HIGHLIGHTS of our summer...

• Serendipitous meeting with Shana Reeves (former student) in Frankfort...of all places!
• Museums in Sturgeon Bay, Oconto area, Green Bay, Fish Creek and Washington Island
• Great Lake Cruising Club Rendezvous
• Laundry facility in Little Sturgeon Bay
• Rain on the roller coaster and green slime in Green Bay
• USS WICHITA in  Marinette/Menominee
• Penny covered bar in Egg Harbor
• Lightning/thunderstorm and sailboat fire in Fish Creek
• Lobster rolls in Sister Bay
• Ghost town in Fayette
• Lavender farms and joining the Bitters Club on Washington Island
• Bemis reunion in Charlevoix
• ....and all the great folks we met along the way...from dog groomers to strangers walking the docks to locals hanging out on boats on the docks at marinas to folks eating next to us and sharing their  leftovers!  And can't forget the Captain's  great weather/wind/wave predictions...

It's been an awesome summer!! Glad we spent time on the other side!!

Summer SUMMARY...

Left Northport June 19th ... returned on August 29th

Gone a total of 71 days

Traveled 17 days

Went 497 miles....averaged 29 miles a day

Bought 600 gallons of gasoline...( no diesel this time!)

18 ports of call....Leland, Frankfort, Sturgeon Bay (2 marinas there), Little Sturgeon Bay, Oconto, Green Bay, Menominee, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay, Escanaba, Fayette, Washington Island, Leland, Charlevoix and Northport.

Okay, so here's the plan...we've got boat chores and food to take us to Sept 6... so the plan is to head out on the 7th to Ludington....on the 8th take the SS Badger across to Wisconsin and drive to Davenport...on the 9th land in Des Moines in time to tour the Salisbury House...and arrive in Wichita on the 10th.

We're thinking next spring we'll return to TUMBLEWEED ...head north to visit Georgian Bay and North Chanel...attend the GLCC rendezvous in Killarney and then head south...as much as I don't want to do that skanky river again, we do want to position the boat a little closer to home...so we think Green Turtle Bay, Grand Rivers, Kentucky is the spot. Warmer weather and water, looper friends in the area, plenty of places to visit, restaurants...and they've upgraded the liquor laws...finally!!....no worries about Mississippi flooding or canals opening...hoping children and grands and others will come visit!  There is a resort feel...condos for rent...beach, pool, water toy rentals...sounds like it could work....and it's a long day drive from Wichita...as opposed to three days to northern Michigan.  Anyway, that's the current plan!! Stay tuned to see how that works!!

Time flies in Charlevoix...a couple of nights with the Bemis bunch, meeting and greeting fellow loopers, and shopping....we moved today to Northport! The Northport folks always seem so surprised that we return...even though we tell them we're coming back. Strange noises from the drive shaft area have us concerned but we are where we need to be to have that taken care of....we have truly been blessed this summer...no issues, no break downs....might be a first in our tenth year of boating!! We tell folks we are getting a new boat...one piece at a time...and we think we're about to start over on pieces. Floyd thinks this noise is a bad cutlass bearing...and we had those replaced just before starting the loop in 2008...so it's probably time!

Photos leaving Charlevoix...waiting for the bridge to open...it was a windless day...perfect last ride into Northport....notice the BIG landscaped home sitting by the bay in the final photos...they say it belongs to current  secretary of Education...Betsy DeVoss and husband...seems they are pumping big bucks into the Michigan economy ...don't get me started....I'll hush up now!!

Another cloudy cooler day...and we've about had it with cloudy cooler days! They've sold bunches of sweatshirts in Charlevoix today....We came north to escape the Kansas heat and that has certainly happened. It's been spring-like all summer ....temps in 70s and more cloudy days than sunshine....and now seems to be going straight into fall....but we love the town and marina in Charlevoix....truly saved the best for the last!

Several looper boats around...so between walking the shops and visiting with loopers, we're  about done in! Docktails tonight!

Sausage gravy, biscuits, over easy eggs and bacon....breakfast of champions....and another very smooth ride into my favorite marina...Charlevoix....dock master recognized us...which is a first! ...stern in dockage was the first we've done in ages...but Captain Floyd backed us right in...several looper boats around and we are proudly flying our gold and platinum flags...Ted and Linda cruised by in their run about to say welcome and we made plans to join them at the cottage for supper. That was delayed a bit by grandson's visit to the emergency room where Linda had to be substitute mom for awhile. But it happened...food was grand, alcohol flowed, problems solved. It's good to be in Charlevoix....film at 11.

We did experience some strange clunking, grinding motor?? Or something noises yesterday that have us a little concerned.....and the weather continues to stay cold...so we're thinking about heading to Northport...working on our boat chores and heading home sooner rather than later...stay tuned to see how that works...no one is complaining...it's been a great summer aboard the TUMBLEWEED...

O dark thirty....and cold...50 degrees...but the water is glass smooth...we are on the way!! Floyd is bundled up for a blizzard driving from the fly bridge....Dakota and I are huddled with blankets below on the couch....7 hours  and a time change back to Eastern ...truly our best crossing!  And yes, we've made a few!! Arrived in Leland Harbor right on schedule...120+ gallons of gas and a pump out...parked in slip 22...it's good to be in Michigan! Burgers at The Cove, quick grocery stop, and ice cream... Charlevoix is on tap tomorrow...but first, special Saturday breakfast!!

