FRANKFORT to LUDINGTON and PENTWATER

We woke up early again :) and pushed off the dock to start another beautiful boating day on Lake Michigan. Heading south from FRANKFORT to LUDINGTON is approximately 55 miles and took about 6 hours.

LUDINGTON is one of the biggest private salmon fishing ports in Michigan. Most of the boats in the  Marina had numerous fishing poles (10-15 each?). It was fun watching the captains get their poles set-up for the day.

The town of LUDINGTON has a nice Main Street, with lots of shopping and restaurants. It's also a vacationers paradise, offering every outdoor activity imaginable! One of the favorite local pastimes is to watch the SS Badger arrive and depart daily from mid May to mid October.

The SS Badger is a passenger and vehicle ferry that has been in service on Lake Michigan since 1953. Currently, the ship shuttles from LUDINGTON, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It's the last coal fired passenger ferry in operation on the Great Lakes and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

The best part of being in LUDINGTON was to get together with our "Buddy Boaters" and fellow Loopers from Summer 2015. We enjoyed an evening together with dinner and lots of stories in their LUDINGTON home. (Thanks again XO)

After two night in LUDINGTON, we had a perfect weather window in the late afternoon to head a short 10 miles south to PENTWATER. It was unusual to push off the dock in the afternoon, but the wind died down from the morning and we decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

We liked our short stay in PENTWATER. It's a charming small town full of antique shops and art galleries. Weather permitting plan to start out early again tomorrow morning.

Our course (red line) from FRANKFORT to LUDINGTON and PENTWATER.

In LUDINGTON we docked at the Municipal Marina with lots of fishing boats.

We loved the LUDINGTON graffiti!

The SS Badger.

LUDINGTON favorites: The Lighthouse, hanging flowers downtown and Biercamp 

Market.

Looper Friends :)

Entering PENTWATER Harbor.

Beautiful homes and a yacht club lining the PENTWATER Harbor entrance.

In PENTWATER we docked at Snug Harbor Marina.

Red sky at night, Sailors' Delight.

LELAND/ FISHTOWN to FRANKFORT

Finally a perfect Fall day to journey from LELAND to FRANKFORT! We left early, it was 39 degrees with sunny skies and light winds. The trip was about 45 miles and took about 5 hours. Our journey by boat down Lake Michigan parallels the famous M-22 highway along the west coast Michigan. The M-22 is like Pacific Coast Highway California.

We passed a pristine sandy Beach and Lighthouse when entering the FRANKFORT harbor. Once in the Harbor we docked at the Municipal Marina.

The most exciting event for our one night stay in FRANKFORT was a huge women's fishing tournament! (Wait until you see the pictures below.) We were so inspired that we might purchase a fishing license this week.

During our short stay in FRANKFORT, we enjoyed a bike ride on the Benzie County trail.  The trail is used every season, including cross country skiing in the winter.

FRANKFORT was a nice town with an interesting Lifeguard history. Due to all of the summer tourists,  in 1887 one of the first United States Life Saving Stations was established on the beach at the harbor entrance.

Weather permitting, our plan is to leave for LUDINGTON in the morning.

Our journey from LELAND to FRANKFORT parallels the M-22 highway.

Good morning...burrrrrr (chilly)!

The FRANKFORT Lighthouse and Beach Rules.

The FRANKFORT Municipal Marina.

The Fishing Tournament.

(All fish caught are cleaned and donated to a local charity.) 

Weighing in the catch (salmon and trout.)

The Trail.

A wild Sweet pea bouquet, hand picked on our bike ride :)

BOYNE CITY to LELAND / FISHTOWN

We left BOYNE CITY on a partly cloudy morning and our destination is LELAND. On the way out if BOYNE CITY we stayed at the CHARLEVOIX Marina one night, to pick-up our forwarded mail.

After two years away from Thistle, we were very exited to be back on Lake Michigan!

LELAND is a historic town built on the site of one of the first Native American fishing grounds, with a natural fish ladder. The Native American settlement was called MISHI-ME-GO-BING / "The Place Where Canoes Run Up Into The River To Land, Because There Is No Harbor". 

In the 1800's commercial fisherman built wooden shanties. This village became known as FISHTOWN. The FISHTOWN shanties have a similar ambiance to the beach cottages of Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, CA.

