Frankfort

On Tuesday we left Portage Lake and headed for the Big Lake heading to Frankfort. There was no wind for sailing but the day was beautiful for a boat ride. About five miles outside Frankfort we decided to try our luck at fishing.
We purchased a used rod and reel in Spring Lake along with some "spoons" and a dipsy diver. Everyone knows you need a dipsy diver! Whatever! I couldn't see how that was going to help but the man at the tackle shop said it was the best thing for lake fishing/trolling. So Skip got the pole out, we affixed the dipsy diver to the line along with a spoon (mixed vegetables it was called!) and put our line out. We were in 250 feet of water yesterday so we had to let out quite a bit of line. After making some adjustments we sat back and waited. Fishing is alot about waiting and patience! Neither of which Skip and I do well.
About 15 minutes into this waiting game something hit the line and the reel began to make noise. Well it couldn't be a fish! I mean the line hadn't been out very ling but the line wasn't deep enough to snag on anything. Skip began to reel in the line and pretty soon we could see that we had a fish on the hook! Really!
In my quiet composed way (right) I got the net, gave it to Skip and I took the pole.  It was a team effort to get him aboard.
And of course we didn't measure it and we didn't have a scale to weigh it, but we think it was about 30 inches long and probably weighed 8 to 10 pounds. I did take a picture of it and sent it to Joyce for identification. Then I called Jim to describe it and low and behold we caught a salmon!
Later when we got to Frankfort we bought a book of fish so we could identify our future catches.
So I got my trusty filet knife and went to work. Not to bad for my first attempt but I need to pay closer attention to the real fishermen who do this all the time. Hey Tom and Jim, how about a lesson next week? I need to hone my skills with the knife.
I've attached a picture of our catch before I went to work on him. Needless to say we had salmon for dinner last night. Yummee!
We got settled in at Frankfort, ran a few errands, had a beverage at our favorite watering hole (Dinghy's) and went back to the boat for a nap. Fishing is very hard work Skip said.
We  met Matt, who is a teacher from the Milwaukee, who is crusing the lake  until mid-July. He had dinner with us and we had a great time getting to know him. He is headed to Manitou Island.
So today, Wednesday, we are headed to Leland.. The weather is so perfect right now. Fifteen mile an hour winds out of the South; sunshine; and not much wave action! We're trucking along at 6.9 to 7.5 of boat speed. My kind of day.
Have a blessed day everyone. We'll write more later.
Love and blessings,
Margo and Skip

Portage Lake/Onekama, MI

Today is Tuesday and we are beginning our day at Onekama Marina. We left Ludington on Sunday and motored to Portage Lake. The day began pretty calmly but OMG did it change. We started with a pretty flat lake and ended the day with 3-5 foot waves. But we got to Portage Lake and found a place to anchor. After 3 attempts at anchoring, the anchor finally grabbed and we were set. Had a restful night with dinner and our daily  card game - which Skip won!
On Monday we took the dinghy to a local bait shop to get our fishing license. Now we can catch dinner! We also found Chateau Grand Traverse, a wine company. The wine is made in Traverse City from  grapes grown there. This little shop had all the wines and other retail goodies and wine tasting. We left with 3 bottles of their wine. Pretty good stuff!
By the time we headed back to the boat, the wind was picking up again. But we made it back with both of us still dry! No man-over-board the dinghy! When we got back to the boat, we noticed that the boat was moving which meant the anchor was not holding. The wind was howling at about 20 knots. Yikes! So we called the marina for a slip. We knew we weren't going anywhere yesterday.
Portage Lake is a beautiful and serene area with homes nestled along the lake shore. The people are so nice and friendly. But the lake is pretty shallow with a mud bottom and covered in seaweed. I've  attached a picture of the anchor after we pulled it up to come to the marina.
When got here and got settled, Skip donned his swimming suit and cleared all the weed from the prop and the rudder. What a mess. By the way, the water was a scalding 73 degrees! No thank you very much. Way to cold for me. Give me my Kentucky Lake at 90 degrees!
So today is Tuesday and we're off to Frankfort in just a bit. Love Frankfort!
Have a blessed day everyone!
Love and Blessings,
Margo and Skip

