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| the 'Wednesdays' at Spectators |
This last week has been filled meeting with friends and tying up loose ends.
For more years than we care to count, we have had a standing Wednesday dinner date with friends. We met at different restaurants from Saugatuck, Fennville and Holland. ALL the 'Wednesday's ' came this week. Back where it all started years ago... Spectators. In the beginning, their were just 3 of us. Over time, the 'Wednesday''s' grew. Not everyone came every week but every once in a while...all 16 made it!
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| Sandy and Carrie |
Before we new it, it was Sunday the 14th, Departure day. 1pm. Best'ie Carrie came along for the first leg of the ride as well as Sandy. The crew had a toast to the voyage, slipped Neptune and Poisiden a bit of grog to ward off Mischief and Mayham.
Jim's 'harem' cast off the lines and we were off.
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| We're off ... |
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| We are ready ! |
It had been a misty, ok rainy, Saturday and into Sunday but sister Sunshine popped out to see us off as did a few dock mates. Lake Michgan was peacful and the shoreline shrouded in sheetlets of fog. The course was set for Port Sheldon. Chris (the auto pilot) took over the steering. The girls slipped a bit more grog in the glasses while Jim kept a lookout. It was a pleasant ride with good conversation. With 3 1/2 hours and just over 5 miles under our keel, we fired up the iron jeeny, boat-talk for engine, and made better time. The fog got the better of us and the radar was employed. Port Sheldon off to starboard, course change and through the channel we headed. We had the anchorage to ourselves. We set the anchor and readied the dingy for a trip to shore. Dinner at Sandy Point restaurant. Janis met us for dinner then gave the departing crew a ride home. Returning to the dingy we discovered the boat was gone! Not really, it was shrouded in fog. The white hull surrounded by the thick fog made it nearly invisible.
Monday morning dawned to more fog so we got a late start... nearly noon. White Lake the destination. Aproximatly 30 miles. Little to no wind meant more motoring. Within a couple hours, the fog too thick to see much beyond our noses so back to the radar for navigation.
We had LOTS of practice with radar last summer currcumnaviagting Lake Michigan for 6 weeks. We feel pretty comfortable with it now.
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I made the most of the time below, watching the radar and making pasta sauce for spaghetti dinner tonight. Sudden blips appearing on the radar turned out to be fishing nets. One boat motored out of the fog off the port side then headed north to pass forward of us. A bit too close for our comfort though.
Today's 'fly' report.... Yes, they are out here. In the fog. Keeping us company. At least they are the non biters today. Thank you ...
I inadvertently made a 'fly trap' by asking Jim to hang the red dish cloth on the lifeline to dry.... Grooooosss !
Text exchange between Jim and Rose & Dave (aboard ReRun making for Frankfort also swatting flies, dodging boats and fishing nets in the fog today ...)
Jim: tonight I'm drinking to all the flies that died today...
Rose: ... and thankful we didn't (die) ...
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| Dinner ... sans flies ! |
We approached the harbor with no visuals. Fog completely enveloping the entrance. (Very thankful for the chart plotter and radar! ) We were 2 to 3 boat lengths from where we thought the pier head should be.... I'm on the bow searching desperately !!!! Finally a shadowy image to the starboard side.... it's a pier head ... but which one? It looks red.... I think it's a triangle .... then the north channel marker looms to the port side.... we are positioned to enter the channel.... wheeew !
White Lake ahead. We can make out the shore line.
Anchor down. Flies hosed off. Dinner served.
Next port :
Pentwater, MI.
Shopping list :
2 new fly swatters!
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