Boat Maintenance and Moving On.

We had paid for two nights in the Marina at Ludington, so we made the most of them. Too bad the anchorages in Ludington are a long way from the town, or we might have been tempted to stay longer. There was so much we wanted to do, but couldn't because there is no Rental Car agency in town:( A visit to the Big Sable Light House and dunes was something we wanted very much to do, but again, no transport thwarted that idea.

Satruday morning dawned overcast, which for me signaled the perfect time to clean the outside of our dirty boat. The cemetery of bugs all over the boat was getting unbearable. Spiders and their poop are driving me crazy, trying to keep the stain off the gelcoat. Grrrr!

Wz had oil changes to do on both engines, so he disappeared below decks to do that, while I prepared hot soapy water, long handled brush and some clothes and went up front to begin scrubbing.

We were up so early, this morning, I even got some sunrise photos! woohoo! I guess I was motivated to get the boat cleaned. Somehow things run better when they are clean! Don't you think so?
At least the neighbors in the marina thought I was industrious:) They all get their boats detailed weekly at their home ports, so they couldn't tell me what they use to get the spider poop off the gelcoat...someone else does that for them! nice! Yes, I'm jealous!:)

 Having scrubbed and wiped and gotten very wet in the process, I finished the clean up in time to make lunch. It was 11.30am. Waz had just finished the Oil change, and we were ready to move. We had decided the night before that we would move to our next destination on Saturday, and noon is move out time at the Marina. We were on time...well, almost! I wasn't going to leave before eating.

Everything put away, tied down, put down (in the event that the waves get rough) and finally on the fly deck ready for untying the lines. With very little wind, it was an easy issue moving out of the dock and back out into the Lake proper, just around the corner from the Channel out to Lake Michigan.
The marina looks a bit bare, now that all the boats have gone! It was a perfect day for a sail with winds 20 knots.

 

Just one sail boat to take into consideration as we entered the channel at right, to go out to Lake Michigan.

 Looking back at the Marina entrance. Not the widest!

 Thank goodness the channel is a wide one and there is plenty of room for everyone.

We have seen photographs of the waves crashing into this light house, and over the top. Can you imagine that? We cant! But winter waves can be vicious, the locals tell us. It is also hard to believe that the lake (Michigan) was frozen over, for the most part, this past Winter. Aieeee!

 Lots of people walk out to the end of the breakwater, each day, and this group of seniors were no exception. The all had their walking gear on.

 And...goodbye to Ludington.

 The fine day turned overcast the further south we went, unfortunately. It makes for some dull photogaphs:(
The Sand Dunes are all along the coastline  of Lake Michigan, in these parts. Some are as high as 600ft +. We saw lots of long ladders and stairwells leading down to the water from homes high on the dunes. None of them looked very safe. I would never want to own a cliff-top property. Apart from the fantastic view, I imagine that the cliff is being eroded constantly.

 It was a short two hour trip down to Pentwater, from Ludington. This is why we left just after noon, on Saturday. The sun came out again as we neared the breakwater to Pentwater. This is just a little lake and we really only have one choice of anchorage.

 

 We couldn't believe the number of people on the beach to the left of the lighthouse, and the people fishing off the breakwater. This light house is rather unoriginal, don't you think? I guess they cant all be good looking?

 Every other man, woman, dog, child, watercraft etc were in the water.

 There is just a short breakwater into Pentwater, but not a wide one as you can see.

 One way to get your fish up the steel breakwater...get your kid to climb down and get it!

Some lovely homes and gardens along the breakwater leading into Pentwater. Many freighters used to ply these waters...and from Ludington also.

 The Pentwater Yacht Club was busy hosting a Wooden Boat Festival, when we went past. It was now VERY warm and humid.

 The downtown area of Pentwater is in the background, behind all the boats and the marina.

 There is a NO WAKE zone from the entrance to the channel to well past the marina in front of the retail district. Apparently it is the holiday makers from Chicago who don't observe the signs and go hell for leather all over the little lake without thought for anyone else.

 Entering the Lake

 and making our way down to the far eastern end of it to anchor in 15 feet of water.

 about here!

Parking outside of a No Wake zone has it's drawbacks, which soon became evident. With the gorgeous weather came the idiots in boats. We were a bit (maybe a lot) of a curiosity at the far end of the lake, and lots of small FAST boats came by...or should I say, circled us at great speed leaving us rocking in their wakes. It drove me nearly spare! People just don't think how their actions affect others!!!

We decided not to go dinghying into town today, be would do that tomorrow. We hoped the easterly wind wouldn't un stick us in the mid we had anchored in, and we had no problems.
We would have thought the dark would bring peace on the water, but it was very late before all the boat traffic ceases. Phew!

It was a hot and humid night, and even a cooling shower off the back deck did little to help with the humidity. We slept fitfully!