Port Sheldon to Home

8.4 - 8.5

White Lake to Port Sheldon, Pigeon Lake - Saugatuck, Tower Harbor Marina

White Lake

The morning was pleasant and warm… 72 degrees.  Coffee, orange juice, cereal and we are off.  Motor sailed to Port Sheldon.  Arrival, early afternoon.  One boat scooted in just ahead of us.  Darn them!  They took our favorite anchor spot… no worries, plenty of room.  we are the only 2 boats so far.  We sat around and had a leisurely afternoon soaking up the sun.  Decided to dinner at Sandy Point Beach House restaurant .  Cleaned up a bit and dinghy’d off to the boat launch, then a short walk to the restaurant.  Burgers and fries tonight.  Back on board sitting quietly to the hum of the coal fired electoral plant near by.  Another boat has joined the anchorage.  

Kind of hazy...

8.5 

Port Sheldon

It’s been kind of quiet aboard the last couple days as we traveled.  Wrapped up in our own thoughts of returning to our other life and reflecting on the trip.  Today we made the last leg of the voyage and headed for home.  No wind again.  A rain storm on the horizon.  As we round the pier-head headed south, it seems we won’t  be able to skirt the weather.  Within minutes the rain cuts loose and foulies are put to use again.  Hot tea and no bake cookies help the crew muster the next few miles.  The rain passes within an hour, the clouds part to bring out the sun.  Warm again.  Big Red slides by our port side off Holland.  We are one of few boats on the Lake today.  Ahead the ‘white ball’ atop Mnt Baldy tells us we are almost home.  Through the pier head, we feel the heat of land.  The last 30 minutes motoring through the river allow time to tidy things and make final mental adjustments for land lubbin’ again.  Jim eases the ship into the slip and lines are fastened and adjusted.  Everything seems as we left it.  Were we really gone 6 weeks?

Mr. K.     I think he missed us ... 

We walked the 3 miles home to get a car.  Home has survived out absence nicely. Piles of mail to go through.  Mr. K seems to have missed us.  We returned to the boat with vehicle and start the arduous task of packing up.  Upon returning to the boat, we meet friends  who will depart tomorrow for 10 days.  it’s good to see familiar faces.  We take a load home and start the unpacking followed by another day of the same.  Anne did a fantastic job looking after things as did, Bob, Carrie and young Jim.  Thank you all soooo much.  

Home

Next big trip ?… Live aboard and travel about beginning next summer: until we get tired of it or each other…. 

Arcadia, Ludington and White Lake, MI

8.01 

Beach near Arcadia, MI

We left Frankfort bound for Arcadia 10 miles south.  No wind.  Must motor the whole way.  A couple hours later anchor is set in Arcadia Lake.  The town is a quick dinghy ride away but we choose not to go.  We have enough supplies and would like to enjoy staring at nature instead.  An early afternoon ride to the south beach area.  We beached the dinghy and threw out a couple of sheets and soaked up some sun.  Jim made a gallant attempt to swim.  It was even too cold for him.  Sandwiches and water for a late lunch watching the waves lap at the beach.  The beach is nearly deserted.  Back aboard we read and enjoyed the gentle bob of the boat at anchor.  Swans and Canadian Geese keep  us company.  Dinner.  Jim grilled steaks and I made green beans with onions and bacon.  A couple of toasty buns.  Washed it down with a glass of red.  Sun setting through a layer of clouds.  A rigging check and off to bed.  

Sunset...

At anchor ...

