Day 77 and 78: Destination:Manistee

Day 77: October 3: Wanting to take advantage of a positive forecast, we all agreed engines would start at 6:30 am. True to our word, everyone was ready to go at about 6:45. Being so far west, sunrise occurs later than we are used to back home; it remains really dark until about 7:15 so getting out of bed and underway this early is a bit difficult but we do what we have to do!

With navigation and anchor lights on, we left the dock first, leading the way out of the harbor and onto Lake Michigan. Proceeding slowly, we kept looking back, watching for our 3 fellow Loopers. We were about 1 mile out before we saw Summer Fling, followed by Zendeavor and then Karla B make their way out onto the lake. As soon as we saw their lights, we increased speed to about 8.25 knots and settled in for our trip; thinking we would stop in Frankfurt which was about 30 miles away. 

We watched as the sun came up, colors and brilliance changing right before our eyes. So glorious, it did not stop with painting the eastern sky. In a boasting gesture, it cast a reflection to the west, lighting up the speckled clouds ahead of us in pastels; pink and purple. 



We approached Sleeping Bear Dunes and saw the North and South Manitou Islands appearing much closer than they had while we were in Leland, where we could just make them out on horizon. The Manitou Islands are a part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, in the northwest corner of Michigan's lower peninsula. 

Legend has it that a mama bear and her two cubs were swimming across Lake Michigan to escape a fire on the Wisconsin side. Mama made it to a tall dune, now called Sleeping Bear Dune, and waited for the cubs. Sadly, the cubs drowned in the lake, rising from the depths as North and South Manitou Islands while Mama died waiting, forming Sleeping Bear Dunes. The islands are managed as a wilderness area and area available for hiking and camping. John and I traveled to Sleeping Bear Dunes years ago by car when AJ was stationed in Michigan during his years with the Coast Guard; it was an entirely different experience seeing it from the water. 

We neared Frankfurt, our original destination, but decided to keep going to Arcadia since the lake conditions were really good. When waters are calm and the winds are merely breezes, it makes sense to keep on keepin on! It's also a time when you can really take in the scenery around you. 


We never expected to see a golf course on the top of a cliff on Lake Michigan. 


We got close to Arcadia and continued on, taking advantage of the lake's kindness. The lake remained calm until about 4 miles out of Manistee. Once in motion, it didn't take any time for the waves to hump up. Thankfully we were still taking it on the bow, not broadside. 

We pulled into Manistee Municipal Harbor after traveling 60 miles, only to find it closed; no worries! We tied up and were happy to see electricity and water are available. David spoke to someone on the phone who said it was fine for us to stay. We aren't sure what we will be charged but being the end of the season some municipal marinas have been charging 1/2 price or not at all. We shall see. 



Day 78: October 4: Sandra and I took a 7:15 am walk along the Riverwalk, a 1.75 mile boardwalk which stretches from the mouth of the Manistee River at Lake Michigan east to Manistee Lake. The North Riverwalk was constructed in 1983 and is lined with benches and fishing decks along the riverbank as well as shrubs, trees and grassy sloped areas ending at the pier on the tip of Lake Michigan. 



We also took a quick walk around downtown, noting the Victorian era buildings. I'm sure there is a lot of history here so we will be exploring more tomorrow! 


Chicken on the grill for dinner! A walk to the pier and lights out! 








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