Birthday weekend Aug 14-16 2015

Sailed from Menomminee to Egg Harbor... Our Birthday weekend. The curse of getting hurt every birthday almost didn't happen. Got a bee or wasp sting about a 1 mile from the marina on the way back in.... LOL... Won't mention where the sting site is....

Day 17 of sail-cation

Today we woke up around 8am and had cherry Danish pancakes at The Ships Wheel. Left around 1030 and headed out through Deaths Door.... White caps and wind on the nose...lot of rolling. Once we leave deaths door the wind should be in our favor.

Day 16 of sail-cation

We were going to head back to home port today but there was a storm today...so we decided to stay another night. First thing in the morning ...stepping onto the crate on the dock... I slipped and fell on my R side...hurting R knee and wrist.... Thing mostly a sprained R wrist and bruised knee. Took a relaxing cherry trian ride around the island and got to stop at a few places we hadn't seen before. The train driver was another ham radio guy.....lol. On train ride we stopped at nature center, school house beach, farm museum, Lavendar farm and. Cool Scandinavian church. We then had a relaxing evening on the boat reading and then we went to bed early in preparation for leaving on Sunday. Today was also Anya's Birthday!

Day 15 of sail-cation

Started out the day sleeping late....too late for breakfast but had a lunch at Kapps Ships Wheel. John spent the day with a famous ham radio guy and I checked out the lavender stores. The famous ham with his own ham shack has call sign of W9EVT George Ulm... Very nice wife named Sue who picked me up from Lavendar place and took showed me their Lake front property. For dinner we cooked on the boat and had a relaxing evening on the boat.

Day 14 of sail-cation

Midnight Thursday found us in the middle of Lake Michigan for our all night sail. Passed Fox Islands and North Manitous after leaving Petoskey. We arrived in Detoit harbor at 8am. On the way to Washington Island in Door County we passed through Deaths Door. We saw Plum, Pilot and Detroit Islands. Staying at Kapps Marina...Will Krueger is the nice owner of the marina. We are parked right my the coast guard station.

Day 13 of sail-cation

We had lunch at the Polish kitchen! best polish food ever.... we are some delicious pierogi...sampling of all and saved the dessert crepes for later. Sad to say that we are leaving Petoskey area - and leaving MI behind. Anya is bummed....she loved the waves, swimming and playing with her dog friends. We were going to stay till 4pm but John thought it best to leave when a dock hand was available and the gas dock was open. Anya is pouting....mad at Daddy for leaving Petoskey behind. Boy is it cold on the water!

Cold doggie 

Day 12 of sail-cation

Took a 10 mile exhausting uphill bike ride to harbor springs. John needed a part for the sailboat so he thought we would take a bike ride to Irish Boat Works. Very nice town with the friendliest people. After we picked up the part we ate at Turkey's...a cute ma and pa diner. John checked out the yacht club and found us a car ride back by a very nice couple. We had a nice sunset walk to the lighthouse and on the way back to the boat Anya was wining at the waves because she wanted to go swimming! We let Anya swim and while John was watching her I was looking for Petoskey stones (think I found  big one). 

Day 11 of sail-cation

Still in Petoskey.... rained so slept late...made breakfast on the boat. John had time to try out our hammock before it rained again. We then took a few walks with and without little Anya. Found a beautiful waterfall that Anya enjoyed and saw a lot of nice parks with so beautiful flower arrangements. We also did some downtown shopping.....note to self Frankfort would have been a better place to buy Petoskey stones.....better prices. Had fun Petoskey stone hunting along the lake with Anya.....who knows what we found but they are pretty. In the evening we were invited on a Benateau 35 by a nice retired couple who just had the boat delivered brand new....they gave us a tour and then we invited them onto our boat for a tour and a drink.

Day 10 of sail-cation

Woke up late this morning....almost 11am because I had a hard time sleeping last night.... don't know why.... Maybe because boat was really rocking. Had a nice salad and cheddar brats for brunch.Today we took a long bike ride to Bay Harbor and the village and had an early dinner. We saw John Wayne's old boat called the Pilgrim...very cool we a lot of wood. We then biked back to the boat in time to watch the sunset with Anya. Beautiful sunset... they are all so different!

