Pentwater to Muskegon, the finale 2012

We stayed in Pentwater for a week after Missy and Rich left.  The winds were ferocious, howling around 30 knots most of the week, which made the lake very unsettled.  It is hard to tell from the picture below taken atop Old Baldy ( a large sand dune in Mears State Park) but the waves were crashing over the channel wall as they were most of the week.

Choppy channel as seen from Old Baldy

A wedding being held on the beach
by wild Lake Michigan

 One night we had Bob and Brenda Montgomery over to the boat for cocktails and enjoyed catching up with them.  We rented their cottage at Oceana for many years, but now that they are retired they spend the whole summer there.  Later in the week, Bill Van Huss arrived at his cottage and he and Tom played a round of golf at  Colonial Golf Course.  Finally on Wednesday, the 26th, a forecast of  low wind and moderate waves allowed us to head down to Muskegon.  Bob and Bill joined us for the trip.

Bob Montgomery and Bill Van Huss
co-helmsmen on trip to Muskegon.

Little Point Sable lighthouse

The amazing Michigan dunes!

We arrived in Muskegon around noon and docked at Great Lakes Marina,  Raydiance's home for the winter.  Missy and Rich had left "the Beast" at the marina the week before en route to St. Louis,  so after lunch I took Bill and Bob back to Pentwater.

Entering the channel at Muskegon

Great Lakes Marina

Lunch with the crew
Tom, Bob, Bill and Linda

Now began the sad task of preparing to leave Raydiance for the winter.  This meant cleaning, winterizing, and packing.  In between, we took time to explore Muskegon and the surrounding area.  One of the attractions is an LST that took part in D-Day.  Tom's dad was the executive officer on an LST (according to Nancy, he said it stood for Long Slow Target) in the Pacific during WWII,  so Tom especially enjoyed touring this LST from top to bottom.

Captain Tom at the helm

Checking out the engines

On the loading ramp

Tom with LST in background



As blustery as the week in Pentwater had been,  this week was gorgeous.  We took one afternoon to enjoy a round of golf at Grand Haven Country Club.  I spent most of my time as pictured below.

Way too much sand on this course!

Even though Raydiance will be in indoor heated storage, Tom wanted to drain the water systems and winterize.  So I left him in the bilge and headed off to sightsee Muskegon on my own.  After checking out the farmer's market, I found the Monet garden, a vacant corner lot transformed by master gardeners of Muskegon.  It was wearing its autumn coat, but still was lovely.

Monet garden

entrance to Monet garden

beautiful hydranga's at Monet garden

Hackley House featuring 15 stained glass windows.

Hume House--the diminutive next door neighbor

Would you believe,  the barn between the houses?

Then I happened upon these historic Victorian homes.  They were built in the late 1800's by two Irishmen who arrived in America nearly penniless and made a fortune in the lumber business.  Following the decline of lumbering, they were patrons to many civic and private enterprises in Muskegon and the area.   I didn't have time to tour the homes, but I plan to do that next spring.  

Sign outside the Old Channel Inn

History of the area around Old Channel Inn

Bill Van Huss invited us to join him for dinner at Old Channel Inn just north of the Whitehall Channel on Sunday night.  A great evening--delicious lake perch,  good company and my beloved Packers squeaked out a victory. 

Monday night Tom and Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald came to the boat and then we went to dinner.  Lynn was my college roommate and she and Tom are now Methodist ministers in Holland, MI (about an hour south of Muskegon).  We had a wonderful meal at the Hearthstone restaurant and enjoyed catching up on each other's lives over the past year. 

Tuesday morning dark and early,  we left Raydiance and headed to Ludington to catch the Badger's morning crossing to Manitowoc.  We both were sad to leave as we have had such a wonderful year aboard.  But there is next spring with Lake Superior, the Bruce Pennisula, Chicago and the rest of the trip to Kentucky Lake to dream about over the winter.  Until then,  this is Commodore Linda signing off!

Captain Tom aboard Badger

Commodore Linda aboard Badger

Pentwater

From the beach, boardwalk leading to cottages.

Our rental, theVan Huss cottage, in illustration mode
(Interesting effect using Missy's camera.)

Cocktails and sunsets from the porch cannot be beat!

Everyone has one special spot in the world and Pentwater has to be that spot for us.  Tom's family started vacationing here when he was 12.  (I'll let you do the math).  They rented various cottages in the Oceana Beach Association and now we, the second generation, are carrying on the tradition.  Most of the cottages were built late 1800's or early 1900's so they have a lot of character.  They sit atop dunes overlooking Lake Michigan with boardwalks leading to the beach.

Raydiance arrived at the Pentwater channel around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15th.  After a quick side trip to check out Oceana Beach, she entered the channel.  Tom and Rich both admitted to a lump in the throat as they cruised between the lights.  Having walked the harbor many times over the years and dreaming of the day we would arrive in our own loop boat,  it was quite emotional when it finally happened.

Raydiance in Pentwater channel with Oceana in background.

Moment of entry into Pentwater channel.
(Thanks to Mike Long for a great photo!)

Raydiance between the lights in Pentwater channel.

After passing the landmark Pentwater water tower and stopping for the always important pump-out, Raydiance docked at Snug Harbor.  The crew then headed for the Pentwater Yacht Club for lunch.

Crew from Ludington to Pentwater
L-R  Kris,Tom, Lane, Kevin, John, and Rich

Raydiance at dock in Snug Harbor

Pentwater water tower

While at the yacht club, Rich struck up a conversation with a member, Barry Miller, who was preparing to head out for a day sail.  He invited Rich to go along, but Rich felt he should get back to the lodge with his guests.  So Barry extended the invitation to Missy and me and we readily agreed.  The wind was blowing around 18 knots giving us a brisk sail heeling around 25 degrees.  Barry kept saying how surprised he was that I would choose to spend an afternoon on the water after all our time at sea, but I explained that this was very different.  Missy and I thoroughly enjoyed the outing.