8.02

Up and out by 8:30.  Heading to Ludington, 35 miles to the south.  Cool but pleasant morning. 70 degrees. A slight breeze on the nose.  Have to motor again.  The fishing fleet is out, their down riggers are set.  A check of the AIS shows we are on a collision course with ‘the Manistee'.  Not the town, the freighter.  A check of the horizon and off to port we see her… (although I think freighters are ‘hims’).  Our AIS says we will intersect (shipwreck ! ) in 12 minutes unless one of us changes course.  Jim takes the wheel and relieves ‘Chris’ the autopilot of duties temporarily.  We safely go behind ‘the Manistee’ by about 1/3 of a mile.  Excitement over, I decide to head below and find something to occupy my time.  Jim gives a shout shortly after.  “Turn on the radar”.  What?… I head up and out to see what he wants and discover we are in a fog bank.  Remember I said we are also in amongst a fishing fleet?…  I now sit vigil on the radar monitor.  The fog horn is activated again.  At any one time there are at least 8 ‘blips’ around us within a mile and a half radius.  Reports go up to Jim so he has a better idea which direction to most focus his attention on.  The temperature has dropped by 8 degrees.  Thankfully the fog bank only lasts for about 20 minutes.  A hot cup of tea helps to cut the chill. The fog haze hangs in the air but visibility is 2 -3 miles at least.  3 miles north of Ludington a call  goes out to the Coast Guard by a boater in need of a tow.  We are 2 miles from the boat and offer assistance.   They accept.  We alter course.  Shortly after, the boat needing assistance calls to say a passing fisherman has just offered help.  They accept and we readjust course for the waypoint off the harbor.  They enter the harbor under tow at about the same time as us.  We continue past town and to the anchorage area.  We have our choice of spots as it is empty.  A few kayaks go by and a powerboat or two.  The setting is tree lined off the bow, an industrial complex aft but the anchorage is large and there is virtually no noise from the complex. 

The freighter 'Manistee'

Town in the distance to starboard with the ‘Spartan’ secured to a pier.  She is the sister ship of the Badger, the ferry which runs between Ludington and Manitowoc, WI.  Her days of sailing are over, she is used for parts for the Badger.  

Naps are taken.  Books are read.  Calls home to catch up on happenings there.  Dinner is eaten: spaghetti with sweet Italian sausage and dinner rolls.  

8.03

I was up at the crack of 7:30…. Jim was ready to go.  We needed fuel because of all the motoring so up anchor and off to the fuel dock.  Less than ten minutes at the dock, a personal record.  Excellent line handling by the marina crew, all in their teens.  The winds were great.  15 - 20 knots.  Unfortunately from the south, our desired direction.  Jim set the sails anyway and managed to sail for an hour continually veering from the rhumb line.  Motor employed.  We had several ‘targets’ on the AIS today.  One being ‘Undaunted’ which we saw 4 weeks ago in Sturgeon Bay.  3 others were Coast Guard boats heading north, I assume departing from the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven.  Mile after mile we motored.  40 miles made good.  It was calm enough we both were able to get showers.  Not easy while underway… everything in motion as the boat marches through the water.  

Anchor set in White Lake.  Familiar waters.  After dinner we sat in the cockpit for a while.  Another sailboat came past having been on the big Lake.  Jim grabbed the binoculars for a closer look and recognized it.  It was on the cover of “Good Old Boat’ magazine last month.  Not only that we know the new owner.  Small world.  Purchased in Bayfield, WI the new owner, Joe, told us he would be having it delivered this summer.   I believe we will see it tomorrow evening as well.  Our plans are to anchor in Pigeon Lake / Port Sheldon which is where we believe Joe plans to keep the boat.  

The weekend boat traffic has gone and it is peaceful and quiet. Barely a ripple at the hull.   A couple of small fishing vessels trolling about.  A few fish jumping to tease them into staying just a bit longer.  

Frankfort MI...

7.29

We almost made it!  

We were up early, out of the harbor just after eight.  We would be on the Island before noon.  The winds were light but we could sail most of the way. Then we would anchor, hike, enjoy the afternoon.  But the wind was fickle and changed direction so we started the motor.  

