Port Washington to Racine

 

A Great Day for Sailing

We coasted to the end of our “shakedown cruise” Sunday afternoon and declared it a success.  Friday, Saturday, Sunday, coming back from Door County were probably the 3 smoothest cruising days ever recorded on Lake Michigan.  It has been beautiful with blue skies and just the hint of a breeze.   We spent Saturday night in Port Washington.  There was a live band playing somewhere near the marina, and we sat on the aft deck listening to music and watching the sunset.  

Pugh Marina, Home Port

Jenny, Laura and Stacy welcomed us at the pier and caught the lines – they are all now experienced boat travelers.  We enjoyed an evening with family and friends and came home to Main Street.  The house seems really big, the refrigerator seems really big and the car seems - - well, we have to remember it doesn’t have autopilot.

As a preparation for the Great Loop, we have compiled a list of things to find/do/bring along when we set sail again in two weeks and so we will be busy making those arrangements.  Hope to be busy seeing friends and selling cars and getting the house ready for renters.  Start looking for the blog to be up and running around September 1 when we cruise through Chicago and out into America’s rivers headed south.

 

Racine, Hometown

Manitowoc to Port Washington  

Another great cruising day on the Lake, southeast winds 5-10, 1 ft. or less waves, auto pilot all the way. Learning again how to use the new Chart plotter to set routes and saving, adding way points, moving waypoints mid-trip. Cleaned one of the bilges while underway, did some exercises, and watched the beautiful Wisconsin Shoreline. Great day cruising.

Harbor entrance Port Washington, WI

Port Washington was a favorite destination for my family during my childhood. We would drive to "Port" buy some smoked chubs and return on a Sunday afternoon. Then for supper we would clean and eat the chubs. Sometimes we would get together with extended family, Milton Krause, Myrtle, Carol and her sister Janice, I think. One time we purchased 5 lbs. and the adults cleaned the fish and we all enjoyed the adventure. Simple things were fun and entertaining. I remember looking at the fishing boats, the nets all coiled up on reels and all the fishing gear, all this mechanical stuff was very interesting to me.

So I decided I would go to get a few Smoked Chubs as an appetizer for this evening. We arrived a bit late and I was concerned that the store might be closed, checking online for their store hours I read the following message, “ATTN: We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are out of CHUBS for the foreseeable future.” What a disappointment!

Marina updated in 2010, Nice, full, active.

Lots of action here, it is Saturday night after all. We checked at the marina office about a key drop for early morning departures, they start their day at 4:30 AM to service the fisherman that leave about that time in the morning. This morning in Manitowoc we heard them leaving he docks for a day of fishing.

I walked about town this evening as the charter fishing boats were returning. Lots of fish one group had 30 big Salmon, 30+ inches, 15+ pounds. Pretty impressive.

Sturgeon Bay to Manitowoc   

Clear cool morning through the Sturgeon Bay Canal

The plan was to get up at 6:30, prepare and make the 7:00 Michigan Street bridge opening, but we were both awake a half hour early and began our next trip at 6:30. It was a cool morning with no wind and the isinglass upper helm windshield was covered with moisture. I removed it temporarily since I knew it would fog over if I just wiped it. It takes us about an hour to negotiate the Sturgeon Bay Canal to Lake Michigan and one never really knows the lake sea state until seeing it. The lake was very calm and continued to be calm all day with just a little on shore breeze near Two Rivers.

Canal Entrance Coast Guard Station 

We arrived at Manitowoc with much less drama than three weeks ago, the deck hands remembered our landing and we remembered how helpful they were. That day they had four boats land in the middle of storms.

Time for a little cleaning and relaxation before Jenny and Eliot arrive for supper. Carol has been exchanging email with other Loopers and travelers on the lake and Mark and Becky on Mara Beel arrived shortly after us. We were invited for a glass of wine and enjoyed meeting them in person. Bob and Kathy from First Look joined us and we all told our boating stories. Bob spent three days on a submarine somewhere close to Chili and told us of his adventure. Submarines were built here in WWII.

We caused the only ripples on the Lake

Jenny and Eliot arrived and we enjoyed a fine dinner at The Courthouse Pub and then off to Beerntsen’s for chocolate.  

Harbor Club Marina, Sturgeon Bay, WI    

Coast Guard Escort for Tall Ships

Today was an “in town” day – Town being Sturgeon Bay.  The Tall Ships left this morning and we had a leisurely morning before walking to Main Street.  We intended to buy a couple of kitchen items that we spotted a few weeks ago on our way north, but of course now they were sold out.  So we had a good lunch and goofed around at the hardware store and the quilt shop – everybody was happy.

