Northport to Muskegon Michigan

 

Leaving Mackinac Island heading west on The Straits of Mackinac. Passing under the 135 foot high Mackinac Bridge, you are now in Lake Michigan. The 4 mile long bridge serves as the dividing line between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

6:11 am

Passing by a light house

On the eastern shore  of Lake Michigan every 20-30 miles there is a safe harbor of refuge.  Storms can quickly force a boat to take shelter.  Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State Waterways Commissions work together to provide boaters the best enjoyment on their waterways.

North Port Marina, North Port MI

We traveled 82.7 miles in rough waves for 3/4s  of the day.  We were pretty rough around the edges when arriving at the fuel dock.  Tomorrows forecast is just as bad so we stayed 2 nights.

We dined at the Soggy Dollar and went into town the next day to check it out.  An old 1859 sawmill was now a party rental for functions.  We had lunch at the North End Eatery.  Clever names were given to their dishes: The Skipper’s Dipper, The Flying Pig and Yo Adrian just to mention a few.

5:32 am Brought another beautiful sunrise.  Another long day down to Manistee

The eastern shore is known for its giant sand dunes.  They can reach 450 feet high.  

Sleeping Bear sand dune

 

Captain Larry making an entry into his log, he does at least 3 a day, every day we travel.

 

Manistee, MI

The break wall into Manistee river.

Manistee in Chippewa language is “Spirit of the Woods.”  Manistee Lake was heavily used by the lumber industry and millions of board feet of lumber and waste set on the bottom.

Park Dairy’s Diner

After plying the waves another 102 miles, we had a “Flight of Five” ice cream sampler.  I Had to get 5 to go cups.  Each was a double scoop.  At just  $7.00 it was a steal.  The chocolate cherry amaretto and chocolate chip mint were excellent.

The restaurant was a retro 50s throw back complete with poodle skirt and juke box music. Notice the soda straw wrappers stuck to the ceiling.  We used to do that when we were in High School!  A little mustard on the end and shoot it to the ceiling!

A free summer outdoor concert was taking place as we walked back to the marina.

Read, follow and understand the warning signs.  It could save your life.

Morning light on the break wall.  Heading to Muskegon

Passing more sand dunes

 

Muskegon, MI

 

These 2 outer break walls extend 1/2 mile from shore with a 500 foot opening between the two.  Keep the red on the right! (Starboard) coming in!

And the green on the left! (port)

Muskegon Light House sets on the 3/4 mile cement channel wall on the Lake Michigan end.

 

USS Silversides a WWII Submarine and Museum are on the cement channel wall. 

 

Retired McLane, Coast Guard vessel sets behind the sub.

 

Captains Log: As we pulled into the harbor parallel to the submarine, we were following a runabout.  I saw a Coast Guard vessel coming out from behind a breakwater at the Coast Guard Station.  On the deck were three “Coasties”  readying  some large orange fenders.  I told Cindy “somebody is getting boarded and I hope it’s not us”. 

When I saw him heading out into the channel, I made sure to slow down and let him in in front of us.  I don’t know if that entered into his decision as to who to stop or not, but what a relief when they pulled the boat in front of us over.  I was elated that it was not us.  I always keep all of our paperwork current and try to obey all of the rules but you never can tell when something might slip through the cracks.

We have been fortunate to not have been stopped anywhere on the loop so far.  I hope our luck holds out until we get back.

Sunset at the marina

Cindy’s Observations:  While in Canada I received word that my mother had urgent medical needs.  We did not want to leave the boat there, so we motored long days to reach a safe and convenient stopping point to get a rental car and drive home.   Muskegon was our choice to leave the boat, and if needed, could leave it there as long as necessary.

Back in the USA

 

Back in the USA

Drummond Island and Mackinac Island, MI

After our delightful stay in Canada we were ready to return to our homeland.

From the North Channel you navigate on an east-west heading to Drummond Island, MI.  We came from the north down through De Tour Pass south into the north tip of Lake Huron.  From Lake Huron we head west through the Straits of Mackinac into the north side of Lake Michigan.  The western shore of Michigan state is referred to as the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan’s name comes from the Chippewa Indian word for large lake “michigama.”  The 3rd largest and second deepest of the five Great Lakes   Lake Michigan is roughly 118 miles wide by 307 miles long in a north-south direction.  The water at its warmest only 70 degrees.  Boating starts when the ice is melted in May to the end of September.  Most marinas close then only providing a tie up to the dock.  Fishing is a main stay for locals. 

