We changed our course 3 times in as many days-such is the life of a boater...long term plans are loose at best, short term plans can change with the winds, as is the case today...
Yesterday we set out to South Haven where we intended to try again to rent a car for a day or two to visit a couple of the towns we by-passed: Holland and Saugatauk. But, half-way down the lake, after looking at the weather predictions for later in the week we decided it best to move along a little further south. A few phone calls later, cancelling one reservation and trying to find a slip for the night, we found ourselves on our way to the St. Joe-Benton Harbor area. It was an aggressive day, 73 nautical miles in all and the first 35 were in rolling seas...We checked the weather again before we went to sleep and again first thing this morning and considered all scenarios-Chip made the final call and by 9 a.m. we were heading (St Joe lighthouse in photo) back into Lake Michigan and across the big, blue water to Hammond Indiana. This will be the last stop of Discovering Ithaka Leg II. It's a bit overcast today; not cloudy, just a hazey grey across the horizon with the sun trying with all its might to shine through...the waves are choppy but only 1 to 2 feet-easy. This is the last wide open water we will experience until we get to the Gulf of Mexico next year.
Last night we said "so long" to Sunshine-They are heading to Chicago...It's been great travelling with them and we will look forward to seeing them in Naples when they pass through..
We've decided to forgo Chicago this year and just stay put in Hammond-get Ithaka ready for her year-long hibernation...the marina where she'll be stored is only a couple of miles away...It just made sense, rather than going to Chicago now then having to back track with uncertain weather approaching. Besides, it will be so much fun to start Leg III in the windy city next year!
More photos and updates to follow in future blog entries...but for now, this is Captain Chip's Best Mate signing out...there's no land in sight, however a lovely monarch butterfly is delicately dancing around on the breeze...now, that's what I call discovering ithaka.
Yesterday we set out to South Haven where we intended to try again to rent a car for a day or two to visit a couple of the towns we by-passed: Holland and Saugatauk. But, half-way down the lake, after looking at the weather predictions for later in the week we decided it best to move along a little further south. A few phone calls later, cancelling one reservation and trying to find a slip for the night, we found ourselves on our way to the St. Joe-Benton Harbor area. It was an aggressive day, 73 nautical miles in all and the first 35 were in rolling seas...We checked the weather again before we went to sleep and again first thing this morning and considered all scenarios-Chip made the final call and by 9 a.m. we were heading (St Joe lighthouse in photo) back into Lake Michigan and across the big, blue water to Hammond Indiana. This will be the last stop of Discovering Ithaka Leg II. It's a bit overcast today; not cloudy, just a hazey grey across the horizon with the sun trying with all its might to shine through...the waves are choppy but only 1 to 2 feet-easy. This is the last wide open water we will experience until we get to the Gulf of Mexico next year.
Last night we said "so long" to Sunshine-They are heading to Chicago...It's been great travelling with them and we will look forward to seeing them in Naples when they pass through..
We've decided to forgo Chicago this year and just stay put in Hammond-get Ithaka ready for her year-long hibernation...the marina where she'll be stored is only a couple of miles away...It just made sense, rather than going to Chicago now then having to back track with uncertain weather approaching. Besides, it will be so much fun to start Leg III in the windy city next year!
More photos and updates to follow in future blog entries...but for now, this is Captain Chip's Best Mate signing out...there's no land in sight, however a lovely monarch butterfly is delicately dancing around on the breeze...now, that's what I call discovering ithaka.
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