A hint of September...

 Monday, Sept 8:

We got up and I started working.  Wes filled our water tanks and got the boat ready for travel after being in the marina for a week.  We dropped the lines and took off around 1100 as we were just going to Oyster Bay on Lake Charlevoix.  It was good to be back on the water and moving!  We dropped the anchor around 1245.  We got small bursts of sunshine, but still mostly cloudy and still a little windy.  We were pretty protected though, so it was a nice afternoon and evening at anchor.  The moon was almost full and very bright!  The picture doesn't do it justice!

 

Tuesday, Sept 9:

We both got up and I started working while Wes worked on video stuff.  We pulled the anchor around 1230.  The wind is still blowing and there are still 2-3 foot waves on Lake Michigan, so we went into Charlevoix Marina for the night.  We got tied up around 1330 then once I finished work, we decided to explore Charlevoix a little.  We saw a few "mushroom" houses and even a dragon on a rooftop!  There was a cute little "sign" to get your picture taken, so of course I did it.  It's a cute town!  There were some beautiful flowers that I had to take some pictures of!  We had a couple beverages at Villager Pub where we talked with another couple that was visiting by land.  It was a nice visit.  Then back to the boat for dinner.  After dinner, we walked up on shore where a bunch of loopers were hanging out.  We visited for a little bit, but it broke up around sunset, so we went back to the boat and enjoyed a quite evening and to bed early.    

Wednesday, Sept 10:

Wes got up at 0530 and I got up shortly thereafter.  We wanted to get the 0630 bridge opening.  We got out onto Lake Michigan.  It was l little choppy crossing Traverse Bay, but not bad at all.  A good day to be on the lake!!  We got to Frankfort around 1600 and dropped the anchor.  There were quite a few boats already anchored out.  We weren't the only ones with that idea!  😊  It's neat seeing the channels off Lake Michigan and lead into these port towns all along Michigan.  They each have their own charm, but are similar.  

I finished up work, then we relaxed on the aft deck for a bit enjoying the good weather and beautiful views.  A couple stopped by (gold loopers) on their dinghy to say hi.  We visited for a bit, then dinner.  We went in a little before sunset.  Relaxed inside a bit then to bed.  I so enjoy these quiet nights on anchor.  It is so peaceful!  I also got some sunset pictures.  I so enjoy the colors in the sky for sunrises and sunsets!

Thursday, Sept 11:

Wes woke up early and I was about an hour behind him.  We were both up in the salon before sunrise, so once it got light enough to see (about 0630) we pulled the anchor and headed out onto Lake Michigan.  I had to take a couple pictures of the morning sky.  It was so beautiful!  There were quite a few boat out there already fishing, but the water was serene.  We had some moments of choppiness, but not a bad ride.  There were several other boats out there as well.  All of us taking advance of the nice calm day!  We had a "stowaway" feathered friend.  The bird "hung out" with Wes on the flybridge for quite a bit.  He enjoyed the buffet of bugs and we were happy to let him has his fill (as long as he didn't use our boat as his toilet).  He even landed on Wes's hat a couple of time and let Wes touch him.  We had following seas, so the autopilot worked a bit more than usual, but we made it to Pentwater around 1430.  I was on a call for work, so Wes dropped the anchor solo.  We got settled and relaxed a bit on the aft deck.  Then inside for leftovers for dinner then a quite night at anchor.

Friday, Sept 12:

We got up a daybreak and pulled and anchor.  We headed out onto Lake Michigan around 0645.  The lake was nice and calm, but still a little chilly.  Once the sun rose, it helped warm things up, but the breeze was still on the cool side (at least for me).  As the day went on, it got warmer.  We had a couple of "stowaways" today.  Another on the flybridge with Wes and one got in our salon area.  They just hung out and didn't hurt anything.  I was able to shoo the bird in the salon out without too much trouble.  They both were so cute!!  

We got into Holland around 1600.  I got some pictures as we approached.  We went to the fuel dock first to pump out and try and get an idea of where we were going to be.  The fuel dock was a fixed dock and quite tall.  Our fenders were basically useless, but we managed.  Wes took a walk to A dock where we were to be, but he forgot the slip number, so we didn't know what side we were going to be tying to.  We managed and docked into our slip without assistance (they were short handed at the marina).  It took a bit to get organized, but we finally got settled into our slip around 1700 and found out it only had 30amp service whereas, we need 50amps.  It took them awhile to get back to us and in the meantime, we pulled out our split adapter where we can take two 30amp plugins and connect our 50amp plug.  We don't like to use that for an extended stay, but it's cooler so we think we will be fine.  Once we finally got all settled, we had a landing drink on the aft deck, then we made dinner.  We hung outside until the sun went down, then we went in and relaxed a bit before bed.

Wes took pictures from both helms.  He does all his plotting on the lower helm with the computer but does most of his driving from the flybridge.

Saturday, Sept 13:

Wes got up before me (not a big surprise).  I slept in until about 0800 then was a bit lazy and laid in bed on the iPad for a bit, then finally got up.  Wes made us breakfast sandwiches, then he did some video work and I had some work to do.  It was a rainy morning, so we just stayed in.  Once it stopped raining, Wes went up and checked in.  Deb and Brownie came from Bay City area to see us (and their daughter).  Deb, Brownie, Wesley (their daughter) and her husband Ben arrived around 1500.  We sat on the aft deck and enjoyed visiting with a couple beverages.  Then we loaded up in their car and we went to Windmill Island Gardens.  I wanted to see a windmill. 😊  By the time we got there it was after 1700 which is their regular closing time, but it is open to locals later.  Good thing we were with locals!  The place is beautiful with flowers all around.  In the spring they have thousand of tulips planted.  I imagine it is spectacular!  They also have a large organ (shown below).  It is a site to see.  You can't see all the detail in the picture!  They also have a replica of a drawbridge from the Netherlands and of course a couple windmills! There is also a little "town" area with shops.  It is very quaint and I would recommend stopping if you can.

We then loaded back up and went downtown.  We went to Hops at 84 East for dinner.  We all enjoyed their brick oven pizza and some beverages.  They also had some live music.  It was good food and even better company!  After dinner, we went back to the boat and the others went home.  We relaxed or a little bit then off to bed.

 

Deb and I at the big wooden shoe!

Deb, myself and Wesley at Hops where we had dinner.

 Sunday, Sept 14:

Wes got up early as usual while I was lazy (as usual).  We got some things done around the boat, then around 1130, we walked over to the fuel dock, where Ben, Wesley, Deb and Brownie picked us up in Ben & Wesley's little boat.  We took about a 20 minute boat ride to Saugatuck.  The boys went to The BARge to watch football and have a couple beers, while us ladies walked around and checked out the shops.  It was a vey nice afternoon.  We joined the guys, ate some food and had a couple of beers ourselves.  Then we walked over to Coral Gables where there was some live music.  It was a one man show, but he was good and also funny.  We enjoyed one drink there, then we walked back to their little boat.  We road back to Holland, where our friends Scott and Narissa on Lemonade had anchored out near the marina we stayed, so we tied up to them and chatted a bit.  Then they dropped their dinghy in the water and we went to Lolo's, but they were closing.  So we said goodbye to Deb, Brownie, Wesley and Ben and we got in Scott and Narissa's dinghy so the others could pull their boat out and get home to the dog and their kids.  We road over to Reservoir where Scott and Narissa had dinner and Wes and I had a beer.  Then back in the dinghy.  It was dark at this point.  We dropped Narissa off at Lemonade, then Scott took us back to Toscana.  We relaxed for a little bit, then went to bed.  It was a long day, but a very good day!