A brilliant morning! Cruisers were moving out, fishermen bobbing gently in the calm waters, people milling about and school buses delivering students to their appropriate schools.
We moved the floating dingy around to drain some of the accumulated water out and lift it up to its cradle. However, when it was about a foot off the water, the cable clip broke and down it plopped. Thankfully it was not up high when it let go. So anyway, we will be towing the dink today.
Now getting ready to leave was no easy task. Not only did we have to reevaluate how the dingy would make today’s travels but we had a gazillion ropes and bumpers to contend with, fuel to be taken on and septic to be pumped out. That done we finally bid the Frankfort, MI adieu and tentatively headed out onto the “Big Lake”, passing a docked tug, ferry and an USGS research boat. The USGA is a science agency, established by Congress in 1879, that collects information needed to understand the Nation’s waters. After much research, charting, and evaluation they provide the public with water data, publications and maps.
GOOD BYE FRANKFORT MARINA
LAZING TUG
BOAT
Our exit path was littered with small fishing boats, both inside Betsie Lake and in the breakwater area. Evidentially we weren’t the only ones experiencing “cabin fever” because Dan counted 27 little boats, all of them overflowing with trolling deprived fishermen.
FISHING BOATS TROLLING THE BREAKWATER
HAPPY GUYS
Lake Michigan was not smooth by any means but it was certainly less tumultuous than in the past few days and the waves were behind us, pushing us along. We set our course and buckled down for a long day. We do have visions of getting out of Lake Michigan at sometime. If we keep at our pace of the last week, we will be spending Thanksgiving here!
Oh that all of our “rough” days could be like this! The 3 to 4’ waves were behind us, urging us on our way and the gentle wind gave us no problems. By noon we had passed Manistee, our intended destination on Monday, and were well on our way to Pentwater, MI. Our next landmark was Big Sable Lighthouse,’ 106’ high and visible from 20 miles away. By 1:30 we were passing by the sand dunes of Ludington State Park where kites were being flown by a few holdouts. By now the waves were barley 1 to 2’ and traveling was just delightful.
BIG SABLE LIGHTHOUSE
LUDINGTON STATE PARK
We are again seeing freighters crossing the great lake to deliver whatever their massive cargo hulls might contain.
TRAFFIC ON LAKE MICHIGAN
By 3:00 we were rounding the breakwater, bordered by a series of large sand dunes, and entering into the charming lakeshore town of Pentwater. We appreciated the eager assistance from the Snug Harbor Marina dock hands and made an easy docking.
ENTRANCE TO THE PENTWATEER CHANNEL
WELCOME TO OUR HARBOR
HOMES LINE THE CHANNEL
As soon as everything was tied down, plugged in and hooked to water Dan began the repair of the dingy davit cable. Would that all our repairs were as simple, we had the necessary parts and he had it done in about 10 minutes, max. The dingy is now nestled safely up in its cradle and ready for tomorrow’s travels.
DAN AND HIS DINK
We got our walking shoes on and gave the town of Pentwater the “once over”. The Brass Anchor, a fabulous little establishment with marine supplies as well as nautical antiques, captured our business and Dan purchased a new wheel for the pilot house. Nice!
NICE WHEELE!
We found that Peter and Connie on the Maine Sail had come into port and visited with them on their lovely 42’ Catalina sailboat. We had met them in Leland and they visited our Quest in Frankfort..
What a perfectly lovely day this was. Thank you, thank you!!
No comments:
Post a Comment