appetizer and a wonderful whitefish, garlic mashed and asparagus dinner. A nice Italian Pinot Grogio to compliment and ....well it was perfect!
Heading for Pentwater this morning. Snug Harbor (Jack) has a slip for us. That will put us still in that great, clear, cool northern waters but within 2 hours of Grand Haven so we can get back to reality tomorrow. Well, time to get that shower and breakfast and then off to Pentwater.

S Manitou

OK we are here and have a cell signal so we will give you all an update. Crossing Death's Door was great until we hit fog at mid lake. We got reprinanded by national park ranger for anchoring too close to a protected bird area but are now anchored overnight legally. Going to frankfort tomorrow then to pentwater and then to GH. A few pics are attached.

Fred and Fuzzy's Waterfont Bar and Grill

Took a dinghy ride for lunch to the above restaurant. First two pics show our view and the dock we used. Nice little two or three mile ride. Lots of sun and nice warm temps.

Walking a long way to a restaurant tonight....Inn at Kristofer's...third pic is taken from the back of our boat and shows how far we have to walk....basically accross the street!

We will cross to S Manitou tomorrow and hope to anchor out at the crescent beach there. Wish us luck with the weather! If too stormy looking we will tie up in Leland instead. Plotted course through Death's Door this afternoon. Julie can't wait! Currents, rocks and waves can't be bad with GPS right?

Hopefully no post tomorrow as there is no wireless on S Manitou! Call us on channel 9 or 16.....

We will post again on Friday when near Michigan!

Fish Creek to Sister Bay

First pic is sunset in Fish Creek. Cool little town, could have stayed a few days. Nice marina and lots of restaurants and shopping. Went to a trendy little spot, Mr Helsinki's which had Asian flair food and a great wine list. Upstairs of one of the clothing stores...really out of the way but very busy and VERY good. But off to Sister Bay on Tuesday it is.....

OK so it took us from 11AM to 5PM to move 8 or 9 miles....Horshoe Island looked too inviting so we just anchored out. Second pic is Sum Escape at anchor on NW corner of the island. Took a dinghy ride around the island, sunned ourselves, had a great lunch and stayed out on the sunpad as the black flies were swarming in the cockpit out of the wind. Wandered into the marina around 5.

Sister Bay is very nice as well. Went to the Mission Grill restaurant last night and had a wonderful prime rib and nice bottle of cab. Made for a long walk back to the boat! Weather has been fantastic the entire trip thus far. Now we are just praying for a safe and smooth crossing tomorrow.

Walked up the hill to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store this morning. Out of tonic water.....can't have that! Got a few veggies, fruits and milk while we were there as well.

Hope to be in Leland late Thurs. Then wander our way home....oh we wish we could do this another week! But only three days of work and then back on board with all our children to cruise to Chicago DuSable Harbor for the Independence Day Eve fireworks extravaganza! Are diesel future up already based on our travels????

For all you boaters out there, we have traveled about 260 miles and are getting around 3/4 MPG. It doesn't make a lot of difference in economy from about 25-30MPH and the diesels just purr at 90% throttle (about 30.5MPH). We can get about .8 MPG if we move at 24 or so. But I do not find the time spent to be worth the little difference. We've been averaging about 27-28 most of the time.

I am sitting on board looking WNW toward the Sister Islands as I write this. Flat calm with a SE wind at present....may have to go anchor out again......or at least take a little dinghy ride. May take the dinghy to a little restaurant up the coast a mile or so tonight. Or walk up the hill...or...we don't need to make decisions!!!!!

See you all soon. Wish you could all experience this. Absolutely perfect......

Blog problems

We somehow lost rhe ability to update from Julies phone so no more pics I guess.  Anyway, we made the trip from Sturgeon Bay to Fish Creek in short order (after waiting for a half hour for a 13 foot bridge to open on the hour).   Nice marina (Alibi).   Anchored off Chambers Island for a little sun and a beverage.  Very calm except for the occasional rouge wave.  Heading for Sister Bay today.  Looks like occasional thunderstorms for the next few days so will have to watch carefully for a window to cross to Leland.  Will update again when we get internet connection again. 

We wish you all could join us....this is beautiful country and water. 

PS  Thank goodness for GPS......and autopilot!

Fish Creek

Excellent seas again today. Had to wait for the bridge opening in Sturgeon Bay...too tall to fit. Lots of shoals and rocks to navigate around. I cannot imagine the old days without GPS. Heading for Sister Bay tomorrow and then will navigate Deaths Door passage on our way to Leland on Wed or Thurs. Anchored off Chambers Island late afternoon as it looks like the wind and waves will start picking up he next couple days. Some pics are attached...beautiful up here!

Milwakee to Sturgeon Bay

Sat night took a couple boats up river for dinner. Lots of condos and restaurants. Only 12 ft clearance on some bridges. Trip to SB was flat. Note the great job done by AP the headless driver (auto pilot is wonderful)

Test

Test with pic...who was driving? AP is really a good driver.

Test of Comcast Upload

Test.   With a crossing picture.

Lake crossing and Milwaukee

We could have rafted off in the middle of the lake as we awaited repairs on the Fountain travelling with us! Nice day here in Milwaukee upon arrival and looks good for today too. I thinnk a dinghy ride up the river is in order today.....

Milwaukee!!!

Perfect seas, one footers at most. One boat had a problem with overheated transmission so we lost an hour or so. Could have rafted off in the middle of the lake it was so calm. Lots of large logs, firewood etc from all the flooding along the rivers....30 miles out in Lake Michigan!. Beautiful here, nice marina. A few pics will be sent later if we can figure it out!!!

Sum Escape

We hope to record some of the memories of our boat trip to Milwaukee and Door County on this site. We hope we are successful!