Arrived back in our home port last night from 10 great days out on Lake Michigan. Thought I would share a few images. The trip was great with everything from sweltering heat to racing rain storms. It was great times with friends & family and the solitude of the middle of the lake.
The round trip was just 8 miles short of 500 miles, 4 very nice marinas and visits to several more ports. As some of you know, we are river boaters on the Illinois River so our journey to Lake Michigan is an adventure in itself. We started early (5:30 am) to make the run through 5 locks with the hopes of 10-12 hours.
For the first time boating, we had to wait for a train going through Joliet.
Finally made it out to the lake in 10 hours (a record) and headed to Hammond Marina. Met up with Firecadet and had a great dinner. The next day was off to Marina Dunes and meeting up with several members of this forum.
We were able to enjoy the Gary Air Show from the water on Saturday but had to give up before the Thunderbirds due to rough waters.
On Sunday with 5-8 waves, we enjoyed the Air Show from the beach. It was a great perspective but not quite as nice as the water.
On Monday it was off to the Michigan Coast. Stopped in New Buffalo for lunch and headed up the coast. South Haven is a great little town and a wonderful Municipal Marina.
From Monday to Friday, it was travel stops in Saugatuck, Holland (Lake Macatawa) and Grand Haven. We really enjoyed the Michigan Coast and want to go further next year,
Had the pleasure of taking out some family members out on the Lake. The girls insisted in a jump in the lake although the water was only 72 degrees a couple of miles out of Grand Haven. It was a memorable day.
After a night back in South Haven tied up next to two 80' Hatteras Yachts, we decided to do a lake crossing. The water was 1' waves and we had about 80 miles to cross. My plan was to end up in Downtown Chicago for lunch in the PlayPen but Mother Nature had another idea. About 5 miles out, the clouds converged into a health storm.
We skirted the rain and we headed back to Hammond for dinner with a friend and drinks on the dock with several lake boaters including a couple that just bought a Vista 258.
Got a early start back towards home and watched the sun rise over the lake.
Had to negotiate several barges in "Barge Alley". If you talk to the barge captains on the radio and wait for their instructions, it is not too bad.
We were making great time back until the last lock. Less than 4 miles from home when we were informed it would be a couple of hours. 4 hours later we were in the chamber and on the last leg.
All in all a great trip. 11 days, 10 nights, 492 miles. The boat ran great!
Only issues. 1 lost baseball hat (barge was coming and not worth turning around), 1 lost fender (somewhere between Grand Haven & South Haven), 1 bad Genset impleller (Thanks to Flyer51 for bailing me out), a bit of sunburn and chapped lips. It was great to see all of our friends from this site and sorry we never got to Muskegon to get that beer from Captain Morgan. Maybe next year.
_________________
Jnizi
2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230
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