Friday we made a quick visit to the grocery store and motored 19 miles to Arcadia. For the first time since arriving, we boated in short sleeved shirts. Amazing!! July 5...The harbormaster seemed to discourage us from coming...he kept saying there’s nothing to do. Just what we wanted. We made friends and gave boat tours most of the afternoon...ate and crashed. Dakota seemed happy to have no mortar shells blasting!

We woke to drizzling rain and cooler temps....of course! Michigan just can’t seem to hold on to summer. But nothing really to deter us from heading to Manistee. Little rocky rolly...and cooler...so Dakota and I stayed inside for the two hour run...and the water is high! Almost over the finger piers...Floyd finally measured this afternoon....and stepping off the boat is a little more than 3 feet...even with the step stool, I’m asking for his help. Dakota was leaping on and off...but that little shower this afternoon raised it some more. He hesitated and Floyd is just sure wanted a lift!

Just when we thought we’d seen it all...we arrived in the middle of the duck race. A front loader parked on the bridge dumped over 1000 yellow rubber ducks into the river. They announced the numbers of the first three to cross the finish line...and the last one to cross. Then began the gathering. I was sure hoping to snag one...but they were too efficient!

New haircut for me ...and pedicures for us both...a visit to the sushi restaurant...did my bit for the local economy.....quick visit to the grocery store on Friday morning...and a short couple of hours to the tiny place of Arcadia. It’s a small marina locales almost a mile from town...full of character but nothing here. If fact, I’d say that the harbormaster tried to talk us out of stopping. We’ve met several folks...of course, we’ve been giving tours.

Special breakfast on tap for tomorrow...then weather permitting we are headed to Manistee, 19 miles at 8 miles an hour. Do the math....finished another book today, so I’ll have to start another...oh, darn!

Thursday..July 4...a lovely day that brought sunshine and heat....the small town parade went right down the street in front of the marina...started promptly at 10....then art vendors in the park....then Lions Club had a HUGE chicken BBQ fundraiser...we enjoyed all that with Shana, Alex, Jonathan and Bailey. Before lunch was all gone we were joined by Alex’s brother and wife aboard the TUMBLEWEED. Dakota was in doggy paradise. A short visit from an irate worker bee....evidently Floyd’s horn demonstration was not enjoyed by her. She was raring to fight...so when we instantly agreed to cease honking...she didn’t have much else to say. What an interesting encounter! 

Enjoyed a lovely afternoon on the aft deck...hanging with Bailey and Shana...though lots of mortar rockets booming all afternoon. Dakota didn’t care for it at all....we were down and out before the real show began.

This gal is the official Chamber of Commerce photographer. I worried about her camera if she fell!

Floyd and I waiting for the parade to begin....so disappointed as there were no snowmobiles!

Fog fog fog...it’s everywhere...it’s daily...and it’s dense. Stopped raining around 10 and even though the fog was heavy, we scooted over to the gas dock for a quick pump out and headed to Frankfort. Just about 5 hours....in long sleeve T-shirt, sweatshirt and all weather coat....it was a little nippy. Water on Lake Michigan was glass smooth...and we were not among the masses. Radar worked great...and fog cleared as we entered the channel....which was a good thing because the big dredge was sitting right in the middle...pumping away the sand onto the shore a half a mile over. Amazing!

Water is high here too... in fact, the poles of the finger pier are almost lower than our rub rail...if you know what that means. And electrical cords both work!! Did I mention our leakage is now down to 6 milliamperes...?? And we’re on tap to spend a day in Sagatuck replacing our bank of house batteries...that should give us longer use of power when we’re at anchor. And we’ll be forced to do that on the river sections getting to Green Turtle Bay. Also discovered last week that the those two locks have already started the daily shut downs for repairs...damn! Closed 6AM to 6PM...the original announcement was to start that on August 16...but evidently started on June 1....sooooo, we’ve made nice with a couple who are already headed down to see how this is gonna play out. My prayer is that since they started early they’ll finish early! We’ll see how that works!

My former student, Shana Reeves McCosh, is in Frankfort this week on vacation...she greeted us warmly and included us in the big family BBQ last night. Tons of folks coming and going...dogs, kids, aunts, uncles and cousins everywhere. And none of these were our people! Dakota was a huge hit...and we had plenty to eat and a great visit. Everyone slept good last night.

Floyd and I are scheduled for much needed pedicure this afternoon..and I’m getting a much needed haircut. No need for manicures...we got no nails left.  No hope for these hands!! Maybe grocery shopping...but mostly plan to enjoy the peace and quiet of our aft deck...Shana banana may escape to us at some point today.

We understand the festivities tomorrow include a morning parade on Main Street...passing right by the marina...the carnival is setting up just the other side of the library...and, of course, fireworks out on the  entry channel at 10... I doubt we’ll be awake for that last part! But who knows!

Yeah for mobile dog groomers....and this one certainly went the extra mile. Even though she’s been grooming for five years, She’s brand new to the mobile business. Her new van is giving her fits...well, the generator is. So after spending most of the day at the repair shop...again...she still made the trip to Leland to bathe and trim our boy. He looks and feels so much better....and we get the benefits of that. While I waited, I managed to do my bit for the Leland economy. More books, hats, the tiniest little silver nativity set and ceramic address tiles....just what everyone needs.

Tressa (who I met courtesy of Facebook) and husband Ed Genord arrived in a gust of wind and came over for long chat last night. Yes, one of those moments of sheer terror. They are working their way home with their new boat....to be renamed TrEd Waters...hoping to start the looper life soon. So they head north while we’re going south. Was so much fun sharing stories and adventures....and they left with a promise to look us up when they pass through Green Turtle Bay. Maybe next year ...maybe the year after...

Rain, fog and clouds this morning....but no yellow or signs of red in these storms....Floyd is making preparations to drive from below where he’ll be warm and dry...and I’m sure use his radar and fog horn. He loves this stuff...me, not so much. It’s a five hour run at 7-8 mph...I’m betting you could drive there in 40 minutes. Oh, the joys of boating.

Looking forward to Frankfort....room for Dakota to run, sushi, and Shana....haircut and pedicures....we’ll be like new people for the Fourth....hope there’s a small town parade and no fireworks!

Electrical gurus are gone....AIS installed and working, lowered our leakage AGAIN ( but can’t test it til we get somewhere with those picky pedestals)...and most importantly, horns are again honking at full volume! Dog groomer has yet to make an appearance but she says she’ll be here around 3...

Still planing to move to Frankfort tomorrow! Life is good!

The exit of boats has started again....in dense fog! Gotta love radar! We have electrical gurus crawling everywhere. Installing our new AIS, chasing that electrical rabbit, and looking to see why those new horns aren’t recharging. Guess which one is most serious....yes, horns!


And Wichita alert....had an early morning email for some fellow Wichitans in the area....seems they saw our boat docked yesterday and began searching. Found my email address within twenty minutes...and came for a short visit this morning. Hopefully they’ll be back this afternoon when we’re not so distracted with these worker bees.

Scattered showers and more fog predicted for tomorrow ...but the plan is still to head to Frankfort. Shana is there and has offered supper for tomorrow night...wooo hoo. I’ve seen some of her great meals posted on Facebook....Floyd and I have pedicures Wednesday afternoon and I’m getting a haircut. We’ve both laughed at the “no need for manicure”...we’ve broken every nail we have...some more than once. Boat life is not all glamour! But it is loads of fun...full of surprises...it’s what we do!