Thursday was another long day of watching the ferry boats come and go...waiting for the winds to die down...then at about 3 o'clock a pretty good sized older trawler pulled into Kap's Marina...barely enough room for him to turn around. He wanted to buy 20 gallons of gas for his jet skis and dockage for the night (no reservations or advance call)...grumpy Kap, said I'm not going to all the work of getting this gas unlocked and cranked up for just 20 gallons...and all these slips are rented for the weekend...but you can park on the wall for $2.50 a foot. So they helped him dock, he walked the dog and then untied the lines and started to leave...but ,oops, wind blew him onto the rocks at the entrance. Lowered a jet ski and used it to pull the big boat off...then maneuvered around in the channel (we kept thinking a ferry boat would come along!) to reload the jet ski. Kap said...that's what happens when you don't pay! Then he chatted for a good while about how he doesn't provide this kind of entertainment for everyone...just us! We felt so lucky to have had a ring side seat!

But really weather has turned cold...and we are tired of waiting! We'd like to be on the other side!

Missed a few photos...

Shoulda been called "rent a wreck"... but that van covered with spiderwebs did serve the purpose...we toured Washington Island...this 6 x 5 mile rectangular island is roughly the size of Manhattan, NY... and the 710 people who call her "home" are hearty folks. We started at the far end and worked our way back to Kaps Marina....we toured Jackson Harbor Fishing Cabin and Museum, Sievers School of Fiber Arts,  Historic Island Dairy and Lavender Farm, Mann's Mercantile and our favorite Nelson's Hall, Bitters Pub and Restaurant...where Floyd consumed a jigger of Angustora bitters, thereby becoming a member of the historic bitters club...he has a card to prove it....but alas, no t-shirt! We did our bit for the local economy...and made it back to the boat in time to watch the local Coast Guard bring in a cripple sail boat...seems she'd lost the all important rudder bolt...and small world, it was a lady we'd talked with in Escanaba. You just never know! This boating world is not very big!!

Weather continues to improve boating-wise...so we are making plans to cross to Leland on Friday...but I'm just saying we fired up the space heaters this morning...it was nippy!...

None of the rains predicted for the last three days have arrived...but that hasn't stopped the island breezes from blowing...and from almost every direction. We had thought the lake would settle and we could cross on Thursday...but then Friday's prediction is better and Saturday looks beyond good...words we've never seen in reference to Lake Michigan..."relatively calm"... so guess what!??? We're holding out for Saturday...crossing to Leland...then Sunday scoot into Charlevoix...stay awhile ...see what the Bemis bunch is up to...then we'll see. We have lots to accomplish boat-wise before we put her back in storage...and we'll be back next year!

Should have posted this weeks ago...folks docked next to us in Green Bay gave us this little string of lights for a wine bottle...she said didn't cost her more than $2....we've certainly enjoyed it....

Story though is don't leave it outside in the rain...water accumulates in the bottle and then shorts out the batteries when you turn it on...$12 worth of watch batteries later, it works again!! Lol...a little romantic ambivalence aboard the TUMBLEWEED...

Washington Island is delightful quaint little place...marina is very small and right at the south end where the ferry boats and the tour boat dock...from our aft deck we can easily watch them come and go...

Our electric cords don't quite reach the connector box...so we have to choose...A/C or lights and appliances...so far haven't needed A/C...and have enjoyed having boat opened up! Planning to play tourist tomorrow...cherry train tour ride and see the sights....we think we've got a while to wait..

Photos from Fayette....it was very enjoyable...and really not nearly as crowded or hard to get into at this time of year on a weekend as folks had claimed...several big boats arrived without reservations and were easily accommodated....though maybe they didn't have electricity either! Brochure claimed over 5 miles of hiking paths...RV and camp sites...in what was once a busy, noisy smelt town....interesting!

Notice in one photo our loyal and faithful Dakota, waiting outside in the shade, ever so patiently for Mommy and Daddy to look things over inside. People would often pet or talk to him...but he never moved off his stay spot. We were so impressed...Several parents commented he was better behaved than their children....I agreed!

Left Fayette this morning headed to Washington Island...once again Captain Floyd called it...less than 1's ...wind and waves on the bow...just the way we like it....managed to maneuver between two ferry boats and dock at Kap's Marina...and then the wind kicked up big time...we were ever so glad we arrived when we did. We changed clocks back to central time and then enjoyed a delightful prime rib sandwich at the Ship's Wheel restaurant....napping and watching the ferry boats has about worn us out. Looks like we'll be here til Friday waiting for perfect weather to cross back to Leland...rains are coming...and wind direction is always an issue....photos at 11. I hope!

Arrived Fayette Historic State Park right on schedule...and can I take a moment to brag about the Captain? His weather/wave predictions have been spot on all summer....and today was even better than he predicted! Yeah, Floyd!
Fayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula's most productive iron-smelting operations...all company owned...and the State took over the property in 1959. It's very scenic...and offers a wide variety of recreational options...we'd been warned to not try to get in the dockage over the weekend...but had no trouble making on-line reservations....getting shore power to work was another issue. New docks are equipped with extra sensitive breakers and we could never get it to work. Weather was okay so we weren't too worried...just opened up the boat. Dakota was allowed on all the grounds so he went with us to explore. Cell phone and internet connections were nonexistent...and other than a little late night scare with the inverter, we enjoyed a delightful day in Fayette (which may be the end of the earth).   Photos haven't downloaded...so you'll just have to wait for that! Sorry!

Some photos of our marina sights in Escanaba....wish the weather had been better...but we managed...