Day 102-104 2nd year. August 31- Sept 2 On to Grand Haven and lay days in Grand Haven Miles 59. Total miles. 3992

 We left the marina at Ludington at day break and went back through the channel and past the lighthouse and into Lake Michigan.

Seas are calm and there is little wind.  Good day to travel, but it is 42 degrees.  Will eventually warm up to high 60’s or low 70’s.

As you can see we are all bundled up and running from down below for at least part of the morning.

A we left the channel, we again had to play bumper boats with 50 fishing vessels, all trolling.  We saw one bring in a large Coho Salmon!

The water in Lake Michigan was really blue today.

Heading almost due south, we pass the dunes on Ludington’s South Beach.  Cruising further we pass the lakes and towns of Pentwater and Silver Lake and round Little Sable Point and its lighthouse.

The shore continues to be low wooded dunes with beaches. 

As we change course slightly to cruise past Stoney Lake, then White Lake 

and the larger city of Muskegon, which like all the other towns has its own lake with access to Lake Michigan.

Since it is such a good travel, we have lots of cruisers, fishing boats and even a few freighters out on the lake with us.

As we approach Grand Haven the lighthouse and channel come into view.  We made our way into the channel and pulled up to the city wall.

After getting secured, we walked to the Visitor Center to get a map of town.  On our way back we got side tracked by a bakery and of course, had up get two cookies!

Will eat dinner out with Pat And Cindy who traveled with us today and then will watch the musical fountain display.

Here are some drone shots of the Grand Haven River and Harbor.

This is Cindy and Pat on MV Sunshine.

Had a long day of travel so will sleep well tonight.

Day 103     September 1. Lay day in Grand Haven

Saw Pat and Cindy off this morning and spent the morning catching up on the blog and researching  our stops down the rest of Lake Michigan and where we will stop in Chicago.

After a quick lunch, we walked into town and went through the Grand Haven Historical Museum.  Was interesting to see displays of the Native Indians, fur trading posts, and logging and its impact on Grand Haven.  The museum did a good job of all the facets of the lumbering business from cutting, hauling, floating the logs down river and then milling the logs which was the main economy from 1870-1890’s.  Today Grand Haven has light maunfacturing, farming and orchards, and wineries that support the town.

 The museum also had a nice display of local rocks and minerals, highlighting where they were mined in  Michigan.   This one geode was magnificent.

Upstairs the museum explained why Grand Haven is called the Coast Guard City.  The city early on supported the Life Saving and Coast Guard Stations all along the East coast of Lake Michigan  by  celebrating their accomplishments and their loss of life in the line of duty.  Was a very nice tribute to the Coast Guard.

We split a sandwich at a deli which is a favorite with the locals, then walked the town with its 1890's buildings.  

Had to go in the local artists shops and Bill could not pass up a look in the old time candy store.

Walking back to the boat, we visited with another Looper while we watched the Musical Fountain’ s special Disney music presentation.

Day 104.     September  2.       Lay day in Grand Haven

Spent the morning doing a few chores and walking the boardwalk along the Grand River.  Lots of marina and lots of charter fishing boats.  Those Michaganders do love to fish!!!  Also found a Farmers Market and bought some Michigan apples, blueberries and some sweet corn.  Always love when we are in town for the Farmers Markets.

In the parks are sculptures from local artists and a tribute to the Railroad and its impact on the city.

The picture above is one of the few remaining coal loaders used by the  railroads to refill the coal cars that kept the engines of this period running.

Here is a shot of Crustacean on the Grand Haven wall.

Returning to the boat we had a quick lunch and boarded the free trolley to the State Park and city beach.

Once at the park we headed out on the break wall to the lighthouse.  The metal catwalk out to the lighthouse is used when there are high seas.  I don't think I'd enjoy going out on that catwalk in a storm!  Its about 10 feet above the break wall.

The lighthouse had the break wall which looks like a ships prow added to protect from the high waves of Lake Michigan.

The water was a bit sloppy due to the strong wind from the southwest starting last night and continuing throughout the day.  But this intrepid cormorant managed to ride the waves and fish today!

While we were on the break wall we watched many power boats, big and small, go out into the lake only to return 15 minutes later deciding that it was too rough out for them to enjoy a boat ride.  Bill and I placed bets as to which boats would come back to port and were right about 90% of the time. 

After walking the pier we headed to the beach.  Was fun to watch the families, especially the kids enjoy this last bit of summer.  The beach was packed with people and lots of kites were flying.

 If you look closely at the beach picture, you can see that all the people from Michigan were in swimsuits, but Bill and I were in windbreakers today!  At least we had shorts on, we are trying to blend in!

We then reboarded the trolley and enjoyed the ride through the part of town that was outside our walking range.  Were some real large old homes and lots more marinas on the other side of the river.

Cooked out on the grill and enjoyed another Musical Water Fountain presentation tonight.  Found out that the Water Fountain presentation has been going on for 60 years in Grand Haven.  Nice for towns to keep their traditions.