Day 9 of sail-cation

Left the cute little town of Northport this morning and headed for Petoskey. Passed by some ritzy shoreline towns of Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor. Had some wind and white caps today... Hot up to 7.4 knots. Arrived in Petoskey today around 7pm; very beautiful waterfront park with a lot of flowers.took a walk with Anya and then later John and I explored. John bought a sailing burgee from the Petoskey Marina.... very cute with an Indian chief....as the town is named after an Indian chief.

Day 8 of sail-cation

EEArrived in Northport, had some good wind on the way in.  Northport Marina is pretty nice but no wi-fi. Cute little town.. Had a jazz band playing in the park. Walked around the whole town with John and Anya. Ate at an outdoor food truck....great food! Had all other meals today on the boat. Getting better at galley food preparation. Don't want to repeat my fall down the galley steps on Jily 6th!

Day 7 of sail-cation

Had breakfast on the boat then took Anya for a walk. Found a nice little farmers market at a local school and bought some fresh produce for the boat. Brought Anya back to the boat and then John and I went on a nice bike ride. Ate dinner on the boat and then took Anya for a Sunset walk on the beach. Tried to take a late night shower but closed for cleaning. John and I plan on leaving for either Northport or Suttons Bay tomorrow.....will play it by ear in the am. Anya was a real ham today...really got a lot of attention.....now she is sleeping in her bed... Wiped  out from the adventures.

Day 6 of sail-cation

Left Frankfort and sailed to Leland MI. Engine sailed most of the way here...some heeling action. Passed Point St. Betsie, sleeping bear dunes and North and south Manitou's. Arrived in Leland around 5pm... Had dinner on the boat and took a nice walk. Watched the sunset and Anya made new friends.

Day 5 of sail-cation; July 7th, 2015

John and I took a long walk to Port St. Betsie lighthouse...found a nice rock shop along the way. Talked to a nice gentleman who knew a lot about rocks; especially the Petosky stone which is a fossil from coral. The lighthouse was awesome and the waves were really high.....bringing in all kinds of rocks.....for collectors.After we came back we rested our feet then took another walk to the bookstore and ate at Soho.Yesterday we bought groceries... So we have plenty of food for tomorrow's sail voyage. Plan to stop in Leland..... If the wind is in our favor. John heard a lot of boats took refuge in Leland due to the sea water conditions. 

Day 4 of sail-cation; Mom's Birthday

Another day in Frankfort......decided to stay due to big winds and a storm headed our way. Started out the day by calling my Mom and wishing her Happy Birthday (81 years young).Spent the day walking around town with John and then with Anya! We also visited the Frankfort lighthouse and spent some time walking on the beach with Anya. Had breakfast at a restaurant and dinner on the boat!

Day 3 of Sail-cation; July 5th, 2015

Slept late! We decided to stay in Frankfort for a few days. Did some chores and then decided to take a walk downtown. Mailed my Mom a postcard and bought some necessities for the boat. We had lunch at a cute little restaurant and then then went back to the boat and did some more chores. For dinner, John cooked s few steaks on the grill and I made a kidney bean, onion, avocado, and egg salad. Topped it off with a glass of red wine. Our little Anya decided to jump off the boat while John was cooking dinner and she went a to visit a few people trying to eat dinner at the picnic table.

Day 2 of Sail-cation....Friday the 4th of July

Left Sturgeon Bay...bayview bridge had to open for us. heading to Frankfort, MI....eta 7-9 horse depending on the wind. Happy 4th of July!! Home of the FREE....land of the brave! 

Arrived in Frankfort around 8pm... Frankfort Municipal Marina. Place was hopping.... had many things going on to include carnival... and dueling fireworks on the beaches between Frankfort and Elberta communities.... could see both from the boat. 

Today brought 2 things:

1. My first injury: I was going down the boat stairs; forwards instead of backwards and slipped and hit my back on multiple stairs...giving me abrasions, bruises and who knows what else.

2. First marital squabble while on the 2 week cruise... but I won't discuss that!

Difficult night sleeping...