Hi All…Ben here in again,It was rainy and not good for going out into Lake Michigan on the day that Parke Davis arrived to hop on board with us for the trek down the eastern shore. So Jeff decided move from our deep anchorage in 50 feet of water in little Round Lake,
to the Irish Marine Shop in Lake Charlevoix to have some work done on the boat while we wait out the weather. Our friend Parke (you remember him from Fort Lauderdale and from Ottawa blogs) was arriving that morning, and OD had figured out another confusing route to get back home to Bend, Oregon the next day, so Jeff had lots of help from the “guys” to fiddle around with stuff on the boat that afternoon - like guys do.
to the Irish Marine Shop in Lake Charlevoix to have some work done on the boat while we wait out the weather. Our friend Parke (you remember him from Fort Lauderdale and from Ottawa blogs) was arriving that morning, and OD had figured out another confusing route to get back home to Bend, Oregon the next day, so Jeff had lots of help from the “guys” to fiddle around with stuff on the boat that afternoon - like guys do.Here are OD and Parke enjoying the morning coffee before Jeff started setting out the projects for these two unsuspecting guests that day.
Izzy and I walked in the park and she took me to beach where I got to walk in the sand and sip the clean water from the cool lake.
The next morning we said good bye to OD as he rode off with one of the dock hands from the marina to find the airport, and wished him luck on his crazy route home. I’ll miss him…he liked to take me for walks…even early in the morning.
Charlevoix is known for it's Fairytale houses, so we walked around town to see them up close. There are about ten or twelve of them throughout the town, all different and all real cute.
That afternoon we met up with our old Looper friends Jan and Nicoline on "Blue Arrow" when they arrived in town.
They are from Amsterdam and have been a few weeks behind us since we last saw them in South Carolina. While I guarded the boat, Izzy, Jeff and Parke had a good fish dinner on "Blue Arrow" with local lake trout and pickerel that they bought at a a special store in the harbor. Nancy and Randy from "Prime Time V" joined them and they all compared notes on their trips and where they were going next.
I stayed back at the boat as the OWD and Izzy made me a special dinner with gravy in my Purina...yum!
Izzy and I walked in the park and she took me to beach where I got to walk in the sand and sip the clean water from the cool lake. The next morning we said good bye to OD as he rode off with one of the dock hands from the marina to find the airport, and wished him luck on his crazy route home. I’ll miss him…he liked to take me for walks…even early in the morning.
Charlevoix is known for it's Fairytale houses, so we walked around town to see them up close. There are about ten or twelve of them throughout the town, all different and all real cute.That afternoon we met up with our old Looper friends Jan and Nicoline on "Blue Arrow" when they arrived in town.They are from Amsterdam and have been a few weeks behind us since we last saw them in South Carolina. While I guarded the boat, Izzy, Jeff and Parke had a good fish dinner on "Blue Arrow" with local lake trout and pickerel that they bought at a a special store in the harbor. Nancy and Randy from "Prime Time V" joined them and they all compared notes on their trips and where they were going next. I stayed back at the boat as the OWD and Izzy made me a special dinner with gravy in my Purina...yum!The next morning we prepared to leave Charlevoix and move on down the eastern coast of Lake Michigan to our next destination – Leland, MI about 33 miles south. It was an overcast day, so Parke put on the usual outfit that he would have worn on his sailboat.
Jeff just smiled and told him he didn’t really need the full foul weather pants and boots on "Izzy R". It's not quite like sailing. Parke was happy to hear that he wouldn't have to battle wind and cold. Power boating is different.
Jeff just smiled and told him he didn’t really need the full foul weather pants and boots on "Izzy R". It's not quite like sailing. Parke was happy to hear that he wouldn't have to battle wind and cold. Power boating is different. Our friends Randy and Nancy were turning back here to return to Florida by way of the eastern route and the ICW. We'll keep in touch and meet up with them again in the south in the winter. They were at the bridge to wave goodbye to us as we left the port of Charlevoix. 
The big ferry followed us out of the channel, and out into the lake.
