A Manistee Saturday

[singlepic id=191 w=320 h=240 float=left]We awoke to moderate rain and open hatches and ports – in other words, we were wet inside the boat.  We hurriedly closer her up tight and went back to a lazy sleep and awoke around 0900 hrs.

After doing our morning duties SAM went for a walk but I remained behind to play on the internet.  We walked up to a hardware and bought some mosquito spray – both of us had numerous bites – to be used if things got really bad.  On the way back it started to rain again, and remained rainy all day, so we stopped in for a coffee in hopes it would quit.  We walked to the boat – about a half mile – without getting too wet.

We had lunch on the boat and then I took a nap while SAM played on the internet and watched a movie.  After awaking I went out with light jacket in hand to a misting rain and started to walk the “River Walk” down to the other terminus and it really started to rain hard.  SAM came following after, while I was waiting under a bridge to stay dry, and we finished the walk in a steady, heavy rain.  I was soaked to the skin but SAM had a rain coat so went via diversionary route that included all the shops in town.

Then came supper, which was great, and writing on my blog.  Besides being captain I a chief dish dryer and have just completed this task.  This pretty much ends another day in the retired life I have come to enjoy.  Moore later…..

Manistee

Inspiration arrived Manistee Friday about 1400 hrs.  We are staying at the Manistee Municipal Marina for a couple of days due to the forcast rain – we are fair weather sailors if possible.

I awoke to banging around last night and found SAM closing all the ports and hatches we left open – rain had started some time ago and a lot of things below were wet.  They were hung up to dry and we went back to sleep until 0900 hrs because we were tired.

Yesterday I bought a couple of books at the used bookshop and they are in real good shape but the price was high ($5) each.  Today we will put the dingy in the water and motor up river to check things out but right now SAM is trying to find a farmers market to buy some goods.  Moore later…………

Ludington

Arrived in Ludington after a 3 hour motor from Pentwater.  Seas started about 1′ and later built to 2 ‘ & choppy.  Weather was great and the wind was about 4 kt about 30 degrees of port so we could not sail unless we wanted to tack way out and come back.  We got here about 1400 local time.

Leaving Pentwater, we were up and ready for departure about 0730 local.  Engine start was normal and we started to lift the anchor but it was stuck in the mud so we had to use the windlass in earnest.  The chain was real muddy so we are also glad for the  wash down pump.  We took on 33 gallons of diesel and this should last the trip and departed with SAM at the helm.

We intend next stop at Manistee even though they have closed sections of the municipal marina for renovation.  No showers or laundry facilities.   We will probably stay until Sunday or Monday.

Pentwater

We arrived in Pentwater, IM from Muskegon on Tuesday 7/27/10 at 1630.  Bright sunny skies followed us all the way and as forecast the winds were from the south building to 15 knots – this lead to a rolling boat until I put up the sails around White Lake.  The seas were the short period 3′ variety.  We found an anchorage right across the Pentwater Lake from the town.  We will be here until Thursday when we depart for Manistee with alternate of  Ludington.

The internet here is poor so I shall be brief.  We did a tour of the lake when we arrived yesterday and we went aground.  Luckily we were able to reverse off and get out into deeper water.  The charts are incorrect.  Last night we put the dingy in the water and cruised over to the town just before dark.  I also found out the combination of the municipal marina showers so we took a shower too.  It felt good to be clean again.  Today we will explore the town – maybe rent mopeds to do it.

Cruise: The Float Plan

Our friends left at 1500Z this morning on their way North in At Last.  We plan a 1400Z departure headed for Muskegon, MI,  a 40 mile journey, with weather alternates of Port Sheldon or Grand Haven.  We intend to anchor out at least 50% of the time.

After Muskegon, the second day plan is to stay at Pentwater with Ludington as the good sailing day destination.  From there it will be Frankfort or Arcadia. and from there to Manistee and on to Leland.  After that we have not planned yet but I will post on the blog when we have bandwidth.

More RAIN!

[singlepic id=188 w=320 h=240 float=left]I awoke about 0430 to a rocking boat and some distant lightning.  About 0500 the rain started and lasted until 1100 hrs.  The barometer has been relative steady since 1100 hrs yesterday.  Skies are now overcast and humidity is mid-90’s with light SW winds.  It has been a pretty crappy last few days with intense heat, rain and high humidity.  It looks like the rain has mostly passed.

During the height of the rain, Fred of Tower Boat Sales, showed the boat to a prospective buyer.  It was not the best day to show the boat but at least it showed the boat does not leak at all.  He asked a lot of questions which I like because I cannot think of all things to include into the conversation.  Since we will be cruising for a few weeks we agreed to re-visit the whole thing when we return.

A day in PL

At home again in Indiana.  Did some yard work, laundry and used the blower to clean porches and driveway.  There was a pressing issue of new license tags and organizing groceries for the boat.  It was a great and lazy day at home viewing all the beautiful green trees and yard and blue of the lake and various flowers.

I spent some time changing my Facebook photo to one in the kayak earlier this spring.  There was nothing much on email today but the snail mail box was full to the brim.  Karon cut my hair today too so it ended being a full day.

Edge of a storm

[singlepic id=190 w=240 h=240 float=left]UPDATE:  From the radar it looks like we will get smacked and a Special Marine Warning has been issued.

It looks like the small TB cell will pass just to the north of us.  The wind picked up but no rain so it must be the downdrafts around the edges of the storm cells that we are feeling.  Each day for the past week has been getting a tad cooler but the humidity is right up there.  Our aircon has been coping well  but it is a pain for us to get in and out of the boat.

Paramour returned from a short cruise and sits locked up.  We could not visit our friends to see why the sudden return was made.  We hope nothing tragic happened.  We still plan to depart next week sometime.

Big storm this morning

A big storm hit this morning and dropped a tree across the power line feeding the marina.  When I awoke at 0700 it was off.  Earlier I awoke and turned off the Shore Power and was running off the batteries.  The power was back on by 1130.  SAM is out at a garage sale.

Time on my hands

I had some time this hot afternoon to take some pictures of the flowers around our marina in Saugatuck.  I usually do not do slide shows but here is one that I am doing just to try it again.  The transitions are sort of slow but acceptable.

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So there went my afternoon of exceeding energy and retirement.  And yes, I apologize for the lack of professional quality as it was a point and shoot afternoon.  It did not start as a photoshoot but ended up that way for some strange reason.