What a Boater Does When in Port for Several Days?

Ever wonder what one does without TV or radio (very poor reception) to entertain oneself sitting on a boat in a marina.  Well aside from reading some very stimulating books -- and some just trash -- jigsaw puzzles come in handy. 

This lovely challenge kept me entertained for four days this past week -- this snap was taken on day two when all the easy stuff had been completed. 

But, that's not all there is to do around here.  Every morning I meet new acquaintances for coffee at the local bakery and café -- they are permanent Charlevoix residents who have taken a liking to Sophie and decided that my presence at their morning coffee klatch was okay.  Interesting conversations about the community and the people who are movers and shakers around here.

Last Saturday I drove to Mackinac City to board the ferry to the Island for lunch with the Cheboygan Yacht Club at the beginning of the lilac festival -- only spring hasn't quite made it to the Island yet, and the lilacs are simply green buds waiting for more sunshine and warm weather.  Sophie got to spend the day at a doggy kennel just outside the city, and was relieved when I came to pick her up late in the afternoon, even if it meant another hour plus car ride until we got back "home."

And, I launched the dinghy on Monday, only to find out that the motor had no intention of sticking with the task at hand -- she started fine and died within two or three minutes running.  Repaired this morning -- apparently water in the fuel had messed up the carburetor so the local small engine guys cleaned out the gunk and got her back to working.  That's important since that's how Sophie and I get to shore in the North Channel.

Hoping to find a weather window early next week to head over to Cheboygan and Duncan Bay -- and then will spend some time there before heading over to the Channel.

Spring is Officially Here

When the lilacs are blooming, and their sweetness fills the air -- it is officially spring!

This was taken on our morning ritual walk down Belvedere Avenue which parallels Round Lake and leads to the Club with the same name.  Grand old homes in a stately, and private conclave with a private boat dock and beach on Lake Charlevoix.  Families have been coming here for the summer back a century -- and homes exchange hands from one generation to the next.

This morning was "brisk" but with a bright blue sky so it is warming up nicely.  Even cleaned the boat today, and launched the dinghy.  I hope it will be warm enough later in the week to take the little girl out for a run around Round Lake and to explore the original Pine River which is now just a meandering creek leading into Lake Charlevoix.  The current Pine River is a straight channel dug to give larger boats -- sailing vessels and later steamers carrying coal to Boyne City and Iron from East Jordan.

Sophie has settled in nicely -- she even has determined her favored treks around the city none of which include cruising main street.  She doesn't like the flags and hanging signs out over the side walks and certainly doesn't approve of the lack of grass.

Planning a quiet day -- tomorrow is the farmers market right at the marina, so hope to buy more Michigan asparagus and maybe some morel mushrooms if they aren't too dear.

Motors work and we have moved a short distance!

Taken from shore at Irish Boat Shop



 

Before we left Irish this morning, we said good bye to these and other duck families who seem to be thriving in the marina -- at least to date.

Now we've moved the grand distance of four miles to downtown Charlevoix -- a really nice marina in the center of everything and probably our home for the next couple of weeks.

Managed not to bump into anything on the way out of the marina, as we pulled into the local fuel dock for a pump out, or as I maneuvered into the slip.  Just dumb luck!

But it really helped that Lou was on-board to help and Donna met us at both the fuel dock and at the city docks.  Now, I've moved the car downtown, did a little more provisioning including some white fish spread from American Spoon, and life is good.



Mid-Week and It is Still Bright, Sunny, and Relatively Warm!

Had a great time in Cheboygan with BD and Rick, and friends, but it was a little cooler over there on the bigger Lake than here in Charlevoix (I'm easily five miles from Lake Michigan and behind some low ridges).

Have spent the interim, continuing to put stuff away and, yesterday did some minor sanding and touching up of the "bright work" aka teak trim.  At some point in the not too distant future, I'll have to sand it all down and start over -- but not now.

Also, asked Irish to create some new storage in the galley for me -- it was completed today, and I'm very pleased (as I am with almost all of their work.)  I'm still the only person staying on-board their boat, so it is a little quiet after 5 p.m.  I'm getting a lot of reading done, and trying to keep in touch with friends from the local community.

Mama Duck still has her five babies -- so she is either very diligent, very lucky, or this is a particularly safe harbor for her to raise them in.