Today FISHTOWN is a historic fishing settlement, with a thriving charter fishing business and the quaint shanties have been converted to tourist shops.

LELAND is also famous for being on the 45th Parallel, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

We originally planned one night in LELAND, but stayed four nights due to lots of wind on Lake Michigan! 

Looper Tip:   The Riverside Inn is a must stop for dinner and cocktails! @Riversideleland 

The weather report looks good for tomorrow, we plan on an early start heading south on Lake Michigan towards Frankfort.

 

The orange line is our course from BOYNE CITY to LELAND / FISHTOWN... it was about a 7 hour journey under partly cloudy skies.

Passing the colorful private Belvedere bath houses on Lake CHARLEVOIX.

The draw bridge and lighthouse leaving Lake CHARLEVOIX and entering Lake Michigan.

All SMILES to be on Lake Michigan:)

We will always remember where we were (Red dot on Lake Michigan) for the 2017 Eclipse!

The original FISHTOWN Shanties.

FISHTOWN

The Janice Sue an original steel fish tug. 

Lots of fish art in FISHTOWN!

We planned one night in LELAND, but due to a Small Craft Advisory we enjoyed the town for four nights!

Our favorite restaurant in LELAND is the Riverside Inn...great food, wonderful ambiance and excellent service. 

(Five star rating by the Boyer's:)

Good night LELAND / FISHTOWN XO

CHARLEVOIX to BOYNE CITY

Today we enjoyed our 2017 maiden voyage on Lake CHARLEVOIX!

The weather was perfect for our 12 mile journey from CHARLEVOIX to BOYNE CITY. We planned this short shake down cruise to test all of the systems on Thistle. She performed like a super star and we got a chance to acclimate back to boating life :)

BOYNE CITY was a surprise treat! It was recently voted as one of the best small towns in America. This honor is well deserved with beautiful flower gardens decorating the town, great restaurants, and a nice Farmers Market. The City has a population of about 3,000 friendly people. We understand that it is also a popular winter ski area. 

With a successful shake down cruise, we plan to head back to CHARLEVOIX tomorrow and head out on Lake Michigan towards Chicago....

We are in BOYNE CITY!

A pretty day for our 2017 maiden voyage aboard Thistle.

 

A 12 Natuical Mike trip on Lake CHARLEVOIX from CHARLEVOIX to BOYNE CITY.

A view of the BOYNE City Marina from shore.

   

The BOYNE Valley Garden Club has made the town beautiful.

The Lake's water level is much higher than usual (trees 5 feet under water).

 

The BOYNE CITY Farmers Market had a unique craft section with homemade fishing poles, felt rugs and polished Petoskey stones.

The Farmers Market also had fresh fruit, vegetables and vibrant flowers.

CHARLEVOIX, Michigan

Welcme Aboard!

We are thrilled to be back aboard Thistle and to be continuing our Great American Loop adventure.

After an almost two year hiatus, we are in CHARLEVOIX, Michigan ready to push off the dock at Irish Boat Works, where Thistle spent the last two winters.  She had a stern thruster and an air conditioning unit installed.

Our plan is to be aboard Thistle for the next several months (year?) and complete The Great American Loop.  We hope to "cross our wake" at the Statue of Liberty next summer.

We are waiting an extra day in CHARLEVOIX for one last boat part and the weather to improve. (Near the end of August on Lake Michigan, the weather changes from Summer to Fall very quickly.)

We have a short shake down cruise planned to BOYNE City on Lake CHARLEVOIX to make sure we are safe and all systems are a GO!

This blog is intended to share our adventure with family and friends.  We will try to post a new entry at every port :)

Thanks for following us on our Great American Loop adventure XO

First glance at Thistle ... At Irish Boat Works in CHARLEVOIX, Michigan.

The Blue line is the Great American Loop, the Red line is what we have completed to date, and the Green dot is where we are pushing off the dock! (We still have a long way to go.)

We enjoyed the music and boats at a Thursday night summer concert in the CHARLEVOIX Marina. Irish Boat Works is a sponsor.

 

Yes, we have some weather to contend with!  

A beautiful rainbow over the Marina ... Hopefully a good luck sign for our adventure:)

Captain Greg!

Admiral Reenie :)