Crossing Lake Michigan TA DA

 We made it - we are safe in Port Washington. For us it was an exciting crossing, we skirted all the bad weather, just a few rain drops and some hefty waves. The voyage continues.

 

Hello Everyone -

What is the old saying about red skies in the morning? The day started off great. We left our mooring at 6:30 am and sailed out of the channel into blue skies a nice wind and fairly calm waters. Our heading is 274degrees north/west, across the lake to Port Washington Wisconsin.

 

A few things we learned--  don't believe the weather report, especially about wind speed and waves. I would also like to know how flies end up ten+ miles from shore and know our boat will be there. If anyone has a clue how to escape them let me know, Mosquito  netting the whole boat seems like over kill at this point. Another phenomenon we encounter is that as soon as the sails are set the wind shifts.

For awhile we shared the lake with two freighters as company- one running north and one running south. Weather still good and we were sail at 3.5 kts with an arrival time of 3am.

Then the wind shifted and the clouds started to surround us. As you can see we did stay in the sun shine but all around us were thunder storms, lightening flashes and you could see the rain falling from the clouds. We were scooting now at 5+kts with our whisker poll out.

Pileus over Cumulonimbus

There were some pretty fantastic cloud formations- This Cumulonimbus  with  Alto cumulus over the mast - got my cloud book out to check.

 So much for the prediction of 1-2 ' waves - we were rocked silly - the waves were moving south to north and of course we were going east to west.  Makes for an interesting ride and a few new bruises

 We finally could see land - and the sun beckoning us to safe harbor.

We made Port Washington by 8:30pm - not bad. No equipment failures. No one went over board, I fixed a hot dinner on the boat, and we are waiting for Jennie and Josh to join us tomorrow.

Last night in muskegon

Hello we have spent the last few days getting all the odds and ends finished on the boat. Tonight we pulled the dingy on board. I wanted to get a picture of it hanging from the rope above the deck p.but that would have ment letting go of the rope. Tom vetoed the idea. We watch the boats leave the Muskegon Yatch Club for the Tripp cup to Milwakee. We leave early tomorrow for Port Washington to meet up with Jennie. This will be the first time we will not see land for awhile. Keep us in your fair weather sailing prayers. Till we cross Laura

In Muskegon getting ready to cross lake

Hello everyone
Well we have been in Muskegon getting ready to cross the lake. Tom got to use his wisker pole on the trip back from Holland and it worked great. I will add pictures later, the 3G conection is slow out on the mooring. 
So far I have scrubbed one half of the outside hull, Tom has oiled some of the teak, put the wisker pole up on the mast and various other little odds and ends. We finally got the holding tank leak fixed- thank heavens.

The Weather has been getting better each day which is a blessing. Mornings still a little chilly and every once in a while a good rolling wave will come through and rock our socks off but all in all the view from our back porch is pretty spectactular.

I watched the Junior sailing race and the larger boats race yesterday, hope one day Tom and I can be that coordinated in our efforts.

St Joe to Holland Monday

We made it through the bridge then went to a cove to pull up the dingy. While we were there the lightening stated so we stayed put for a while

The storm blew over but not the rain. What the heck - we have rain gear so off we went.

Yep that cloud bank went right on over us, no thunder- but lots of rain and wind

yes the sun did shine on us but it also took away the wind -

We made it to Holland around 6 ish safe and sound - I think this is a geat pic.
All in all - lots of flies- we got to sail and motor . More than half way home.

There is a house coming into- Holland with a high room - I like seeing these SunFlowers

This is where we drop anchor in Holland

Dinner is on time to go in.

dingy ride on the river - Sunday

Decided to explore a little of the river

lot s of geese with there growing young on the river today


There is a turtle on the log if you look close


















STARTED DOWN THE CHANNEL BUT WAY TO BUMPY FOR THE DINGY - RELAXING ON THE BOAT AND PLAN TO HEAD NORTH TOMORROW