Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Portage, IN to Punta Gorda, FL
Today we left the boat in Marina Shores and began our journey to Florida. We took the South Shore Line Train to Millennium Park Station in Chicago, then boarded the Orange Line "L" to Midway Airport. We flew Southwest Airlines(our favorite, free bag check and no extra charge changes) from Midway to Ft. Myers, FL a direct flight 2 hours and 40 minutes. We rented a car from Enterprise(they will pick us up) and drove to the Sleep Inn(appropriately named) in Port Charlotte.

A short walk to the marina

Clean efficient waiting area

South Shore Line Car interior

Wabash and Randolph "L" Station

Randolph toward Michigan

The Orange Line

Orange Line Commuter Car

Florida Evening Clouds

Shores Marina at Dune Harbor

This morning we went to Michigan City to pick up a packaged tool sent from BlastItOut. We did a bit of shopping at Meijers. The aft head was not flushing properly and seemed to be plugged, so I ordered the BlastItOut Kit, which consists of a hose valve, and rubber stoppers that fit various places on the boat. The operation is to use hose pressure to push the clog out of the line, the other option is to replace the 1 1/2" rubber tube. After a couple of tries I was successful in removing the clog thereby eliminating the pain of replacing the nasty dirty tube to the holding tank. Windy today but this marina is well protected and the boat moved only a little. We are tying up all the loose ends, Carol did the laundry, I returned the car and we will fly to Punta Gorda tomorrow, two train rides and a flight. I will resume blogging when we return on September 1st or 2nd.

Boats and Single Family Homes in the Distance

The boat next door, helmet diver

Hewes Craft, Aluminum Fishing Boat, popular in Alaska

Four Families overlooking the marina

Undeveloped land to the South

Northern Indiana

This morning we went to church at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in Racine via podcast. We enjoy hearing our Pastors and congregation lead by our great music director. Since we had a car today, we went for a driving trip with Bob and Melinda. We dropped them off for church and went to Lowes to look at appliances. After church we had a bit of lunch at Schoops a silver diner. Then down to Valparaiso for a bit of a nostalgic tour for me, I attended Valpo in the 60's needless to say a lot had changed. The old campus is gone and there are many new buildings on campus. I lived in a dorm during my freshman year and it is still standing, the fraternity house is now a rehabilitation center, rather fitting I think. We toured the Chapel and drove around town, then off to the Indiana Dunes State Park on the Lake. A bit of beach time, a tour of the nature center and a walk in the woods. Time for some wings for supper and then off to the movie "Man from UNCLE". A busy day with new friends.

Tasty lunch, nice ambiance

Beautiful organ

Valpo Chapel

Christus Rex

Chancel exterior

Melinda and Carol at the Dunes

New Buffalo to Portage, IN

We decided to leave early this morning to take advantage of the calmer water in the morning and wanted to accomplish a few things in the Portage area. We crossed into the Central Time Zone that provided an extra hour of morning critical since Enterprise closed at noon. A beautiful morning for a boat ride as we moved from the residential tourist area of Michigan and Indiana toward the industrial complex. We will stay here at Marina Shores at Dune Harbor until September 1st so that we can fly to Florida to set up our belongings in the new house in Punta Gorda. Marina Shores is directly across the road from the Ogden Dunes/Portage Southshore Train terminal. The Southshore will take us directly into downtown Chicago and we can catch the Orange Line "L" to Midway Airport for our flight on Tuesday. We were able to drive to Michigan City so I could pick up the parts I have ordered, however, the Port Authority closes at noon on Saturday and they will not reopen until Monday morning. We drove around a bit picking up supplies and visited one of my favorite places on the south shore of the Lake, Beverly Shores. We had dinner on the boat with other Loopers from MelindaB, a fine day.