  Our first stop in the USA will be Drummond Island, MI to clear customs and immigrations.

Cindy’s Observations:  The only way to hide the contraband was to eat it.  I made a big fruit salad for lunch and squeezed the limes into Larry’s margarita  pitcher.  We did not get boarded and the only thing he wanted was the 1 lemon, 1 lime and 1 tomato that I admitted to having when I talked with him on the phone.  FYI cut fruit is legal, so slice and bag to keep on board.

Our first night in the US at anchor in Pigeon Cove.  It felt good to be back in the USA.

Seaglide and Barefootn were already anchored when we cleared customs.  We met for docktails on Seaglide.  The (one sided) love story continues between Heidi and Amos. 

6:01 am brought a beautiful sunrise to start the day

Light houses of north Lake Huron

 

Approaching Mackinac Island.  The circumference of the island is approximately 8 miles.

Fort Mackinac is easy to spot with the white washed walls.

The high speed fairy spouts a large rooster tail.

Mackinac Island State Harbor is run by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan State Waterways Commission.

South Sally Port, original entrance

Views from the gun platform

Lake Shore Blvd is the only Michigan state highway where cars are banned. Since the automobile ban in 1898 horse drawn carriages/taxis and horse back are the allowable transportation.

Arch rock bicycle trail in route to see the rock formation

Not this rock, the next picture, but isn’t it cool looking.

Rising 146 feet the natural hard breccia Arch Rock was formed by thousands of years of wind and water erosion.

The span is 55 feet at the widest point

Views from the top

Scout Barracks houses young scouts from Michigan on a weekly basis during summer to serve as guides on the island. The program began in 1929 with eagle scouts’ future President Gerald Ford in the first troop.

This troop is marching up Fort Hill following tradition

The Governors Summer Residence and grounds complete with a golf course.  A water hazard on the 7th green was a cattle pond in the pasture back in the day.

 

The Governor’s Summer Residence seen from the lake side.

Surrey Hill Square

Fortunate guests riding to the Grand Hotel in style on their private coach.

It is magnificent!  Only the social elite were privileged to stay here for a summer visit.   Today there are 130,000 guests a season.  No one is permitted to walk along the private owned hotel without proper attire past 6:00 pm.

In 1980 the film Somewhere in time was shot at the hotel.  Which by the way, the movie’s fans meet every October at the hotel.

At 660 feet the porch is the longest in the world.  Two hundred and sixty flower boxes line the porch rails with 2,500 geraniums and 7 tons of soil.

The Bell Hop was very friendly when asked for his picture on the main stairs into the hotel lobby

The adjacent grounds were kept beautifully

 

In 1947 Esther Williams’ movie “This time for keeps” was filmed at this pool which bears her name.  The private hotel swimming pool is set with lounge chairs and tables.

The view from the street in front of the hotel onto the lake

“Big Mac” in the background

There are 500 horses on the island to transport all the visitors

Little Stone Church constructed of natural stone from the island in 1900.  The stained glass windows show historic events of the island.

One of the busy streets by the water front pier.

 

Bicycles are the most popular mode of transportation next to walking

Father Jacques Marquette stands in Marquette Park.  He started a mission for the natives.

In 1875 the Federal Government created Mackinac Island as the 2nd American national park.  Yellowstone being the first, three years earlier.

Victorian style homes built in the 1800s by the marina.

Mackinac is another place to come back and enjoy the sights.  One afternoon was not enough.

 

5:31 am leaving Mackinac passing the lighthouse on way to North Port, MI.

This cargo/tanker was coming  from behind to overtake us.  Our speed is 8 knots the cargo ship is doing 30 knots.  Luckily, we could see him on AIS sneaking up behind us.

Look at the huge push of water on his bow in comparison to the size of the pilot house on top. It didn’t take long before we were in the wrath of his ginormous wake.

6:09 am  passing under Mackinac Bridge.  This cargo ship was 900 ft long.  This is a lot of excitement for so early in the morning.  It will be a long day to North Port.