Thursday - August 6

 Exactly 9 hours of travel time today - we left Rogers City at 6:18 and arrived in Port Sanilac at 3:18.   160 miles and pretty calm seas with sun, clouds, sun, clouds and then a surprise shower at 2:45!    Just enough to make things messy.  

I fixed breakfast along the way - cheesy eggs, fruit and cranberry walnut toast.

We are at the Port Sanilac Municipal Marina for our last night before "home sweet home"!

So thankful that our good friends, Leon and John are doing much better after serious health issues - Leon in Michigan and John in Florida.

Mark's sister Sharon has a new grandbaby - "Warren Thomas" was born to Sarah and Daniel weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz and 19".    He has a big brother Mason, 2.

Baby Warren

After settling in, we walked to the Stone Lodge - an old building with stone fireplace and lots of animal heads - like up in north country,    We really enjoyed our meals - chicken pot pie for Mark and walleye for me - excellent!    Busy place.

Lovely old hotel we passed on our walk to the Stone Lodge

Tomorrow starts the 12th annual Blues festival here in Port Sanilac (less than 600 residents).   It's a very big event and they are setting up tents tonight.  One year ago when we were returning from our boating trip to Canada, we tried to get a slip for one night but it was this same time and nothing available.....glad it doesn't start till tomorrow when we'll be outta here.

 We also heard that this weekend marks the annual garage sale which is along a busy highway and goes from town to town.

 WHEW....one more day!

Wednesday - August 5

We had some light rain off and on during the night and this morning, but by 8:00, it was done, even though the forecast said "all day".    So, my captain decided we should take off and get some more miles in towards home sweet home. 

We left at 9:35 not sure where we would end up, but not the best conditions today - cloudy and dreary with some wobbling seas - not too bad, but not what we like.    So, 38.5 miles later, we were in Rogers City again (last visit was June 24th - 3 days after we started this big trip and now into our 7th week)!!!

Had a familiar face greet us on the dock, got our routine done, Mark checked into the office and we walked downtown.   I went to Cook's Coffee Nook for an iced latte and Mark went across the street to The Painted Lady for his iced Americano decaf.   Gotta support these local businesses.    Then to Save-a-Lot for some pasta salad.    Had a light lunch on our way back to Catrina at the Pavilion Grille.   

I made a batch of BBQ and we had a nice quiet afternoon.   Liam called - can't believe he's down to his last 2 days of his internship in Minneapolis!    He has sure enjoyed the work, family he stayed with and the wonderful recreational area.    He biked 102 miles on Saturday from Minnetonka, MN to Hudson, WI.    Holy moly!!!!!

The rain started around 5 and got heavier but was over by 6:20.

Maeve had a belated birthday party this past Saturday....

Our sweet Maeve is "10" with her friends!

We had a picnic-style supper of BBQ, baked beans, watermelon and deviled eggs!

Tuesday - August 4

 The Captain got me up at 5:45...UGH, but the plan was to leave early before the strong winds picked up.    So we left the dock at the G. Marsten Dame Marina in Northport at 6:18.   We had roly waves for several hours, but the wind was out of the south, we were headed north so the waves pushed us along.....WHAT A CRAZY RIDE....sometimes we went way left and then back and then to the right!!!    Poor Autopilot didn't know what was going on!

We went under the Mackinac bridge at 10:30 and then left Lake Michigan for Lake Huron.

We arrived at the Cheboygan County Marina in Cheboygan, MI at 11:45.    Stopped at the fuel dock for diesel and a pumpout.   Strong winds and to grow as the day goes on.   Happy to be here.    Our ride today was 90 miles; the 169 miles we did yesterday was a record as the previous longest day was 159 on Catrina.

 Peggy, a friend of our brother-in-law, Tom H told us Saturday at the reunion about "HOMES" and the Great Lakes?    H (Lake Huron) O (Lake Ontario) M (Lake Michigan) E (Lake Erie) S (Lake Superior)!    We had never heard this!

After lunch we walked downtown (1 mile) - some nice stores + coffee shop (closed) and then to "The Dipper" for some ice cream (chocolate for Mark and Tennessee Toffee for me).

Tomorrow's travel plans are very iffy with 95% chance of rain all day.

Walking along the boardwalk and looking up to see this always beautiful "Old Glory"

Monday - August 3

BIG day for we nomads cruising 169 miles and 10.5 hours on Lake Michigan.    We left at 6:38 AM and crossed from Sheboygan, WI to Frankfort, MI for a fuel stop and kept on... arriving in Northport, MI at 6 PM.   Back on the Eastern time zone and nice to have that extra hour of daylight

We had planned to stop in Leland for the night but they had no slips available (24 boats were arriving today).    This was a shock as every marina we've gone to this summer has had plenty of space (maybe due to the high cost of fuel and not as many boaters are traveling???)    So, it was very surprising that we couldn't stay in Leland.    Oh well..... that meant we kept on going another 30 miles (all closer to "home" in Port Clinton).

We settled in along the wall here in Northport (we were last here July 16, 1997 with Ryan on Sail Catrina.)     Walked downtown and got some groceries at Tom's Market and then to "Fingers Crossed" for dinner.   It was ok, but Mark's ribs were not near as good as Rib City in Fort Myers.

The American Patriot was docked in Sheboygan when we left this morning

We saw this cruise ship in Muskegon last week.

Many sand dunes along Lake Michigan

So-so place

Northport has a population of 490 year-round residents and several restaurants, but

 Fingers Crossed was the only one open tonight!

Soft pink shade of hydrangeas

Sunday - August 2

 Windy, cloudy and cool this morning.....this was to be a travel day but not with 5' waves on Lake Michigan.    Seeing the big waves crashing over the rocks from our viewpoint - NO thank you!    Hope and pray things calm down and we can leave tomorrow?

We went to St. Peter Claver for 10:00 Mass with Father Paul Fliss.    There are several Catholic churches in Sheboygan, but they are consolidated with other parishes.    Enjoyed this Mass with a great pianist and soloist.    We had a special anointing of the sick - 40-50 members from the congregation were anointed by Father with the Chrism oils on their forehead and hands.    Something new according to Father.

After Mass we headed out to The American Club in Kohler, WI (high-end plumbing fixtures).    The Hotel and grounds are beautiful with the Green House (enjoyed our coffees and shared a rhubarb custard Danish), the Champagne Garden, etc.    There are 4 golf courses on the property.

Then to WalMart for a few things and on home.   The sun came out but winds are a'blowin!

Mark took the car back to Enterprise and then had a windy bike ride back to Catrina.

Our dock here at Harbor Centre has lots of  charter fishing boats which come and go - 2:30-3 AM, and some that will come in late at night well after dark - quite something for these fishermen and their love of this sport.

Lots of rods

A short zoom session tonight for just 20 minutes and 7 joining as we saw most everyone yesterday at the reunion,   Doris filled us in on her island picnic at the lake (rain, etc.) yesterday and Tom checked in from his Alaskan cruise.