Was this all in one day?

This town rolls up at 8!

Best laid plans.  The restaurant David wanted to take me to was closing up when we arrived.  Oh well, it was a great view but across the street at Pepper Joe's was a very fun view of the canal.  We sat out on the dock and enjoyed the fantastic weather, talked about our favorite places of the day, and then started talking about Tuesday's trip.  We did pick up a Michigan Harbors Guide...love it!  I went through and dog earred all the Marinas that would be appropriate for "Stella".  Now, Captain David had to come up with some new plans!  Hehe, Stella wasn't going to Harbor Beach!  The trip looks a whole lot better.  A bit of weather tomorrow in the afternoon, so we are planning a short day.  Lexington or Port Sanilac wherever we can get!  The ride so far has been as beautiful as those who have travelled before us said.  Aqua water, like the Carribean, truly!  Ok the Captain is telling me to shut it down, we have to be up early!  Blue skies and calm water, Tracy

P.S. Interesting balancing United States and Canadian waters.....Coast Guard everywhere.  We did get a special treat seeing the Maritime Great Lakes Academy Ship..picture to follow soon.

Battery died for camera

So many gorgeous views on St Clair river I ran out the battery. Going to St. Clair for the night. They have an attended marina till 9pm and fuel. Captain David likes the St. Clair Inn so cocktails and dinner there. River is well marked. My calves are burned in the back from standing and watching for logs in the water and there are quite a few! Amazing homes to see along this waterway as well as the landscape. Nice boats out, but traffic not heavy for Memorial Day in my opinion. Tracy

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Lake St. Claire

2:30 on Memorial Day 2011 and we are entering St. Clair. Super nice ride today. All I see right now are lots of sailboats on aqua blue waters..beautiful. We are shooting for Port Huron since it is such a great boating day on the Great Lakes! Guinness, the first mate, has settled in for the long ride. He has been acting like a baby and only drinks from my hand. Captain David is holding a steady course and feeling good about being underway!

Blue skies and calm water! Tracy
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Freighters are big

Trying to beat a freighter into the Detroit channel..woohoo!

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Pics!

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Storms and Verizon don't sync well

I tried to update yesterday four times, but nothing uploaded? So basically when we need info the most that is when we won't get it. That is ok, as this high tech stuff hasn't been around long and somehow boaters have managed to do fine. Still in Bay Point. Hail, winds and tons of rain last night. I am having coffee watching the sun rise. last night we had red skies at night..sailors delight. Preparing to head to Algonac, Mich. Will be about a 7-8 hour trip. The Detroit river we hear gets super rough with boat traffic so we will be leaving in about an hour. Blue skies and calm water, Tracy


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It's a no go!

We are staying put. Tornado warnings in Detroit too severe and long. Will take off early tomorrow as forecast predicts a good day. Last night we watched Chuck dance to his dedication "Gone" by Scotty! So fun and then the evening kinda started snowballing..hehe. What goes on at Bay Point stays at Bay Point or whatever Port boaters decide that is appropriate. Blue skies and calm water, Tracy


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No dinghy, still planning to go!

The patch didn't hold. Ugh. Captain David is a bit frustrated to say the least. The plan is to go storms or not. Wind is ok. Waves 2 feet and under...except during
Storms. No warnings. Tomorrow supposed to be great day so we want to be positioned for a long ride. Dock friends last night partied us right out of here! Very nice evening and our Bay Point hats will always be cherished. We were good till about 8:30pm. Then we got a knock on the door? Rain, horns, speakers, friends, drinks, music, dancing, screen door gone, red wine sprayed, no one hurt a send off from F dock.


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Boats! So much to do!

The never ending tasks with boat ownership. Lucky to have one, yet unless I am out on the water feel compelled to clean while captain David fixes the latest problem. Go figure, when David rolled out the dinghy we found out a mouse had made it it's temporary home. Ate through the canvas bag and put two holes in the boat. David spent the morning patching! Now on to fixing up water leaks, etc. Don,t know when we are leaving yet, Captain David is shooting for tomorrow morning. I have to get back to cleaning,etc. Just wanted to give a very quick update. Blue skies and calm water, Tracy


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Hurried up and loaded Scotty

The truth be told, I think most boaters listen to some form of country.  Yes, when you land at Kelly's Island you hear OMG blaring till 2 in the morning, but on the dock with everyday boaters seems country, country rock and good old rock and roll.  So, I couldn't leave today without equipping the IPad for Stella's journey.  I just had to download American Idol winner "Scotty"  I don't know his last name and I am sure I probably won't because I think he is going to be known by "Scotty"?  Just a guess.  His song that got me is "Gone"  Gone like a freight train...hehe.  Well, in a couple of days Stella will be gone like a freight train!  I am going to play this song for a special dock friend if we get a chance.  Yes, Stella is dedicating a COUNTRY song, to Chuck W! 
Gorgeous morning, and we are heading out!  Blue skies and calm water, Tracy

Delay of Game!

Weather is nasty and predicted to be so till tomorrow.  Lots of rain and thunderstorms, so we decided to hold off heading to Stella!  Tomorrow will be fine, no sense getting soaked and cold before we start. Blue skies and calm water (hopefully soon.) Tracy

Weather, Weather, Weather!