Private Showers at Harbor Club

Carol got to cut fabric and Dennis managed to find one more little thing to tinker with. We are staying at a Skipper Buds marina, Harbor Club.  We really like it because of the individual bathroom/showers at the club house.  Everyone has a whole separate room to themselves, what a luxury.

Flowers on the Dock

The Bay, or Sturgeon Bay river?? Is busy with boat traffic and its fun watching everything from the Conservation Warden, to the Chicago Fireboat tour boat, to the giant Coast Guard Vessel.  Flowers are in bloom everywhere and fishermen seem to be successful all around us.  It is what it is, a marina in the middle of a busy, friendly Wisconsin city.

Horseshoe to Sturgeon Bay 

This morning we left Horseshoe Island about 11:00, Matt and Kim helped us get underway. This couple made our stay very pleasant, I hope we meet more people like them on the trip. We decided to get fuel and some groceries at Egg Harbor and stopped for 135 gallons of diesel and 4 sacks of food. The diesel at Egg Harbor is the least expensive we have seen in all of Wisconsin at $3.689 per gallon. Egg Harbor updated their marina from 16 slips to 60 slips on floating docks, we would have stayed but they were full every time we were available, maybe next year.

The Niagra

Hindu

Windy in the background

We arrived in Sturgeon Bay just before the tall ships, we heard the Coast Guard roll call of ships on Channel 81A on our VHF radio. We walked to the Michigan Street bridge just in time to see the arrival of the first ship. The Denis Sullivan from Milwaukee is here along with Niagara and 4 others, we hope to tour some of the ships tomorrow.

Horseshoe Island, August 13, 2013 

Reunion at the short dock

3 ft. waves but still not comfortable cruising

After taking refuge from the storm in Horseshoe Island Bay last night, we paid attention to the weather reports and decided to spend at least one more day right here, tied to the dock and out of the waves.  We took a walk all the way around the island early in the morning and some of us think the waves on the windward side of the island were three feet high, and SOME of us think the waves were 4-5 feet high.  Whatever, they were definitely too high for a fun cruise day.

Dennis replaced a dual handle faucet with a fancier faucet in one of the heads – using his great engineering and design modification skills.  Carol got to read an entire John Sandford novel.

The day was an enjoyable time to be stranded because we shared the dock with a very nice couple from Green Bay.  Toward evening we shared a supper of steak and salad and trout spread with Matt and Kim, from the Stella Maris and then moved on to a beautiful campfire.  We spent time gathering wood in the afternoon.   Dennis even sawed up a tree for perfect Eagle Scout logs and then we went for a short and chilly swim in Lake Michigan.  After coming ashore, Dennis couldn’t find his glasses and so he went for another chilly swim, wearing his swim goggles – and found the glasses in 5 feet of water, on the rocky bottom.  I guess the whole day was a success and what could have been a disaster was another good time.   

We cannot upload pictures from this location, so I plan to add them when we have better internet access.

Carol sizing up the waves

The adaptation is incredible, 30 ft Cedar Tree

New friends Kim and Matt with Carol at the campfire

Fish Creek to Horseshoe Island 

Kim, Scott and Autumn headed home today, we all enjoyed Autumn as she taught us

about parenting and new born care. We had a great time with them this weekend and I hope their schedules will allow another visit.  Checkout from Alibi Dock is noon and this is the second Monday noon it began to shower right at noon. We expected a front to pass in the afternoon so as we headed for Nicolet Bay we stopped to check out Horseshoe Island. The bay on the Island is protected from north and northeast winds. There were a few sail and power boats already in the bay we tried to anchor but once our anchor was set we seemed to be in the way of other boats so with the wind still from the South we headed to Nicolet Bay to wait for the wind shift. About 4:00 I noticed a squall line moving toward us, a quick look on the radar confirmed a storm was headed our way, but just a line of showers and then clearing.