Very competent Captain Barry Miller

Linda and Missy aboard Miller Time heading out Pentwater channel.

Sunday we left Raydiance at Snug Harbor and went to Oceana to spend two nights at the Van Huss cottage.  Although it was a short stay,  we enjoyed beach walks to the channel, beautiful sunsets, and relaxing on the porch taking in the changeless view.  The evening games of Five Crowns, however, were less than memorable.  I was informed that I needed to report my dethroned (dead last) status since I had been bragging on my former victories!

Linda and Tom (in cartoon mode) on Oceana beach

Shelf cloud approaching Oceana beach.

Sugar sand beach with Pentwater channel in background.

Sunset as viewed from cottage.

Can never get enough of Michigan sunsets.

Tuesday we left the beach and returned to Raydiance.  A quick squall passed through leaving behind this rainbow.

Since Missy and I had never seen Barothy Lodge, we drove there (20 miles east of Ludington)  in the afternoon.  Pere Marquette River, which eventually flows into the harbor at Ludington, goes past the lodge property consisting of over one hundred acres and several lodges of varying sizes.  Salmon swim up this river to spawn in September.   I can certainly understand why the guys keep returning here each year.  

Tom and Rich by river at Barothy Lodge.

Black swan at Barothy

Dinner at the Antler Bar in Pentwater (a must for the Rays while in Pentwater) and an amazing sunset on the way back to the marina were the perfect ending to our visit with Missy and Rich.  They left Wednesday for St. Louis Wednesday morning dropping our Expedition at Great Lakes Marina in Muskegon on the way.  Rich claims the title as the most frequent visitor aboard the Raydiance while looping--this being his fourth time.  As always, it was great to have them aboard.

The good ol' Antler Bar

Sunset enhanced by Missy's camera

Actual sunset Tuesday evening.

Sunset as seen through the channel.

Crossing Lake Michigan to Ludington

The plan was for Tom and Jim to attend the Packer game on Sunday, Sept. 9th, and to leave for Sturgeon Bay on the 10th.  However, the wind/wave reports for crossing Lake Michigan were only predicting reasonable forecasts through Monday mid-day.  So Tom sacrificed the game and we headed to Sturgeon Bay on Sunday. We stayed the night and fueled at Quarterdeck Marina and left for Ludington, MI at first light Monday.  The mist was thick as we headed down the channel, but it lifted when we reached the lake.

Lighthouse on breakwater at Sturgeon Bay

Misty early morning start from Sturgeon Bay

The waves were one footers as we left, but built to threes as we approached Ludington.  Since the predictions were for increased winds and waves later in the day, we chose to run the passage and arrived in Ludington (80+ miles) around noon.  We first saw land, the Manitou's, about 25 miles from shore.  Seeing  Big Point Sable lighthouse as we appoached was a thrill.  Coming into the Ludington Channel, we passed by the Ludington lighthouse and made our way to the public marina.

Passing the Ludington lighthouse as we entered calm waters behind the breakwater.

The public marina has older, very high docks, but we used our upper deck entrance and had no problem.  The marina is within a few blocks of downtown (with a great market) and the Badger dock.  Next door is a sculpture park telling the history of the area.  (Click on photos to enlarge)

Men of the sea

Sailing

Children at play

Fishing through the generations

Fruit harvest

Steam ships

Lumbering with the big wheel--an
invention that allowed the industry
to thrive year round.

Later Monday, a large trawler, Sea Hunt IV,  pulled in to the marina. When they saw our loop flag, they came over to introduce themselves. They too are looping having started in southern Lake Huron mid-July  The Canadian crew consists of Andre and Lisa DuBois, and sons Luc (11) and Pierre (8).  We enjoyed swapping stories and having dinner with them on Wednesday.  They have a five year live-aboard plan that includes going through the Panama Canal and a trip to Alaska.  WOW!

Crew of Sea Hunt IV

The Badger is a coal powered car ferry that runs from Ludington to Manitowoc,WI daily.  From the public marina we can see it leave at 9 a.m. and return at 7 p.m.  Watching it dock, especially in heavy wind, is quite impressive.  Unfortunately, federal regulations ( anti-dumping 2 tons of coal ash in the lake per trip) are shutting it down as of Oct. 13th unless an extension is granted or the funds are found to convert to diesel.  

Badger at dock at night.
(Photo by Missy:)

Badger spinning 180 degrees before dropping anchor and
backing into dock space.

Tom with Luc and Andre watching as the Badger docks.

Missy and Rich Ray arrived Thursday.  Richard's Roofing Company sponsors an annual fishing/golf outing  in mid-September at Barothy Lodge outside of Ludingon.  This year it was timed perfectly for Tom to join them while Missy and I stayed on Raydiance and explored town, the beach and farmer's market.

Just us and the seagulls on Ludington Beach.

Missy enjoying the sun on Ludington Beach

Watching the sun set across Lake Michigan is one of my favorite things and Thursday's sunset did not disappoint.  It just kept getting better and better as time went on.

Saturday the sun was shining and the wind had died down, so Tom, Rich and a crew of four (Kevin, John, Lane and Kris) decided to move Raydiance to Pentwater.  Mike Long joined Missy and me to see them off at the Ludington breakwater.  After giving us a runway twirl in the channel they headed north to see Big Point Sable Lighthouse before turning south to Pentwater.

Linda and Missy on Ludington breakwater.

Mike Long and Linda
on Ludington breakwater

Raydiance with roofing crew leaving Ludington
en route to Pentwater