Yesterday I drove down to Elk Rapids -- about 45 minutes south on Grand Traverse Bay -- just to shop and explore.  Treated myself to an artistic glass perfume bottle, saw lots of other things that were very attractive, and exercised some discipline since it is too early in the season to get carried away with purchases.

Today, Jay and Phillip came up to check on their boat -- expecting to launch on Saturday while they are winging their way to Paris.  We had a good catch up, and will probably see them on Friday.

First Morning and It's Beautiful

Moved on Board yesterday -- a beautiful, sunny and warm Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend.  I've been so spoiled by the Florida sunshine, that I was mildly amused watching the guys who work in the boat yard stop to bask in the sun, heads tilted back just soaking in the warmth.  But, who can blame them after the winter they've been thru.

Interspersed my unpacking and putting things away with strolls around the local park to stretch both my and Sophie's legs -- and, admittedly soak up some of that same sunshine.  The trees are such vibrant colors as they bud, and the water is cold and crystal clear this early in the season.  There is even an early family of mallards, with five very little guys paddling around the marina -- need to count the babies every morning just to make sure they have survived.

Yesterday, Irish Boat sponsored a cook out for their "customers" so got to see a lot more of my boating friends -- exchanged stories of winter and plans for the summer. 

Today, I'll spend the morning after a three mile walk with Sophie going thru all the safety gear on Sonador to make sure everything works and will meet Coast Guard rules.  Then in the afternoon, I'm driving over to Cheboygan, MI to visit with my good friends BD and Rick Gillig at their wonderful home on the shore of Lake Huron.  It's another beautiful day, and again surprisingly warm -- I'll take it!!

Loading Up Sonador for a Summer of Fun

Having put 1450 miles under my car -- I arrived in Boyne City on Wednesday afternoon as planned and have been staying with good friends Donna and Lou Diaz (TEQUILA) until I've settled everything into Sonador.  Only a little bit of scary weather just north of Dayton, Ohio as we passed underneath/thru a front where the temps dropped from the mid-seventies to the very low fifties in the space of twenty minutes with torrential down pours and ground stike lightning.  Then, just to add to my wonderment of mother nature, as I passed the 45th parallel all the trees looked dead -- turned out the leaves are just beginning to bud.  It's late May, for crying out loud!!!

Arrived in warm weather -- low seventies with bright blue sky -- only to wake this morning to a very low cloud cover and temps more in the low forties.  Not very inspiring for the day of work I'd laid out.  But, Sophie and I forged on -- arriving at Irish in Charlevoix a little before 10 a.m.  After Sophie was greeted by all her friends, with a few "oh, hello, Melissa," as follow-up -- we located Sonador at Irish' main marina.  Saw several acquaintances, including Jim and Susan Fish (FISH TALES) -- everyone talks about the "winter that was" and how glad they are that it appears to be over. Stories of towns with frozen water mains, and frost levels down a good seven feet -- and ice still in Lake Superior (7% coverage as of this morning.) 

By 11 a.m., Sophie was in her appointed spot on the front of Sonador, surveying her surroundings.  She certainly is at home in this different environment.  I managed to unload most of the stuff from the car, and get a lot of it put away.  I plan to move on-board Saturday in the morning, and then just hang out.

Of course, miss my friends in Florida -- but this is another world, filled with planned adventures to the North Channel and getting together with all my boating friends.

(please excuse the quality of the pictures -- taken with my I-phone until I get my real camera thanks to Susan)
 

Heading North!

 Two days on the road -- one thousand plus miles under my tires -- and another day to go.  I-75 isn't exactly the most exciting of routes to follow, but it is the most direct -- and some of the scenery is really beautiful if you could take your eyes off  the road for a second and not worry about the eighteen wheelers barreling down on you every other minute!

Sophie continues to be a champion traveler -- except she refuses to drink any water between our take off in the morning and stops at night.  She doesn't seem to suffer from the lack of hydration, and for the second night has settled into a deep sleep guarding the door to our room.

Sonador was launched last week -- and I've been told that the new cushion cover are all ready for the main salon and forward berth.  Yea!

Pictures -- when I can get them.  In typical fashion, I carefully arranged everything for my 6:30 a.m. departure on Monday, and it was only 'til I looked out the window at a lovely scene of horses in pastures at Ocala Florida, that it dawned on me that my cameras were both still at home :(

My friend Susan will pack them up and ship them to Michigan later this week!!