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.

Friday, August 02, 2013

Nice calm ride across the bay, strange that our course was due south rather than east.

Tonight’s guest bloggers are Stacy Beckmann and Laura Spring, 

Go Girls.

Guess where we are!

Our first day here we were able to get the folks some place in Door County they had never been so even though we did not meet the ultimate goal of finding the bendy trees, we still feel we hit a major accomplishment.

We all very much enjoyed walking along Door County Bluffs and found multiple cairns as tall as Stacy on the lake shore.

While, as previously mentioned, we did not find the bendy trees, we did meet this impressive tree with an elbow. She shared that as a sapling she was picked on for having an elbow but now finds that she is one of the most popular trees in the county park due to her unique attributes.  

Pic 32

The delectable fare today was Wilson’s Ice Cream, salted caramel fudge, and creative cuisine at Trio’s restaurant accompanied by an “un-oaked” chardonnay that was quite pleasing to the palate.

We have big plans for tomorrow but my last name is not Snowden and I will not leak this information. My hope for this beautiful evening on the boat is that these sea bands do the job because that salmon with creamed artichoke hearts was expensive.

Thursday, August 01, 2013 - Happy Birthday Dennis!!!

We were at anchor this morning on Nicolet Bay expecting west winds and of course west winds make west waves and when a west wave meets a land point the wave curves around the corner. So about 8:00 we had west winds and the boat was facing west but north waves smacking the boat broadside. Maybe is should have positioned us a bit closer to the land. We raised the anchor and headed for Michigan about 15 miles across the bay. Two foot waves and a little bouncy for about half the trip. Then 1 foot or less, the auto pilot preformed perfectly. 

Cedar River State Harbor

Cedar River Harbor is a Harbor of Refuge built by the DNR in Michigan. We have found these harbors to be excellent, fairly new and very well maintained and this harbor is no exception. Friendly staff, lots of help with local knowledge when negotiating the inlet. We were both busy this afternoon when a cloud came overhead and rained hard for 10 minutes with sun all around. So what does 20% chance mean, 20% of the land will have showeres for 10 minutes or everyone will have rain for 20% of the day? What a goofy system.

This afternoon, I dismounted the bike and

The Bike mounted in the Dinghy

went for a ride, nice! When I returned Carol had her sewing machine on the dinette table and began making a quilt for a friend. I had a few little projects and we installed the new signage on Reunion. The name and home port are on the transom as required, but not visible because the dinghy covers it.

Tonight many of you have called to wish me happy birthday, much appreciated. Debi, Ayla and Adam were in good voice as they sang Happy Birthday a family tradition, Scott and Kim sang while Autumn snapped her fingers to keep them in time. 

My Sweetie having Fun 

Another pretty sunset and now clouding over. Fun day!

New Reunion Signage