Per routine,  Jim checks the engine before, during and after using it.  What does he find?   a coolant leak.  We shut down the engine, hove to and ate a late breakfast giving the engine time to cool for a better inspection.  It reveals a leak at the coolant pump.  No way to fix it underway.  Island plan aborted and a new waypoint for Frankfort is plottered.    We set sails again in order to  keep the engine use down.  We find some wind and do 4.5 to 6 knots on and off for several hours.  We only had 30 miles to go from Leland but it’s a long haul at that speed.  2 miles off Frankfort with 1 1/2 knots of wind we decide we have to motor the rest of the way in order to make the marina and meet the mechanic before the close of business.  Jacobson’s Marina was very accommodating and hooked us up with ‘Bruce’ a competent diesel mechanic, before we even reach port.  Bruce met us after-hours, removed the faulty pump and will work on getting a replacement.  

Boat dialysis 

So, we are in Frankfort, which is named for ‘Frank's Fort’… ‘Frank’ built a house here when the area was being settled and it was dubbed ‘Frank’s Fort’ which was shortened over time to the current name.  I have to find a picture of this house…

So the boat saloon is in shambles due to repairs.  The engine is in the middle of the boat under the saloon / dinning seating area.  Anything that we want not oily, dirty, etc. must move.  Jim takes the opportunity to change the oil and the transmission fluid while things are in disarray.  By the time the first installment of fixing our boat in exotic places (Frankfort MI ???)  is done, it is 8:30.  Too tired to go out, we eat spizy bean burgers and a caesar salad.  Then off to the pool / hot tub!  It’s the first time we have been truly hot the whole trip.  We close our eyes and imagine we are in a tropical paradise… We are making the best of a bummer situation.  Hopefully we won't have that to fix ever again.  Slowly we are replacing / fixing all the parts of the boat.  5 years and Jim has gotten quite intimate with her, from the top of the mast to the bottom of her keel, bow to stern. Bilge to deck.  I doubt there is a spot he hasn't seen.   Off to bed.  

7.30

We really slept in!  nearly 8am. The warm fuzzy from the pool did us in.  While awaiting Bruce’s call about the water pump we walked around town.  very lovely.  The old store fronts and buildings are here and nearly all filled with businesses. Some trendy some regular old shops.  We spent money at the Ace Hardware… needed bolts for project.  Back on board the call comes in from Bruce.  A new pump is being shipped today for arrival tomorrow.  Should be installed by early afternoon if all goes according to plan.   

how cool is this  ...

Bruce…     Bruce has a great work ethic and is passing it on to his 3 sons.  He has two mechanic shops.  20 something employees.  Mostly working on trucks.  In the summer he leaves the trucks to the employees and does boat repair (thank goodness for us!).  He brings at least ones of his sons on each job.  They are learning the trade through him.  Jim was told about Bruce’s oldest son who just completed a Marine Tech course.   At one point the class was presented with a situation which no one including the instructor could figure what was wrong with the engine they were trying to fix.  The young man took a closer look and correctly diagnosed the problem.  Kudos to you Bruce.

Lite lunch at the ‘Storm Cloud Brewery’.  Great designer pizzas.  we had one with root vegetables.  Beets, rutabaga, corn, onion… 

Back at the marina again again we read some and play some pool at the club house, I won 2 of 2 games :) … Good thing slop shots count… For dinner I made ‘Michigan Gumbo’, my adapted version of southern gumbo with what I had or rather didn't have.  After dinner Jim worked on his Turks Head bracelet and then we went off to warm up at the hot tub.  John the owner of Jacobson Marina was there and we had a nice chat.  

7.31
A long wait.  coffee.  orange juice.  cereal.  read.  walk to town.  buy cool shirts.  do laundry.  lunch.  read.  wait some more.  walk around town again.  Bake some lemon bars.  PHONE CALL … part is here, he’ll be here soon !  It is after 5 in the afternoon before all is said, done and working.  But we are mobile again.  We celebrate with dinner at The Dinghy Restaurant  and Bar.  Good regular food and drink.  We top off the night with a stint in the hot tub accompanied by several other boaters.  All warmed up and back aboard plans are made to depart in the morning.  Destination: Arcadia.  10 miles south.  We have never been there before.  It is a small harbor.  We’ll anchor out and swing with the breeze.  Should be peaceful.