Saugatuck to Chicago

Sorry I haven't kept up with the blog, just too much going on and lots of things happening.  We did get away from Saugatuck early in the morning and headed to Michigan City, Indiana.  We had to go there because it's an easy jump to Chicago of about 35 miles and because we can say we were in one more state.  We reconnected with Average Looper, Mark and Jane and spent the next day at the Factory Outlet stores just a few blocks away.  Next day Jan went on the bus with them to the Walmart store, exciting!    You know a lot of what we do is laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, and Walmat.  Average Looper and us left early on Sunday morning and headed to Chicago.  They were going to another marina to meet Navigator, Jan and Tom, and we were going to the DuSable Marina in downtown Chicago.  Our friends Dave and Susan are flying in from California to meet and stay with us for the week.

Just starting to see the skyline of Chicago

Where here, The Windy City

Grand Haven to Saugatuck MI

On 8/23/14 we left Pentwater for Grand Haven, MI.  When we were in Charlevoix we met Captain Jim of Change Order, a 63 foot Sea Ray.  He recommend we stay at his home port, Holiday Isle Marina, while visiting Grand Haven.  The Holiday Isle Marina is located on Spring Lake and there is a Holiday Inn attached to the Marina.  The first night we were there a live band was performing on the boat next to us!  Saturday night party on the dock!

When we found out the Holiday Inn was pet friendly we decided to get off the boat for a night.  We enjoyed a nice looooong shower; not worrying about how many times we flushed the toilet; slept in a king sized bed and enjoyed having TV and being able to watch the 49ers beat the Chargers!  What can be better than that!  On Monday, 8/25 after a morning of rain, thunder and lightening we decided to check out the town of Grand Haven once the weather system had passed.  We had a nice lunch in Grand Haven and toured the 6 blocks of downtown.

Tuesday, 8/26, we left for Saugatuck.  Once again Change Order Jim had suggested we stay at the Ship N Shore Motel/Botel! Saugatuck is a great little town with lots of shops and restaurants.  Wednesday there was a band in the park playing all varieties of music.  Wish we could stay longer but the Labor Day traffic was coming to town starting Thursday.  So, we will be off to Michigan City, Indiana!

Arriving in Grand Haven, been there done that! 

Grand Haven Coast Guard Station

Quite an American Legion building

Free wall you can tie up to for the day

Lots of boats here in Grand Haven

This is the Holiday Inn at the marina in Grand Haven

Coming into Saugatuck

You can see Panacea at the Ship N Shore Motel / Boatel

Great place within walking distance to everything

Interesting

The student captain went back to school so the ride is closed for the season

The ole Duck vehicle 

Some more of Saugatuck

Looking across from our dock in Grand Haven

Lake Charlevoix to Pentwater MI

We did stay an extra day in Charlevoix because one of the loopers we traveled with sent an email and said they were coming into Charlevoix to celebrate a birthday.  Turns out they didn't leave the next day from where they were because of visibility.  So we surprised Todd one more time at breakfast in the morning and finally said our goodbyes.  Back at the boat, we did our final preparations for departure early in the morning for a seventy mile destination of Frankfort MI.  We left at 7:30 am and had a beautiful glass water trip the whole way.  We arrived in Frankfort around 3:30 and the only thing we did was walk to the post office and walk Chloe.  I made one of Jan's favorite, patty melts, for dinner and we went to bed early for our next destination, Pentwater.  We left at 8:00 am and again had glass water but heavy fog.  Fog is a good thing on Lake Michigan because that means no wind which means no waves.  I love my Garmin radar and could see anything in the way.  The fog finally lifted and we pulled into Pentwater around 3:00.  Everything is within walking distance and we walked with Chloe the whole six blocks of the town and bought a few things along the way.  Leaving tomorrow for Grand Haven.

Sorry, just had to add this of our son Gary who lost over 70 pounds in the last 18 months and finished the Tough Mudder in Lake Tahoe to support Wounded Warriors

The Blueberry is complete

Here is your typical ship of the Great Lakes

For all you Michigan people, this is The Sleeping Bear

This puts Pismo to shame

Lighthouse at Point Betsie

Lighthouse to the entrance of Frankfort

Really?  I don't think they have any fishing rules in Michigan

Tied up at Frankfort

Frankfort behind us while at our dock

This is Lake Michigan on our way to Pentwater 

Pentwater lighthouse entrance

This why we like no wind

Mackinac Island to Charlevoix Michigan

Okay, regarding my last post I was told to add that I had switched fuel tanks because I noticed the boat was listing to port which usually means there is more fuel in on side than the other.  I should have accounted for the wind which was blowing into our starboard side which made me think I was listing because of fuel.  Anyway I screwed up.  Oh well, it won't happen again.  We left Mackinac Island on the 17th and headed for Charlevoix, one of Jan's bucket list items.  Charlevoix is the home to a renowned artist by the name of Todd Warner.  If you ever been to our house you would know of the art sculptures of the whimsical artwork thoughout our house.  We also have brought some pieces with us including the first one we bought call "Blueberry".  Blueberry is a giraffe that has a bird sitting on the top of his mouth.  When we moved onto the boat somehow the small bird didn't make it and Jan has been determined ever since to have him replaced.  Since she has been in contact with him throughout our trip he said he would make a new bird for her Blueberry.  When we arrived on Sunday he met us on the boat and we developed a friendship that I'm sure will last.  We all went out to dinner that night and met for breakfast in the morning.  He helped make arrangements for Chloe to get groomed and introduced us to a good friend, Justin, that is working with him to develop a website and promote his work.  On Tuesday he picked us up and drove us to get Chloe groomed and invited us to his home and studio in the Michigan country.  His house is on twenty acres in an absolutely beautiful setting.  While we were talking in his studio he was making one of his creations from clay like it was nothing!  He showed us his house and took us wherever we had to go for errands.  If you read this, go to Facebook and search Todd J Warner and become friends.  Here's a fact, if you have ever watched the movie "Up" the bird called "Kevin" is actually one of his creations that he never got recognition.  Thank you Todd for everything and hope to see you again soon.  We were going to leave this morning but decided to speed and extra day.  We also found out our boating looper companions for such a long time "Limelight" came in and we had docktails last night.  Tomorrow off to Frankfort.

Coming thru the draw bridge to Lake Charlevoix

The City Marina

Todd Warner

Creative genius at work

This is his pet Emu named Al

Thank you Todd for taking me to the groomers 

Bluebird back to normal with his bird on top

I love you Todd

Earl Young Mushroom Houses in Charlevoix

This is a boulder house not by Earl Young

Jan's new captain

Our new friend, thanks again for everything