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!!