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