7.13

heading to Sturgeon Bay, WI

Up early and on the Lake by 9:30.  Lots of west wind, no motoring today.  Sunny most of the day but still chilly.  Sweaters and hats on.  25 miles, 6 -7 knots on the GPS.  20+ knot winds gusting higher.  The boat kept rounding up into the wind so Jim had to take the wheel and relieve the auto pilot.  Following seas made for a smooth ride.  The heal of the boat was steady over 20 the last hour or so, standing down below felt like being at “Mystery Spot”.  The walls all slanted yet you are upright.   Douse the sails and into the channel.  The mouth of the channel was clearly marked.  Wind on the nose motoring through the cut.  

Before casting off Jim plotted our course on the chart plotter and consulted the chart book to ensure we would stay clear of shallow spots, rocks, etc. As we made our through the channel, Jim noticed over head power lines.  Grab the chart!  I can’t find anything about overhead lines…I convince myself we can't possibly clear them although Jim assured me we had plenty of clearance.  I decided the best approach was to be like an ostrich and bury my head, or at least my eyes in my hands.  Of course Jim was correct, we had plenty of clearance.  Safely through, we pulled into  Skipper Buds for fuel (33 gals diesel) and a pump out.  The young men assisting were helpful and pleasant.  Soon we were on our way again.  3 bridges to pass under. The first opens “on demand” so a  VHF call to the bridge tender and when our approach was close enough he obliged.  The next 2 are on the 1/4 and 1/2 hours  following a call to the tender.  We took a slip at Harbor Marina / Skipper Buds.  Very nice, a band / music across the channel, some lunch and tidying up were in order.  Exploring the area, there is a Maritime Museum here, so another tour tomorrow.  Dinner at Kitty O’ Reilly's Irish Pub.  Great atmosphere.  Big bar stools, 2 foot X 2 foot seats, flowers and greenery with an outside seating area.  3 piece band playing our kind of music, soft rock, and a really nice meal of Irish Pub food.  We stayed for a few hours then headed home.  Boat sweet boat. 

7.14

Trolls.   We are docked nearly under the Michigan Street bridge but it’s pretty quiet.  The cars last night sounded like very distant thunder.  Kind of soothing.  Today and tomorrow the bridge will be closed to auto and foot traffic due to maintenance.  Marine traffic will continue however.  Jim set off to replenish out LP tank on foot.  It is suppose to be only a few blocks from here but carrying an propane tank?… I guess he can count it as his “workout” for the day.  He successfully got the tanks filled and was given a ride back to the boat by an employee… thanks! Arms still in sockets.  We put in a full day.  A short hike up the hill to a meat market stocked us with fresh cuts and an organic / local grown market had a few perishable items so we are good for a few days.  Food stowed and a quick lunch then off to the Maritime Museum and a tour of the tug John Purves.  

The museum was nice.  The tug tour was really interesting.  For a period of 15 years the John Purves was the most powerful tug on the Great Lakes.  It was decommissioned then restored for tours here in Sturgeon Bay.  It took 18 full time volunteers 5 years.  The cold front we have been hearing about is flirting around us.  When stopped by the Coast Guard a few days back one of the officers told me there was going to be a “polar vortex” coming through Monday - Tuesday.  

So far (yeah) we have pretty much evaded the rain while underway except for a few quick spurts.  It is cozy down below, even more so with dinner cooking.  Chicken, jicama and zucchini.