Lake Michigan - Part IV

 TRAVEL DAY 116 - Saugatuck to South Haven

September 20, 2023

3.05 Hours/ 22.9 Miles

    We pulled the hook in our quiet anchorage and headed back out of the Kalamazoo River to the lake. The ride out of Saugatuck today was a stark difference to what we experienced the day before. All it took was a change in wind direction. I turned the boat south again and we made an easy transit past more sand dunes on the coast of Michigan and into the inlet of South Haven.

The Crew

    Our marina at South Haven was filling up today with Loopers all heading for the transit through the Illinois River and the end of Lake Michigan. A Zoom meeting with the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) was scheduled for 8 pm that night as a briefing about what we were to expect on this part of the journey.

Shorebilly Too, Last Arrow & Pau Hana

    In the meantime, we spent a few hours doing some paperwork for our rentals back home. Later we took a stroll with some of the other boaters up the hill to downtown South Haven to grab a beer and some dinner.
    
Saugatuck to South Haven

TRAVEL DAY 117 - South Haven to St. Joe

September 21, 2023

3.38 Hours/ 25.4 Miles


    The crew agreed to step up the schedule to make St. Joe by Friday in order to celebrate a milestone for the crew of Last Arrow. When a Looper returns to the same location as they started, it's called "Crossing Your Wake". Last Arrow was at that milestone, around 2 pm today and they invited us to be there for the party.

Love the lake when it looks like this!

    We arrived before 2 pm to a free slip at Pier 1000. The crew of Last Arrow set it up as it belonged to a friend of his that already had pulled his boat out for the Michigan winter. Boaters in this part of the world start pulling their boats out after Labor Day and usually place them inside heated storage or blocked up "on the hard" and covered. The vessels must also be drained of water or fluids that would freeze (unless indoor & heated). 

St. Joe, MI

    Last Arrow had a few friends and family members there to greet them as they pulled into their slip. They raised the Gold Flag denoting they have now completed the Loop. Another tradition is what is called "mini-beers". The drinks are not beers at all but Licor 43, or Cuarenta y Tres ("43" in Spanish), a sweet, vanilla flavored liqueur topped with heavy whipping cream and served in a mini-mug. Once served, the Looper toast is given. "There are good ships and wood ships, and ships that sail the seas, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be!"

Last Arrow raises the Gold Looper Flag!
     
Mini Beer

    Last Arrow also gave us a tour of their new house under construction. Like many Loopers, they sold their home and moved onto the boat for the trip. I enjoyed seeing the different construction techniques used here and how they differ from what we do in Florida.

South Haven to St. Joe


TRAVEL DAY 118 - St. Joe to New Buffalo

September 23, 2023

3.6 Hours/ 28.7 Miles


    The plan was to go to Michigan City, but after looking at some of the reviews, we diverted to New Buffalo. A much nicer town and the last town we will be in the state of Michigan.
   
New Buffalo Inlet

    We had a great cruising day as we pulled off the lake and into this quaint little beach town. With a pretty stiff breeze & a current from the Galien River, I had a little trouble getting the Camano backed into the slip, but we got it done on the second try.
 
New Buffalo Municipal Marina

    All checked in we scootered into town for a few groceries, then after dropping them back off at the boat, we headed back to the Beer Church Brewing Co. There motto is "Eat, Drink, Repent, Repeat". The crew was able to catch the last quarter of the FSU vs Clemson game, with the "Noles" victorious in overtime! "Fear the Spear"!
 
Beer Church Brewing Co.
 
Pontius Pilate IPA

    Back at the marina, we were able to reunite with the Crew of Cavalier and Hazel K, as well as a new crew, June Sea. We enjoyed New Buffalo so much, a second day was warranted. It also gave me some time to wash the boat. 
 
Pau Hana, Cavalier, Hazel K & June Sea

St. Joe to New Buffalo

TRAVEL DAY 119 - New Buffalo to Hammond IN

September 25, 2023

4.88 Hours/ 41.2 Miles


    Well, this is it. The end of Lake Michigan and the start of the inland river system back to Mobile, AL. Hammond Indiana marks our 12th state and the staging area for the next portion of the trip. Pau Hana will be here 9 nights. We also planned a quick trip home for the Crew's birthday and to visit with the kids (and granddogs) in Florida.
 
Lake shore of Indiana is vastly different than Michigan

   When we arrived at the marina, we filled up the diesel tanks and proceeded to our slip. Our crew was immediately greeted by a few of the 65 plus Loopers (more nearby & more on the way) that were here doing the same thing we were. 
  
The boats are stacking up

    With the Horseshoe Casino on site, we decided to try our luck. The crew played a few slot machines and were able to turn a $120 cash into....$100. Deduct 2 drinks and we chalked it up to entertainment.
   
One pull at a time
 
Time to "Cash Out"

    The next day we set out early (even earlier because we are now in the Central Time Zone and 1 hour ahead) to visit the Navy Pier and take an architectural boat ride through downtown Chicago. The day started out rainy but promised to clear up, and it did. We had a beautiful sunny day in the open top boat as we marveled at the collection of high rise buildings in this waterfront city.
 
Architectural Tour through downtown Chicago
 
Goofy Loopers

    What a blast. Meals and drinks with the crews of Runaway, Side Trip, Beachside & Sea No Evil. We got back to the boat late and crashed in the bunk, resting for tomorrow's work day.
 
Margaritaville with Beachside, Runaway, Side Trip, Pau Hana & Sea No Evil
 
Harry Caray's with Side Trip & Runaway
 
New Buffalo to Hammond, IN

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