The Summer Winds Down

Here it is, the middle of September and time to think about putting Sonador away for the winter.

After our trip to the UP, Susan and I brought Sonador around the Straits of Mackinac on the one day of relatively calm winds we could find.  Thank goodness it was an uneventful crossing for six plus hours -- waves and swells of about 2 feet and threatening grey/black sky but only about 30 minutes of real rain about an hour out of Charlevoix.  There were few other pleasure craft out on the lakes -- and we saw and heard no freighters.  After we were safely tied to our dock at Irish Boat in Charlevoix, the weather really deteriorated -- with lots of rain and high winds for the next two days.  Lake Michigan was no place for boaters for most the next week!

After a couple of days, we took off for another/shorter land tour to the Leelanau Peninsula, visiting Suttons Bay (twice for shopping and eating), North Port, and staying in Leland (also known as Fish Town).  Spent far too much money on a good time and some mementos.  Then we headed south for about fifty miles along the Lake Michigan coast to visit a friend who lives in Arcadia -- had a great time with her -- then back through Traverse City, Elk Rapids and around Torch Lake before coming into Charlevoix yesterday evening.

Now, we are relaxing, getting caught up on "stuff", and generally planning on the final two weeks up North.  Friends in Charlevoix and surrounding communities have insisted on inviting us to dinner before we leave, so the social calendar is filling up.

Will try to capture some final pictures of this beautiful part of the country.