8.01
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| 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.
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| Sunset... |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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