The wind picked up as it often does prior to a storm and shifted to the NW as predicted, I clocked winds to 23 Knots on my hand held anemometer, NOAA said gusts to 30 Knots. Then it rained and rained hard for 30 minutes. After the rain passed the skies cleared and the wind continued to shift north, we raised the anchor and headed for Horseshoe Island. Some boats had cleared out and others were headed for the Island. We found a nice spot and set our anchor, but the wind in the bay was not consistent and after an hour or so we determined the variable wind was moving our anchor. Two anchor moves later we had set both our large plow anchor and our Danforth near each other but were still not sure they were holding again variable winds moving he boat sideways with respect to the anchor. There is a small sea wall in the bay and another boat was tied to the wall. I asked if they could move forward and the agreed to move, so we are currently tied to about 30 ft. of sea wall in a shallow area but we know we will be right here in the morning. We met Matt and Kim that helped us land and were gracious enough to move their boat, nice couple from Sturgeon Bay. By that time it was getting dark and time to go inside.

Fayette State Park to Detroit Harbor, Washington Island, WI

Detroit Harbor Entrance

It’s all about the weather, the UP was forecast to have high winds from the West switching to the Northwest later in the morning. Initially showers and thunderstorms through 10:00 AM, so we decided to sleep in. When we arose the winds were calm and the sun was out, still high wind and waves forecast for our area. We ventured out heading for Detroit Harbor at Washington Island. Swells still from the South from yesterday’s wind,  and wind from the west that began to build, skies darkened and became threatening, but the rain held off, winds did shift to the northwest and seas built a bit.

The ferry runs between Northport and Washington Island and it was loading cars

Washington Island Ferry

We have always had an issue with our auto pilot with winds on the aft quarters, it just cannot cope with seas from that direction. Yesterday, while talking with other folks on the dock, I learned everyone even the sailboats had the same problem, so I am a bit reassured that there is nothing wrong with my auto pilot. It seems everyone names their auto pilot, one was named Jimmy for Jimmy Buffett, another Capt. Morgan, and one Ethel. We call ours “auto pilot” so I guess we need a name. If you have a suggestion, please comment in this blog.

New Entrance Markers

Detroit Harbor is quite shallow reading 3 feet on the depth finder on the way to the anchorage. North winds have subsided to variable and the seas are calm. One of the Loopers with whom Carol has exchanged email is also in the harbor. After we got settled had a bit of lunch and began to work on Email, we heard “Carol”, then “Dennis” we looked at each other. They were at the back of our boat in their dinghy and invited us to dinner. So we will meet some new people for supper. I took a swim this afternoon to inspect the hull and experience the bow thruster. The hull is a bit slimy and the thruster is quite strong producing good water flow.

We had a very lovely dinner and conversation with Jim and Kathy Swanson aboard their boat JimKat. We hope to see them at future ports over the next several weeks.

Alibi Dock, Fish Creek, WI

Alibi Dock, Fish Creek

Children and families are really important but couple relationships build families and care for children. First and foremost couples are the primary source of this support and compassion.

To that end, Scott and Kim took a walk this morning and went for breakfast while Carol and I watched Autumn. Autumn took a little after breakfast nap and Carol and I listened to Pastor Dave from August 4^th, we are a week behind. I particularly liked his sermon about braking the repetitive circle and reaching out to God for the next step.

Landry our helmsperson was blocked by the rail, sorry Landry

Kim and Scott returned from breakfast and we had visitors, Julie and Ian, Scott and Holly from our church and their families came to visit on our boat. It was really nice to see them and we think the children enjoyed being pirates on the boat.

Later we took a leisurely boat ride to Horseshoe Island, Nicolet Bay, Ephraim, Little Sister Bay, Sister Bay and then back to Fish Creek. Little Autumn may be teething and seems to be a bit distressed. But with an expert Mom and Dad and a couple of rusty but competent boomers as backup, we know she will be fine.

Our littlest Angel, Autumn, Dad Scott and Carol

So another day in Paradise here in Door County.

Alibi Dock, Fish Creek, WI

 A day spent running errands and hosting Scott, Kim and Autumn in Door County.  This morning Kim and Scott spent time creating an art glass owl at “Hands On,” while we took Autumn to the hardware store and the grocery.  She seems to prefer the grocery store.  When we got back she got a ride in the dock cart along with the groceries.

We had lunch in Egg Harbor and went down to the marina and learned that Egg Harbor dock has the least expensive diesel fuel in the County.  $3.68 per gallon – we will be stopping by for a few gallons on Monday.

Since we were well-stocked, we made a great dinner on the sundeck.  Scott made terrific steaks and we even made homemade potato salad to go with.  Dinner will be followed shortly by a selection of rum drinks or Baileys – as soon as Autumn decides to go to sleep.

