Getting ready....

Jim and I are working feverishly! We completed our first leg from our homeport of Bay City, Michigan. The boat was packed with everything we thought we would need (??) and our two boys. Buddy and BooBoo that is!

Gorgeous morning and we were not 5 minutes away from the dock when our boat neighbor Gordie called to say goodbye. We had not wanted to wake Gordie and Gail and he wanted to say goodbye. How nice!

Next stop Harrisville where we spent the night. Harbormaster and staff are so friendly at this stop and we always enjoy our visits in Harrisville. Then off to Mackinaw City. 30 knots of wind too much for you? Fun stuff on Epic, the racing Beneteau 42 I have raced on for years, but not so much on a trawler. We arrived....that is about all I can say!

Next stop Beaver Island. Jim and Judy Jones built a house on the south side of the Island. Gorgeous spot and home! Jim picked us up within 1/2 hour of arrival, showed us the Island and brought us to their home for dinner. A fabulous home cooked meal already!

Next stop Washington Island at the tip of the Door Peninsula. Long 10 hour ride for the boys and they are happy to arrive at Washington Island after snaking through Death's Door. A bit intimidating!

Then down the East side of the Door peninsula to Bailey's Harbor and to Sturgeon Bay for the Grand Banks Rendezvous at Center Pointe Marina. First class marina! Met so many people and made new friends. Somehow I was assigned the task of gathering funds for the club as the "Raffle Queen". How did I get that assignment......OK, it was fun and we raised over $1000 for the club coffers. Lots of Looper advice from those who have enjoyed the experience.

The trip across Lake Michigan was uneventful. At that point of the lake, the distance across the lake is only 58 miles to Frankfort. Cute little town with restaurants (try Coho Cafe) and shops. As luck would have it, our dear friends Harry and Kathy Eiferle were at their house on the Betsie River and they gave us a tour of the area in addition to breakfast!

Arcadia was the most beautiful spot on this trip. Note our new picture! "Crawdad in the Mist" was taken in the early morning as we took the boys to shore in the dinghy for their morning walk. Small and quiet with a long sandy shore on Lake Michigan. We will be back! Next stop, Pentwater. Municipal Marina is small and fills early. In addition they cannot supply 50 amp service or multiple 30 amps. We decided to enjoy the location and run our generator. Many shops and restaurants and we took a great bike ride too.

The weather report for the next few days was windy and wavy. Not what we had in mind. We decided to leave and head "home" to Holland. Isn't home always the city where you were born? My parents and brother and his family still live there, so it was a joy to arrive at "home" and be welcomed by Big Red and the waves of my nephew Matt and his dear wife, Allison.
The boat is at Anchorage Marina. Great spot.