From here our travel style will be different. The water will be deep in the lake, so we won’t have to watch for rocks, and we’ll be able to go faster. But “fast” for us is only about 8 knots! We’ll trade the “rock watch” for “weather watch” now. If the wind is blowing, Lake Michigan can get six to eight foot swells real fast, so we always have to watch the weather forecasts. Even on a sunny day, the waves can be real big and dangerous.
The big ferry followed us out of the channel, and out into the lake.From here our travel style will be different. The water will be deep in the lake, so we won’t have to watch for rocks, and we’ll be able to go faster. But “fast” for us is only about 8 knots! We’ll trade the “rock watch” for “weather watch” now. If the wind is blowing, Lake Michigan can get six to eight foot swells real fast, so we always have to watch the weather forecasts. Even on a sunny day, the waves can be real big and dangerous.As we headed south along the shore to Leland, MI, the coast was lined with big sand dunes and beautiful beaches. The lake is real big...just like the ocean...can't see the other side... and the water is clear and about 70 degrees. If there were some palm trees, I'd think I was back home in CA. People are swimming and sunning on the beaches just like I remember in Newport Beach. I hope there’s a Dog Beach here somewhere.
Here in Michigan the state has made convenient “Safe Harbors” every 25 or so miles down the coast to keep us boaters out of trouble if a storm or wind comes barreling through unexpectedly, as they often do. Leland is one of those harbors. By the time we got to Leland, the water had become a little rough, and we were glad to get into the calmer water in the port. The report was for a storm to move through for the next couple of days, so we settled into our slip and enjoyed the artsy town until the weather improved.
Here in Michigan the state has made convenient “Safe Harbors” every 25 or so miles down the coast to keep us boaters out of trouble if a storm or wind comes barreling through unexpectedly, as they often do. Leland is one of those harbors. By the time we got to Leland, the water had become a little rough, and we were glad to get into the calmer water in the port. The report was for a storm to move through for the next couple of days, so we settled into our slip and enjoyed the artsy town until the weather improved. Jeff and Parke checked the lines when the rain and waves started so we would be secure for the storm.
Parke and Izzy usually had the line roping, and fender hauling duty out in the rain, so as it turned out, Parke was smart to keep that foul weather gear handy! Izzy says that Jeff may have gotten a little spoiled, sitting up there in the high captain’s chair buffing his nails and chatting with me while the rest of the crew does the dirty work. He doesn’t smell spoiled to me though.
Parke and Izzy usually had the line roping, and fender hauling duty out in the rain, so as it turned out, Parke was smart to keep that foul weather gear handy! Izzy says that Jeff may have gotten a little spoiled, sitting up there in the high captain’s chair buffing his nails and chatting with me while the rest of the crew does the dirty work. He doesn’t smell spoiled to me though.Jan and Nicoline joined us on the town stroll in the rain for coffee and the art stores.
Jeff said this one looked like Izzy when her hair is on fire.
Historic Fishtown in Leland has cute shops and restaurants right along a little river that feeds into the harbor and then into Lake Michigan.
Fishing boats line the tiny channel up to a pretty waterfall at it's end.
The original fishing boats were unusual looking things called Fish Tugs, and there is one still parked there. Doesn't look like there's a cozy place for my big soft bed in there, and it smells like fish.
Izzy and Jeff looked around and bought some cheese and wine, but I don't think they wanted to trade boats.
Even though the rain had stopped, the wind picked up the next day and there were 6 - 8 foot waves out in the lake, so we gladly stayed tied up in the safety of the Leland Harbor. The sun was out for part of the afternoon, and eight wind surfers were having a lot of fun in the big surf that was being created right outside of the breakwaters of the harbor. We had a front row seat from our fly bridge of the waves and beautiful colors of the lake water that day.