 Nicolet Bay to Fish Creek

Sometimes you catch more than fish

We woke up to a glorious morning on Nicolet Bay – good thing, since we lost anchorage for a few minutes yesterday evening.  After that, Dennis set the anchor alarm and every time the boat moved 50 feet (not very far for a 40 foot boat!) we heard beep- beep-beep and Dennis jumped out of bed to check on our location relative to the rocks near shore. 

Late morning we headed back to Fish Creek to meet Scott, Kim and baby Autumn who arrived for the weekend.  Autumn looks so much bigger after not seeing her for a few weeks.  We took a walk to the fudge store, a top priority, and then to visit a pottery and the grocery market to pick up a few things for breakfast.

Fish Boil, dinner is in there somewhere

 

This evening we went to Fish Boil at the White Gull Inn – the best fish boil I’ve experienced yet.  It included a grade A Cherry Pie.   You may not know this, but our family are connoisseurs of cherry pie.  A couple of years ago, while visiting Door County, we picked up 9 different cherry pies and had a very serious tasting competition.  White Gull Inn did very well in the ratings. 

Maybe in the next few days we’ll head toward Gills Rock and pick up the first place, award-winning Bea’s Ho-Made Cherry Pie.  Until then we will continue to enjoy this beautiful weather – quite a change from the last week of chill and clouds.

Detroit Harbor to Nicolet Bay 

A bit of a problem last night after returning to the boat, our holding tank was full. So we instituted plan "B". In the morning we called the two marinas in Detroit harbor and Shipyard was able to accommodate us with a pump out, all is back to normal whatever that is.

JimKat heading for Fayette

JimKat headed for Fayette as we were readying to leave our anchorage.

The cabin our family rented in 2011

We cruised the coast line on the way down to see Sister Bay, Fred and Fuzzy’s restaurant, and then across the bay to Nicolet Harbor. I love Nicolet Harbor, lots of sunshine good protection from the winds and weather, bikinis, water sports, and lots of people having fun.

We have decided Thursdays will be clean the boat days and I cleaned most of the exterior while Carol cleaned the interior. Terrific sunset this evening, light winds from the south and several other boats in the bay at anchor for the evening.

Nicolet Bay at sunset

Tomorrow Kim, Scott and Autumn arrive and several friends from Racine will be in Fish Creek as well. We hope to spend some time with family and friends over the next several days.

Cairns we saw with Laura and Stacy from the water

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Happy Birthday Jenny and Josie

Reunion with other boats on the 400 ft. dock

We were up early about 6:30 and prepared to leave for Fayette State Park, departing about 7:00. Still south winds and a bit of left over swell from yesterday. Generally a nice cruising day for the 22 mile trip. We arrived about 11:30 curving around the corner into the bay with a 400 ft. pier. We were able to bring the boat onto the dock between two 40 ft. sailboats. People from the other boats were on the dock to welcome us and help us land. Boaters are like that, they will do the right thing regardless of the inconvenience to themselves. As we got situated we moved our boat tight to the sailboat ahead and moved the sailboat to the aft tight to our boat to provide additional room on the dock for other boats. And as the day progressed we needed every inch. Currently on our 400 ft. dock we have a 48 ft. trawler, a 40 ft. sailboat, a 30 ft. sailboat, another 40 ft. sail boat, Reunion, a 40 ft. sailboat and a 40 ft. Sea Ray Express cruiser, pretty full.

The two charcoal iron ore furnaces

Fayette State Park is a fascinating place, originally built in 1867 to produce pig iron using iron ore, limestone and charcoal. A company town of 500 people at the peak. Trees were cut locally and heated to produce charcoal, then a mixture of ore, limestone and charcoal was loaded into a furnace the charcoal burned producing pig iron and slag. Two large stacks were used to produce the iron and 80 charcoal producing ovens were scattered along the peninsula. Nine of the original buildings have been preserved, one replica log cabin built and much original information has been gathered to document the factory town. The White House was the largest house on the property and was occupied by the Superintendent and his family.  The company closed the factory in 1891 just 24 years after it began. So we toured the grounds and read all the signs. Carol had an ice cream at the gift shop, a really interesting place.

Superintendents House

Three of the boats in the harbor are flying AGLCA (Looper Burgees). We spoke with Mike and his plans include going to the North Bay and through the Trent Severn waterway over the next month or so, then to Montreal and Lake Champlain. He is concerned about getting frozen out, his destination this year is Ft. Lauderdale.

