June 22

Petoskey to Northport Harbor 36.5 miles


At last once again making forward progress. It was a tough hard slug to make it though all the junk Lake Michigan is throwing at us.  


So my engineering mind wants to lay out as it happened:

  • Up at 6AM because we knew it would become rough this afternoon
  • At 6:30 asked charter boat captain what he thought weather would be, his response was, “start early, finish early because waves will build all day”
  • Out at 7 strong wind in protected bay 15 miles per hour no problem
  • In lake wind gusts starts to build waves and it becomes a 6.5 on “sporty” Scale.
  • Enter big bay and it falls to 4
  • Rain showers hit us with strong winds and rises rating to a 7.2 have to trim boat to try and keep it level.
  • Deep in bay shelter becomes a 2 have to undo trim and rebalance boat.


Arrive in Northport marina Habor and fill with fuel and register boat for overnight stay.  A guy by the name of Mike approaches us.  He tells he has wanted to meet a “Looper” and he has bought a ranger tug to take out in about 2 years.  So we invite him on board and explain the loop and our experience.  Just like on the AT with Thru hikers people want to know how to do it and what it is like.  However even with all the information we can give you it is your trip and you will see it different.  However our boat name just about sums it up “Just Do It”


Took the bike out for a ride and found an Ice Cream store for after dinner.  I am surprised that Dianne can wait that long but she agreed to wait so I am good with that.  Tonight there is Music in the Park where we are staying from 7 to 9 as we won’t be able to sleep anyways I assume we will at least listen.  


PS this shore is almost all sand so it safer for those of you who think I will get lost and run aground.  

PPS We finally passed a boat today!




Look closely it says Natural beauty that is me all over!


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