Jeff said this one looked like Izzy when her hair is on fire.Historic Fishtown in Leland has cute shops and restaurants right along a little river that feeds into the harbor and then into Lake Michigan. Fishing boats line the tiny channel up to a pretty waterfall at it's end.The original fishing boats were unusual looking things called Fish Tugs, and there is one still parked there. Doesn't look like there's a cozy place for my big soft bed in there, and it smells like fish.Izzy and Jeff looked around and bought some cheese and wine, but I don't think they wanted to trade boats. Even though the rain had stopped, the wind picked up the next day and there were 6 - 8 foot waves out in the lake, so we gladly stayed tied up in the safety of the Leland Harbor. The sun was out for part of the afternoon, and eight wind surfers were having a lot of fun in the big surf that was being created right outside of the breakwaters of the harbor. We had a front row seat from our fly bridge of the waves and beautiful colors of the lake water that day.This is Barbecue - Leland Wind-style, after the rain quit. Jeff's method of keeping the fire lit and drying his jacket at the same time.
A lone sailboat pulled in that evening in the sunset. He probably had an interesting ride that day. I feel sorry for the poor dog on that boat.
When the weather finally cleared and the big lake calmed down, we untied the boat and continued down the east coast of Lake Michigan to Frankfort, about 44 miles south on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
When the weather finally cleared and the big lake calmed down, we untied the boat and continued down the east coast of Lake Michigan to Frankfort, about 44 miles south on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Doesn’t sound like much of a trip, eh? Well, the program on the “Izzy R” is to have a retired style get-up at the crack of 8:30 or so, have a quick walk to the shore or my yard so I’ll be in the “green zone” as Jeff calls it, then travel at about 7 or 8 knots per hour for about 30 or 40 miles to the next stop somewhere around 2 o’clock or so. Then we get off the boat and check out the new town before dinner.
So about 2 o'clock we anchored at Frankfort in their "safe harbor" behind the rock breakwaters in Betsie Lake and got the dinghy down for some exploring of the town and the dog beach. There were swans here that came up to the boat looking for treats.
They were curious about me,
and I was curious about them, too. But I didn't give them any of MY treats. I think Jeff gave them something though, because they hung around for a long time hoping for a milk bone. I've gotten used to seeing strange looking birds on this trip. Here's another one that lives in Betsie Lake. 
They all seem to like swimming. Personally, I don't see the attraction. I've noticed that they have a different kind of fur that doesn't get wet and smell like a sheep, and big orange feet without toenails. Probably makes going to the groomer more pleasant. I don't like having mine clipped.
They were curious about me, and I was curious about them, too. But I didn't give them any of MY treats. I think Jeff gave them something though, because they hung around for a long time hoping for a milk bone. I've gotten used to seeing strange looking birds on this trip. Here's another one that lives in Betsie Lake. They all seem to like swimming. Personally, I don't see the attraction. I've noticed that they have a different kind of fur that doesn't get wet and smell like a sheep, and big orange feet without toenails. Probably makes going to the groomer more pleasant. I don't like having mine clipped. Our free wall tie in Manistee, Illinois along the riverfront meant that I could go for nice long walks along the pathway. It was entertaining there watching the big cargo ships go by.
Jeff had a bad day because he had to buy fuel. Maybe that's why he went to the barber and had his ponytail cut off. He said his wallet is much lighter now. I thought that would be a good thing.
Jeff had a bad day because he had to buy fuel. Maybe that's why he went to the barber and had his ponytail cut off. He said his wallet is much lighter now. I thought that would be a good thing.In Ludington, we did some boat cleaning, and somehow Jeff got Parke to scrub the deck rugs.
Izzy and I strolled around the marina and took pictures in the park filled with statues. 
This statue is of the "Big Wheel" that was invented to drag logs out of the forest with horses.
There's one empty rock here for real kids to stand on and have their picture taken with the statue kids.
I'm going to take a nap in the grass while Izzy reads all the plaques on the artwork. I like this Michigan place. The lake water is nice and clean, and I can even take a drink of it if I'm thursty on my walk on the beach.
Izzy and I strolled around the marina and took pictures in the park filled with statues. This statue is of the "Big Wheel" that was invented to drag logs out of the forest with horses.There's one empty rock here for real kids to stand on and have their picture taken with the statue kids. I'm going to take a nap in the grass while Izzy reads all the plaques on the artwork. I like this Michigan place. The lake water is nice and clean, and I can even take a drink of it if I'm thursty on my walk on the beach. Till next time,
Love, Ben
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