We have no cell phone coverage here and so this post may not happen until tomorrow or even Thursday.

Fayette Harbor tucked in around the point 

Monday, August 05, 2013

Stacy and Laura departed just as the rain began, showers, overcast and mid 60’s not much like a normal August. Our slip rental expired at 12:00 but they allowed us to stay a few extra hours since the slip would be empty this evening. We will return on Friday when Kim, Scott and Autumn come to visit. The rain eased about 1:30 and we left the dock due to the hour we would just go to Nicolet Bay and anchor out. 

Cool and grey good sea state at our departure

As we began, we charted a new course to Washington Harbor on the north corner of Washington Island a 22 mile journey. Wind from the south, building waves not a bad day to travel, sure can’t do anything else. We knew the waves would change as we passed the tip of the Door through Death’s Door. The predominant wave pattern was from the south with a secondary wave from the southeast, the secondary wave became more pronounced as we traversed the gap strong 2 ft waves from the east and south a little bouncy but not too bad. We have now learned that driving the boat from the inside is quite comfortable, out of the wind and in the middle of the bay there is not much to see besides water. 

Boyer Point

We arrived about 5:40 in the bay nicely protected from the south wind. It is hard to show this bay it is about 1 ½ nautical miles back south from the point, the bay is quite deep, we are 400 feet from shore in 26 feet of water in most bays we would be at 10 ft or less in depth. I continue to learn our instruments as the need arises, so tonight I set the anchor drift alarm. If the boat moves more than 100 feet from our anchor point an alarm will sound to wake us. I am sure that the hook is well set, the alarm is just a bit of added security.

Our SPOT device is now working so you can check our “current position” at the upper right hand corner of this blog. The nice thing about SPOT is it will send an OK message to our family members when I check in. I plan to do that each evening that we travel a significant distance.

Still cool and overcast supper soon, Salmon on the grill one of our favorites.

Below three shots of our anchorage for the evening, nice!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Stacy at the helm, Laura providing verbal support

Lazy Sunday slept until 10:00 AM, the girls went uptown while I did boat things. Topped off the port water tank to bring the boat back to level (no list). Looked at the new faucet installation, still not sure if the pieces I purchased will work properly. Met the girls uptown for lunch at the Cookery in Fish Creek. After lunch we went for a boat ride and saw all the things from the water that we toured the previous day on shore. The caves below the fire tower, Nicolet Bay and Horseshoe Island, Stacy assumed the helmsman’s duties on the return trip and brought us back to Fish Creek. We had a pontoon boat giving a ride to people on a tube using our wake to get air.

Stacy with her "Duck"

Mom and Laura's fused glass artwork

Stacy and Laura picked up their art projects this afternoon and took Carol grocery shopping. Having a ride to a good grocery store is a precious commodity when cruising.

Nice dinner this evening at Summertime one of our favorite restaurants in Fish Creek, lots of history and enjoyment over the years.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

We are here at Alibi Dock a place so often we enjoyed looking at and discussing the pros and cons of large boats. Once we tied up both Carol and I said “Hey, were at Alibi Dock!” Lots of fond memories over the years.

Stacy, Laura and Horseshoe Island

Today was a Door County Tourist day, climbed the fire tower at Peninsula Park went to Welcher Point in the park, Eagle Point Lighthouse, passed the campers in Tennison Bay, and a view across the bay of Fish Creek. Shopping at the Blue Dolphin, then on to Lunch at Fred and Fuzzy’s on Little Sister Bay.

One of our favorite stops in Door County was the Potter’s Wheel, I have lots of Abe Cohn pots from different years of his production, and he changed styles quite frequently. Abe pass last year and the shop is now closed. Lots of fun things to see and do.

Eagle Point Lighthouse and Carol

We came back to the boat and had chicken thighs on the grill. It began to rain but just in a 3 or 4 mile wide path, in other places the sun was out and the radar showed clearing once the shower passed. So we waited to decide whether to attend the American Folklore Theater. Well, the storm passed radar showed no new storms, a huge rainbow formed over Fish Creek Bay and we attended their performance of “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” A story of a Sturgeon Bay shipyard during World War II, boys going off to war, some staying at home, girl welders in the plate shop, romance and the reunion when the war ended. This is an original play written after much original research, fun, entertaining and very well done. They are doing three shows this summer and we hope to attend at least one additional show while here.

Really Tall Rainbow over the Bay

Stacy and Laura seem to be enjoying their time away here in Door County.