Working our way down Lake Michigan...We are feeling a change in the wind!

We picked Cathy up in Cheboygan and headed to Mackinaw City. The day was nice, but the wind was from the NE at 10 so there was some rolling action...Cathy and Ashton were not happy. As far as the weather, we have noticed the frequency of frontal passages change from once every 5 days to once every 3 days. This is making the journey down Lake Michigan a bit slower than anticipated. I posted earlier how we had learn the "turn back lesson". We have not forgotten that one an when the wind is over 15 knots, we stay put. This lake will turn ugly early.

After stopping in Mackinaw City, Asthon and I took the ferry over to Mackinac Island. Can you say touristy? Here are some pictures. Close your eyes and imagine the most wonderful fudge smells...now keep them close and imagine the most potent horse urine smell...OK, now mix them...welcome to Mackinac Island.
However, we made our way out of the madness of the forced 1900 main street and took a nice hike around the island.

The next day we made our way down to Charlevoix, which is arguably the prettiest town we have visited on the entire trip. It is hard for pictures to do justice to the beautiful harbor, water and buildings. This town is home to the houses built like little Tolkien cottages. We stayed here three days due to high winds. During this time, we participated in a dingy poker run again...didn't win but had a great time.

Monday found us headed south again to the picturesque town of Leland MI. This town is still a working fishing village...whoo hoo, fresh Walleye!
The trip was a bit rolly as the seas had not calmed from the day prior storm. Ashton and Cathy did the Dramamine thing again while Steel Stomach George manned the helm. We pulled into Leland and they squeezed us into a nice spot by the fuel dock. It seems that Leland is a Harbor of Refuge and they cannot deny any boat a place to wait out a storm...and there was a storm due the next day. Here are some pictures of all the boats in this relatively small marina.
We waited out the storm (30 knot winds). While we where swapping stories on the dock during the day, we spotted a trawler (another Looper) that was getting smacked by the ways making its way to our refugee. It seems this trawler left during the sucker morning calm and then pushed on as the winds picked up. Well, they made it in and the look on the older couples face was part embarrassment, part terror...oh, the lady was also part PISSED! They were doing the loop in phases and she said this phase was OVER!


Today we are in Frankfort with plans to stay two days as they are calling for gale force winds tomorrow.

All the best,
The Worleys aboard Waveaway
Currently lying Frankfort Michigan