Day 3

Awoke this morning to view the flag through the gazebo displaying all 50 stars.  Not a good sign for someone (me) looking to make a 100 mile cruise.

A quick hike out to the harbor mouth verified that the lake was a touch sloppy.  The offshore buoy showed near 20 knot SW wind and 4' seas.

So we waited patiently for a better day and even lowered the dinghy thinking it would be at least another day before we made a move.

Then the unthinkable happened.  The wind died.  Maybe there was an opportunity to venture north.  And so we did.  Leaving Harborview Marina in our wake...

...and heading out the channel at Ludington.

Northward we travel past Ludington State Park and Big Sable Point.

Passing a sailing vessel north of the point.  Waters had calmed significantly to a small chop.

Waters remained calm past the sand beaches near Manistee.

But began to build slightly as we passed the Frankfort harbor light...

...and Point Betsie.

Small craft advisories were issued as we viewed the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore from a distance.

Therefore, it was time to find safe harbor at Leland.

Stroll through the shops of Fishtown.

Safe and secure for the night.  Transient rates at Leland have almost doubled this year.  Our stay in 2010 was $35 for our 30' boat.  Today the going rate was $60.  A sign of the times, I suppose.  The state is cash poor.  Thanks, Michigan.  You don't need to pile on.

 
Off to Suttons Bay tomorrow.  Calm seas are in the forecast.  I could use a little of that.

DAY 2

Today was a day of final provisioning and a trip to the family camp.  The dinghy is strapped to the transom and ready for travel.  Forecast is for a following sea 1 to 3 feet.  Possible showers and T'showers.

The Ludington fishing tourney finished up this afternoon.  A total of 128 boats fished.  Pro division was won by Ludington boat Polecat, weighing in a 2 day, 24 fish limit totaling just shy of 300 lbs.

The tournament fleet returns to the harbor.

Off loading fish box for weigh in.

Hopefully, we get out tomorrow morning...destination Suttons Bay, Michigan on beautiful Grand Traverse Bay.

Vacation Begins...

We arrived at the boat last night to begin preparation for a cruise up the Lake Michigan coast this week.  The Ludington Offshore Classic Salmon Tournament is in town this weekend which makes for a busy town and marina.  I went out to see if I could find a few fish to take to the family camp when we visit with them tomorrow.  I was successful.  Caught a few.

The "professionals" are all here for the tournament.

Three is definately better than two.

What seems to be the queen of the fleet this weekend, from Leland, Michigan.  That is one nice fishing platform!

Somebody get this guy a fishing rod.  He's in the wrong port this weekend!

Maybe these guys can help him out.  Looks like they might have an extra rod or six.

Anyway, spent the afternoon in the clean up and conversion process to make Play Dough into a cruiser.  Lose the fishing equipment (well, most of it) and add carpeting and tops.
Mission accomplished.  Just need to add the dinghy, and we'll be ready.

Stay tuned...more to come.

So we get to Ludington yesterday, and it's nice and calm so I grab a rod and the carton of crawlers out of the fridge and...the crawlers are all rotten.  Seems expecting them to stay fresh in the refrigerator for more than a month is expecting too much.  So, it's off to the beach to watch the sunset and pick up a new batch of crawlers on the way back.

This morning I got up and idled out of the harbor and determined that there may be a fish or two near the harbor while all the other boats motored off to the horizon.  I set the first line and...fish on!  Landed that one and reset the line and...fish on!  Landed that one and reset the line and...fish on!  Three fish in the cooler, it's barely daylight and I'm not more than a half mile from the harbor entrance. 

We fished for a few hours and ended up with a nice bucket of fish. Four salmon and one steelhead and another that we threw back.

I need to make a mental note (not that it will do any good) to make sure I have reeled in ALL the lines before heading into the harbor.  I have discovered that attempting to troll a lure at 30mph causes line twist and also the loss of anything that was attached to that line. 

Maybe tonight I'll use a few of the "new" crawlers. 

...to be continued.

I have to say that I'm not impressed with the Ludington police department's handling of the fireworks crowd.  I understand that people are going to shoot off fireworks, but can't the police at least prevent the idiots from shooting the fireworks OVER the marina basin???

That said, Ludington put on a nice fireworks display.

And yes, after a night of fireworks, noise, and severe storms, I dragged my butt out of bed this morning to wet a line.  It was a surprisingly choppy lake this morning so I didn't stay out long.
One of three fish landed EARLY this morning.

The rest of the day is scheduled to be a day of inactivity.  I'm bushed.