Ludington

Yesterday, Saturday, we pulled the anchor and motored to the Ludington Municipal Marina. There was laundry to be done! I don't know how two people can go  through so many clothes. It's not like we make 3 changes a day. Oh well.
We got situated in the slip, headed for the showers and then took a long and much needed walk. Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves sitting at the Jamesport Brewing Co.! Great little bar and the  appetizer we had was amazing. It was called the Crabby Onion. Picture this - a stack of four deep fried onion rings, in graduated sizes no less, stuffed with lump crab meat that had been mixed with a real creamy blu cheese dressing mixture. Oh my goodness... it was awesome! Ed, you and Jo would have liked it I'm thinking.
Later in the evening, Skip grilled steaks and roasted potatoes for our dinner. Yummee!
Today we'll be heading to Portage. A short little jaunt that will probably take six hours!
Check out the picture of the Badger. The Badger is a car ferry that goes across the lake to Wisconsin. It began transporting railroad cars in 1897. In the 1940's it began ferrying cars across the lake. The ship is 410 feet long; carries 600 passengers and 180 vehicles.  And she is massive.  It takes 4 hours to cross the lake and she runs twice a day.
We considered using it when we head to Iowa for the July 4th festivities but it's a bit pricy.
Well that's all we have to report for now. We're heading out is a bit. We pray you have a blessed Sunday.
Love and blessings,
Margo and Skip

Friday on the Great Lake

Well here we are in Ludington, MI. We started our day on White Lake where Whitehall is located. We anchored out last night so it was a matter of pulling our anchor, going back to the Big Lake and heading North. It took us ten hours to go 46 miles! Can you imagine!? Sailboats move slowly even when the motor is on. Anyway it was  a beautiful day and we had pretty good wind for most of our sail.
We pulled in to Ludington and found a place to anchor. Took three tries to get the anchor set... Crazy! So we had a big boy/girl beverage and fixed dinner and here we are. It's 9:49 and the  sun still hasn't gone down. Gotta love the summer!
Tomorrow we off to the municipal marina here. Laundry to do and we need to do some walking! We haven't been  to Ludington before so we're anxious to explore the town and see what's here.
We covet your prayers for safety this summer.
Love and blessings to you all,
Margo and Skip

First Day Out!

Today didn't begin with conditions conducive to sailing but by two this afternoon we were able to crank the engine and take off.  It was still a bit overcast but after twenty minutes on the big lake (Michigan) the skies turned blue and the winds were favorable. We realized there were a few things we forgot to do before we left... like finish the Dutchman (for the sails) and attach the reef lines to the main sail!  Oh well. It didn't keep us from heading to Whitehall.
So here we are on Indian Bay on White Lake. The scenery is lovely and the weather turned out beautifully. We got anchored, fixed the Dutchman, had a
big girl/boy beverage and fixed dinner. That was an experience! I realized I didn't have Pam or olive oil on board! The trip to Meijer before we left was lacking a bit.
But we're here and on our way. Skip donned his swim trunks and jumped in the lake to bathe! Not me! A bit too cold if you ask me. But he survived and is dressed in his winter jammy-j's! It's supposed to get colder tonight.
We're getting ready to play gin rummy. So far this summer, we are tied.
Extra prayer please for you prayer warriors out there. For my Daddy and for a job opportunity for our Rick.
Love to everyone!
Margo and Skip

And we're off.....

So we've been in Michigan since June 11 and we're finally on the boat!
We had a family wedding on the 16th of June and oh what a time we had. The weather was iffy all day but just before the wedding everything cleared and the wedding was on the beach. So much fun. Our grandsons - Cooper and  Xavier were ring bearers and did a great job. A good time was had by all. Great food and great company.
We've been working on the boat since we got here but only off and on. So last night and tonight we spent the night on the boat and will take off tomorrow. Fortunately we don't have much of an agenda so we're not starting off behind!
Say some prayers for my daddy. He had an accident last week and has been without a car since then. It's all very confusing for him but we're on the road to recovery. The good news was that nobody was injured.
July 4th will see us in Iowa. No, we won't be taking the boat! We'll leave her in Boyne City for the week we'll be in Iowa. Gotta see my cuz and the rest of the family.
I'm attaching a pic of the boat traveling to the well where she rested for a few hours before we put her in a slip.
So we're off to  bed for the evening. It has been the longest day of the year and we're pooped!
Later dear friends,
Margo and Skip

It's Saturday, June 9, 2012 and we are preparing for another summer on the Great Lakes! We leave Evansville on Monday, June 11 and head for Grand Haven, Michigan.
We have a family wedding on June 16 and will leave Muskegon to begin our sail on June 19. At least that's the plan for today! We are open for anything that may come our way. 
We're very excited about our trip this summer as we'll be traveling into Canada - Georgian Bay and the North Channel. It will be a new experience for us but I'm sure it will equal our voyage last year.
We'll be posting more next week as we continue our preparations for the trip.
Blessings to everyone,
M