It looks like there might be a break soon!  Predicting some sun and warmer temps for a three day stretch this weekend.  That will make the beginning of our voyage very nice!  Captain David and I have been plotting our course and it would be so wonderful to  settle in our routine before we had to deal with any issues. 

Really looking forward to seeing our friends on F dock at Bay Point!  We are grateful for all the knowledge and help they have given us. We could not have been with more generous folks!  Wonderful memories, stories and summer days shared.  It will be so hard to leave such a great group of people and Bay Point the little secret of Lake Erie!

I am starting to get so excited thinking about having a "55" on the dock TONIGHT! Woo Hoo!  Stella awaits and we must not dissapoint her so off to do final preparations!  Blue skies and calm water, Tracy 

Calmed by a boat ride

Yesterday, I started to get a bit scared of what we are facing.  Was getting my first summer pedicure and the woman had grown up in Saginaw.  Many boaters have told stories about Saginaw Bay and how unpredictable and rough it can get..quick.  And the bad part is most run it straight so you are in the middle with no land insite if weather hits you.  Growing up on Lake Erie, both David and I, have a huge appreciate for shallow water and storms.  Yet, I got a creepy feeling yesterday and started badgering David about how far, how are we going to approach it, I wanted a perfect weather day infront and back of the day we cross, etc.  David looked at me and said hey if it gets bad you can rent a car and I will take it across....oh yeah right, I am going to let him go by himself!  Anyhoooo, we had a business event last night that involved a most beautiful dinner cruise on Lake Macatawa.  Unbelievably nice weather, sixties and sunny!  Just getting on a boat and on the water made me feel better.  Sometimes the imagination carries one away!  Lake Macatawa by water is way more interesting and gorgeous than driving around or looking at it!  THAT is the blessing of boating.  You see everything from a different angle and perspective.  Made us excited to get our boat here!  The dinner cruise couldn't go all the way into Lake Michigan because of 3 foot waves.  I was glad to see 3 foot waves by water because I know we could handle them.  We could handle 5 footers.  In my mind I was thinking, 5 footers would be like the movie perfect storm...lol.  Last summer we took a group to Kelly's Island and coming back at night was rough!  I don't want that type of situation for hours on end and asked David how big those waves were.  He thought over 5 and sometime 7...we survivied that, but again, 7 not fun cruising for a vacation trip.  That is just work and worry!  Water temperature here 30 degrees and storming today....adding a few more "fleece" items to the boat wardrobe!  Blue skies and calm water, Tracy

A very important crew member

I don't really "know" if one type of dog is a better boat dog than another.  Probably, if they swim and like being on the boat is a bonus for most familys.  Guinness is our 3 yr. old Cockapoo and going to be crewing on our trip.  What that entails I am not sure.  He doesn't fetch with consistency, he won't come when called ( unless there is a treat involved) and I am pretty sure he doesn't help wash the boat.  What I do know is that he understands it is a treat to be with us.  He pretty much has his spot marked on the bridge bench where he naps, a little jump down is his food and if he starts to get bored he will usually pop up to see what Captain David is doing.  That is also our sign the little guy is kinda getting bored.  The longest we have been out with Guinness "running" has been about three hours.  So, it will be interesting to see how he does if we need to pull an 8 or 9 hour day.  Truly, Guinness does play a very important role!  He entertains the heck out of us.  He has a routine that keeps us in check and he will 'bark" like a guard dog if he feels it is necessary.  As I put together our "emergency pack" today, I have just as many items to check off for Guinness as us. Oh, yeah I need to get back to that!  Blue skies and calm waters, Tracy

P.S.  The lifejacket fitting still didn't happen.....

How happy will we be to see our Lighthouse?

Boat Course and lifejackets!

My husband, David, is the Captain of Stella, which makes me according to a friend, Admiral!  Kinda like that.  So as Admiral, I take my job very seriously.  Normally, when not travelling, that would mean I can make the Captain get me a drink, wash the boat, or whatever.
On the serious note, I have been taking a Boat Course that should be taken by anyone involved with boats.  I took boating courses as a child so it all comes back quickly and yet all the new equipment is exciting to learn.  I have a final exam this week and want to pass so I get the certificate!  Admiral will trump the Captain on this!   Makes for good boat conversations and dare I say arguments?  I did win out on our fancy new lifejackets!  Last night during cocktails I tried to get the Captain to do fittings...well, that didn't turn out so well.  His excuse was that he didn't know what clothing he would have on at the time.  I mean seriously I just wanted to cut the tags off and kinda have the straps ready?  Oh well,  I do know when to fold the discussion, but believe me he will be fitted tonight!!!  That is all for now.  I am going to post a couple of pictures from yesterday in Holland, Michigan our hometown.  The Channel home....the goal for June 10, 2011!  Blues skies and calm water, Tracy

Wow....that took all day!

Just ramping up "The Blog" so we can share our quickly approaching journey.  "Stella" goes in the water on Monday!  So, hopefully the hard part of creating the "blog" site is done and Stella has a great launch.  I am starting out small and hopefully when I get how this all works  can open it up to more family, friends and fellow boaters!  Any comments right now will be appreciated as I am developing my knowledge or lack thereof!  Blue skies and safe water to all!  Admiral