Leland

Follow the leader along the breakwater 

Leland is a wonderful port to visit.  We decided to spent two nights there. The first evening we had dinner at Leland Lodge which is also the clubhouse for a golf course and we found ourselves wishing we had       brought the clubs aboard.

Alice outside Leland Lodge

Leland Harbor

 Historic Fish Town right next to the marina was fun to explore.

fish nets drying in historic Fish Town

Historic Fish Town

Every town along the Michigan coast has the most
beautiful flower displays.  This one was a windowbox
outside a small shop.


The second day we went exploring the town and the beach.  Alice and I had great fun filling our pockets with smooth flat stones that Sarah wants to use at her wedding reception.  We watched as a fishing boat came in and unloaded the night/day catch of mostly whitefish and lake trout.

Alice rock hunting along the shoreline.

fishing boat approaching the harbor entrance

a misty morning along Lake Michigan at Leland

sorting the day's catch

The second night we stopped at the fish market and bought smoked trout and cheese which we enjoyed for dinner on board with wine and a beautiful sunset.

Ludington to Leland

What a difference a day can make!  We left Ludington on Saturday morning, June 8th, with smooth water and no wind.  The lake was full of fishing boats taking advantage of the conditions.

Big Point Sable Lighthouse just north of Ludington

If you went up and down these stairs even once a day,
you would never need to work out on a stairmaster!

Fishing boats out on super smooth Lake Michigan



We reached Frankfort ( a 52 mile trip) around 3 p.m. and tied up in the municipal marina.  After dinner we walked to the channel light for sunset and then returned to the boat so Tom and Alice could once again tromp David and me in Pitch.

Sunday we left Frankfort, again in amazingly smooth water, and headed toward Leland 42 miles north.  The dunes in this area are noticeably higher.  We passed Point Betsie Lighthouse--said to be the most photographed lighthouse on Lake Michigan--and the Manitou Islands before coming to
Sleepy Bear Dunes National Park.  Although sunny, the temperature is still cool and we saw only a few people out on the dunes.  We arrived in Leland around 1:15 p.m. and stayed at Leland Harbor.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

                            Approaching Sleepy Bear Dunes

Close up of the "Sleeping Bear"

The Legend of Sleeping Bear Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but eventually the cubs tired and lagged behind. Mother bear reached the shore and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. Too tired to continue, the cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit Manitou created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the faithful mother bear.

On the Water Again--June 2013

We arrived in Muskegon, Michigan with good friends, Alice and David Johnson, on June 1st, 2013.  Raydiance seemed happy to see us as she was moved from winter storage to a slip at Great Lakes Marina for a few days of clean-up and preparation. (Reminder--click on pictures to enlarge)

Coming out of winter storage

On the travel lift

Successful launch

When we had enough of washing, restocking, and always the last minute repair of some non-functioning part,  we golfed, played cards, toured the submarine, Silversides, and the Hackley - Hume homes.  I had seen these homes last September but had not taken the time to tour them.  Hackley and Hume were business partners making a rags to riches fortune in the lumbering business in the late 1800's.  Both houses were beautiful, but the Hackley house with its extensive wood carvings and stained glass was spectacular.

This is the barn!!! Left side Hackley, right side Hume

Hume House

The houses were decorated as if getting
ready for a wedding reception of the two lovely
daughters  shown above!!!

Example of carving

Stained glass window

Another beautiful stained glass window

The entryway had six carved
heads depicting different
regions of the world. This
one represented Africa.

Hackley House

Lunch is usually a black tie affair at Max and Marley's,  the hot dog place next to the marina.  What can I say?  We know how to splurge!  The menu features at least 50 hot dog choices.  It's David's favorite spot, so of course we had to introduce Alice to this gourmet delight.

Lunch at Max and Marley's

The last night in Muskegon we took advantage of having a car and drove to dinner at Old Channel Inn.  Larry and Eileen aboard Moon River and Walter aboard Charlene Rae joined us.  We had last seen Larry and Eileen in Georgian Bay, August 2012.  They have been on a remarkable journey living aboard for seventeen years including a trip around the world in a 48 foot sailboat.   Their stories are spellbinding.  

 .  
Friday, June 7th, we left Muskegon and headed to Ludington--a 60 mile run.  Leaving Muskegon the sun was shining and Lake Michigan was mild--one foot waves.  Once past Little Point Sable the wind freshened and the waves increased to two footers, occasionally threes.  Being short period waves, the ride was a bit bumpy.   David took a Dramamine and survived just fine! 

Little Point Sable

Passing the Lake Express returning from Milwaukee
as we are leaving Muskegon.

David on Dramamine

.  We arrived in Ludington about 4 p.m. and stayed at Harbor View Marina as the municipal marina was being dredged.  Walking to dinner at PM Steamers that evening (rainbow trout stuffed with wild rice, pecans and dried cherries--yum!), we passed through the sculpture park depicting the history of Ludington timing it perfectly for the arrival of the Badger.

Badger spinning on its anchor as
it backs into the dock.

Sculpture depicting the importance
of maritime industries to the area.

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