Michigan City power plant

Indiana Dunes

Dunes near Michigan City

Bethlehem Steel plant Burns Harbor

Blast furnaces at Bethlehem far right

South Haven to New Buffalo

The waves dropped dramatically last night from 8.2 feet to 2.0 feet this morning what a relief. We departed about 8:15 on our cruise to New Buffalo about 48 miles. As other days the first two hours were a bit rough the next two were worse, and the last two were much better. This town has changed significantly over the last several years from a one road 2 block town to one with 5 marinas and many condo developments. The Amtrak goes directly from here to Chicago and needless to say the migration begins on Friday and they all return on Sunday evening. Everything is within walking distance including a fine grocery store, three ice cream shops, a boating supply store, and many cute shops. We finished the day with a picnic supper with 6 other Loopers.

Coast Guard Patrol Boat in the channel

Condos Everywhere

Loopers having dinner

New friends sharing stories

Good fun

South Haven

Well the storm came today as predicted, with 8 foot waves and 29 knot winds. I have not witnessed this strong a wind for this long during the summer on the Lake. Now I know why they call the east side of the Lake the windy side. Walked to the beach this morning and again this evening, a bike ride to Meijers for milk and other supplies. Then I met Carol for ice cream about 1:00. I spent the afternoon monitoring the boat and repositioning fenders and lines as necessary. We have one line that is 80% cut and must be replaced, the fenders have taken a real pounding. We were dealing with the strong wind and about a 1 1/2 foot wave on our beam in the marina very hard on the equipment. I double tied all the lines and added additional fenders to keep us off the pier, lots of bouncing around. Tonight we went to dinner with 8 other Loopers at Clementines.

Yep Windy

and waves to 8.2 feet

The Tin Lizzy Travelers were in town about noon

Loopers at dinner

South Haven

Weather is keeping us at South Haven for a few days. So today I got a haircut while Carol went to the farmers market for sweet corn and fresh farm tomatoes, yum! I rode around some of the residential area near the Lake this morning. Strong west winds with waves 3.6 to 4.3 feet not a good boating day, but lots of sunshine and somewhat lower temperatures. Tonight we walked out to the Lake at the river inlet to see the sea state.

Beach warnings were issued by NOAA this morning

Beach House!!!

WWII Tank at the American Legion

The blue top is Reunion

Farmers Market

Mural near the market

Waves crashing over the sea wall

6 steps exposed in the trough, over the wall on the crest

Grand Haven to South Haven

There is a big storm forcast for the coming days and today was our last chance to move before the weekend. We planned to leave at 6:30 AM, after checking the weather radar we decided to wait a couple of hours until a large storm passed through. We checked again at 8:00 and the storm had moved and was disipating, ate a bit of breakfast, and departed about 8:15. The current observations showed a sea state with waves between 2 and 2.3 feet so we expected a lumpy ride. The first two hours were very bumpy, the second two hours were worse, waves to four feet, and the third two hours were better. We arrived at South Haven about 3:30, in time to meet our neighbors and go to supper with them and another Looper couple at a fine Italian Restaurant. We will stay here in South Haven until Friday so the storm has time to pass and the Lake time to settle.

The sun appeared in the afternoon

Entering the Black River at South Haven

Afternoon at the beach

River House

Nicely kept neighborhood

Marina Office foreground, downtown up the hill

A day around Grand Haven

We spent the day seeing the sights in Grand Haven, I went for a bike ride to West Marine and along the way saw a display of railroad cars and a coal loading tower. Grand Haven has a long transportation history with Lake boats and railroads. The Grand river runs for 150 miles from Jackson to Grand Haven and Lake Michigan. Grand Haven has been declared the Coast Guard City by congress and the history of the Coast Guard goes back 225 years here. Liz and Bob stopped by to talk about the Loop they plan to start in three weeks from here and we hope to see them on the rivers. We took the Harbor Trolley on a guided tour of the city, out to the beach and through the historic parts of town. It is obvious throughout the years that many folks cared about this city and donated time and dollars to preserving the heritage of the city.

Three bay coal loading station

Engine and Coal Car

Box car restoration

Caboose

Colorful additions

Coast Guard City USA

Central Park

Doctors House

Lots of Flowers

Western Michigan Banjo Club Performance