The Midges Won the War

And, this morning I retreated to the Charlevoix City Marina where it is unbelievably midge free (only a mile from Irish).  I hesitated for a few seconds -- winds were clocking at 20 plus miles per hour -- but placed the call at 8 a.m., and by 10 a.m. Sonador was snugly tucked into a slip downtown.  By 2 p.m. all vestiges of those creatures were gone, and Sophie and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the bow midge free!!

Should have done this two days ago, but I kept wishing that the plague would end -- several other boats from Irish and neighboring marinas are down here, so I shouldn't be ashamed.   Besides, my dear friends Dan and Jaye are coming from Annapolis on Tuesday, and there was no way to clean the boat with all the bugs.  Sometime over the next day or so, I will go get the dinghy which sits covered with bugs and wishing life were different.

Today was the farmers' market in Charlevoix which is in the park right in front of the marina -- I bought some fresh asparagus, home made bread, cannelli bean hummus, and lettuce -- it's always rewarding with both the good food and the support of local farms to roam the stalls of the local markets.

I'll get some pictures posted tomorrow of our new environs -- in the interim, Sophie and I are happy campers!!

Fog, bugs, and drizzle

And you thought living on a boat was all dreamy evenings sipping cocktails and enjoying sunsets -- well, not so.  For the past several days, we've been experiencing the spring hatch of midges -- pesky swarms of harmless flying things that penetrate your mouth and nose, your clothes, your hair, and make the simple task of walking Sophie a pain.  Then, this morning, I woke to dense fog which should burn off by noon -- couldn't see the end of the dock, let alone the shore which is only two hundred feet at most.  The combination of bugs and fog just isn't very pleasant.

Yesterday, drove by car over to Cheboygan to visit with Jo and Ron on Annwfn (pronounced an u vin) before they take off for a summer on Lake Superior.  We sat outside at Duncan Bay, commenting on the boats, weather, and life in general -- had a great visit over a bottle of Zinfandel!  Then, to top off the evening, I went to the Cheboygan Yacht Club's weekly dinner meeting in downtown Cheboygan, visiting with friends BD and Rick and others.  Heading back on Saturday to Duncan Bay for their annual pig roast and pirate dinghy run -- yes, boaters can be a little crazy at times, but that is what makes us so interesting :)

First trip will be next week, when Jaye and Dan from Annapolis come up to visit the ports on Grand Traverse Bay for seven or eight days.  It'll be good to move out and see if the bugs will leave us alone.

Pictures as Promised

Looking out over Ferry Landing Marina -- our home for the summer on Lake Charlevoix

Ms. Sophie is right at home on Sonador -- she can watch all the comings and goings, and make sure that she gets her fair share of petting and praise.  Not too shabby since there is a park just around the corner to play in.

Onboard Sonador -- and it's still cold!

Thanks to Lou and Donna, I had a warm bed to sleep in -- not to mention delicious meals -- through the weekend and into the first couple of days of this week.

Yesterday, Wednesday the 5th of June, I moved onboard -- the last of my stuff is out of the car and on the boat -- and prepared my first meal onboard for the summer.  It is too cold to be June -- in the low 40's this morning with a brisk wind coming off the lake.  Sophie loves the cooler weather, and to be fair, I have to admit that long walks are easier when it is cool than when hot.  But, really, this is taking the "north" to a little extreme.

Seems every year, I complain about the cold.  And, I get to complain about the midges again too!  These are harmless swarms of bugs that populate every nook and cranny of the exterior of the boat, the docks, and the shore line.  They look like mosquitoes, but don't bite or anything -- just drive you to distraction.  There is no sense cleaning the boat, not 'til they finish hatching, because as soon as it is clean, the midges return.

No one else is staying over at the marina -- yet -- but folks do come down during the day light hours to work on their spring lists of repairs, fixes, and improvements.  I won't call down the wrath of Neptune by boasting about Sonador.

Tuesday, one of the mechanics from Irish Boat joined me for an hour's sea trial -- running the engines at all range of speeds, and checking on all the electronics.  Except that I must switch out my C-Map chip so that I have inland and full Lake Michigan coverage, everything seemed to work like a charm.  I even docked with a port side tie -- not my favorite move, but the only solution if I am to be bow in.

Pictures over the next couple of days, promise.

Arriving at Lake Carlevoix

Had an uneventful trip north -- I-75 is a funnel from Florida to Northern Michigan filled with snow birds and large 53' trucks barreling along at 75 plus miles an hour.  At least there are places to stop along the way, including good friends.

Stopped in Cincinnati with Chuck and Joann for two days.  We had a delightful time -- Joann took me on a tour of the city and the local art museum (which has a remarkably extensive collection).  Chuck was restricted to home because he was scheduled for meniscus surgery on Friday (which I've since learned was successful). 

On Saturday, the first of June, I arrived in Boyne City to stay with Lou and Donna for a couple of days before moving onto Sonador.  It was sunny, warm (hot for here), and the lilacs were blooming in the woods.  We drove to Irish Boat Yard to check on the boat -- she had just been splashed and moved to her new slip.  Lots of work to be done before I can move onboard.  AND, today it is raining, blowing and in the low 40's.  What a change from yesterday!

Sophie remembered the boat, and all the people who greeted her with as much enthusiasm as they greeted me!

Looking forward to really beginning our adventures.

The Time Has Come

Today, it is stuffing the car with all my possessions -- making sure there is still room for Sophie and me -- and tomorrow as early as we can muster ourselves, we are out of here!

Planning a day to Atlanta, then a day to Cincinnati where I'll stay for two nights with friends Joann and Chuck (sv Moku Hale), then to Ann Arbor, and on Saturday into Boyne City which is the southern end of Lake Charlevoix.  I'm staying there for two nights with Lou and Donna (sv Tequila).  Finally, on Monday I'll move on-board mv Sonador for the summer.

Looking forward to exploring Lake Michigan, to seeing all my friends.  Sophie is looking forward to walking in the cooler air of the Great Lakes.

Next planned posting is at Irish Boat, Charlevoix, MI.

Spring Is Coming

While the up north may still be shivering with early spring snows and rain, it is definitely time to begin planning for the trip north this year.  There is still work to be done (hopefully being done) on Sonador with a scheduled launch right after Memorial Day. 

Right now my plans are to stay in Lake Michigan for the summer -- exploring ports of call on both the Michigan and Wisconsin shores.  Probably taking a few short trips of a week or so, rather than being out the whole summer.  But, as all boaters know, plans are only that -- weather and serendipity can conspire to change everything.