Frankfort to Ludington.

Waz set the alarm for 6am again,  this morning. It didn't feel any better getting up in the dark than it did the day before...why am I surprised, lol. However....upon looking out the window, I spied and opportunity...the sky was clear and the water was glassy and the fishing boats had been rocking us for a while, on their way out of the harbor...so out came the camera!! of course!

Those first images of the day are usually some of the most special, and today was no exception....but...I took this one last night just as the last of the sunset faded away....I rather like it!

 ok, now for the sunrise pics.
Looking back down the Lake (inside the harbor is  Lake Betsie). Yes, those are hills in the background. I believe, after looking at the charts, that they are around 700 ft above sea level.

 A single fishing boat, after all the others had gone

 A yacht coming into the harbor and fishing vessel going out.

 You can see all the cars at the Launching ramp...all those represent fishermen!

 It is hard for you to see the gorgeous ice blue water and the gold shimmering on the surface..Magic!

 

The forecast said a fine day, and surely enough, a glorious beginning! yay! No more fog forecast until around 10am! We would be well on our way by then.

 

Leaving the harbor, the air was clear, the water deep, darkest blue and the fishing boats were a gazillion-fold...just outside the harbor entrance.

I'snt the light wonderful!

 Past the Marina....

 The gentle light on the surrounding tree clad hills....

 Past the Coast Guard Station...

 and seeing some of the fishing boats for the first time, outside the breakwater.

 Condos along the beach...

 ...and a beach devoid of people, this early in the morning. Love the light on the grass in the foreground:)

 the beach giving way to the Sand Dunes at the far end. That is part of the Ludington State Park.

 See all the little boats! and the hardy souls fishing from the light house platform.

 Leaving the safe confines of the Frankfort Harbor out into calm waters.

 A layer of fog sat over the little town we left behind.

 and then the sun came out to warm us.

 stunning!!

 I love clouds...(you couldn't tell, could you?)

 but these ones brought the cold, and we suffered through an hour of cold before the sun peeked through enough to warm us up again.

 It seems that the fishing fellas with the most toys, wins! Waz counted as many as 28 rods on a single boat. (you do things like counting fishing rods, when there is little else to do!)

 The Sable Point Light house at Ludington National Park.  Still overcast!

 We were no more than about 1/2 a mile offshore, as the water was 40+ feet that close to the shore, which was plenty for us!

 Plenty of folks out on the beach in the national park.

 and the houses really are Beach Houses, as you can see...right on the beach! I hate to think how it is when the lake is REALLY rough, as we know it can be...and when the lake is covered with ice and snow. It is brutal up here in winter. This is just outside Ludington..

 

and...we found the Ludington Lighthouse without any trouble...no fog to confuse us!

 There we are, heading for the entry to the Harbor.

 Lots of condos facing the Lake, inside the breakwater.

 Ships used to coming in and out of this harbor...Iron-ore ships! They have long since ceased to do that, but the Badger is still running twice a day between Manitowac, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan. That is her sister ship, right there. This one is used for spare parts, to keep the Badger running.

 ...and we turned left into the Municipal Marina.

Once settled in out dock, we had just enough time to eat some lunch upstairs, after 2pm, and then cover up, before the rain came down. It rained off and on for the rest of the afternoon. 'The fuel dock is almost next door. They only have three 60 ft docks, and two are already taken! We were lucky to get in here.

 Everything is beautifully set out, colorful and playful.

 An old boat is part of the landscaping. Along the waterfront are REAL apple trees with REAL fruit on them!:)

 The rock walls are very decorative and serve an excellent purpose, of course. A lot of thought has gone into making the lake surrounds very pretty and useful to the citizens of Ludington.

 The large Bathroom block.

 Complete (first time ever!) with a four point fish cleaning station...wonderful!

We love some of the charter boat names...esp. the Lie-a-lot, one. :)

 

 

After the rain stopped, we went for a walk...well, I should say...after Waz woke up from his nap! we went walking. It was 5.30pm, anyway. Needed to get out and stretch our legs. I had done a load of washing of wiper cloths (yellow ones) and they were all hung up to dry.

 

We hadn't intended to go out for dinner, and as we walked past the ice-cream shop, House of Flavors, we decided to go in and see what was so special about the place.

Well, you cant walk into an ice-cream shop and not taste the stuff, right? right! So I did. Then we decided to sit and eat something before we could have dessert. I know...we never let that stop us before, but we really need to eat REAL food. Not that I would call what we ate, REAL food.

 

Waz ordered the chicken fried steak. he has had it before and liked it. This one looked like something else...not sure what, and the fries, while different, were cold. Mine were too, and I had ordered 2 pieces of white fish...perch?  and we both had cole slaw.

 

THis is a family kind restaurant, and we couldn't be bothered sending our fries back, so we didn't eat them all. No point!

THEN...we ordered the ice-cream. One scoop of Raspberry Rendezvous...fudge bits and chocolate raspberry thingys in raspberry ice-cream!  AND a scoop of Tennessee Caramel. This was ok, but not as good as the other.

 

We hadn't overeaten, but we had plenty of walking to do before returning to the boat. The town beckoned and we decided to walk up one side and down the other, of the main drag.

We didn't get far when we walked into a Gallery. Todd and Brad Reed Gallery. This father and son photography duo take awesome landscapes of the Michigan countryside and lake. We sat and watched the video of the making of one of their books...wonderful!!

 

Window shopping is always fun, but so is going into an artisan foods supermarket. The meat looked wonderful, so we bought some Cherry Bratwurst...with real cherries! and some regular Bratwurst. We love it! and it is everywhere here!

Also some pork loin chops (cant beat $2.76 for two large chops!) and two large Filet Mignon...at $4 per serving!  We also found Ladies fingers at half the price we had previously found them....to make Tirimisu!...and a few special items that I cant name coz they are gifts!:)

 

 Chairs outside the supermarket.

 A place to put your bike...?

 and one in the bike shop next door...

 Somewhere to explore tomorrow!!! We love how people leave all their goods outside over night and nothing goes missing. That wouldn't happen in most places in NZ...especially Auckland.

 The Main drag.

 Down a back alley

 ok! We couldn't figure out what this actually means...What is a Unitarian Universalist! Ok, I don't want to know, so don't bother writing in!

 Love this bank building!

 The pavilion in the park, which was lovely. The bathrooms are in this building.

Lots of sculpture in the park alongside the harbor. Lake Pere Marquette.

 

Waz settled himself on the rocks to watch the Badger leave for it's 8.30pm sailing to Manitowac, Wisconsin.

 Ready to go! Steam powered.

After she left the harbor...my camera battery died, just when I needed it not to! Murphey's law!!

So, I resorted to my cell phone for photos and I have not uploaded them yet!

 

We walked back to the boat before it got dark, and setting ourselves in for the night. Having put away all the grocery items, we could sit with our last coffee of the day and enjoy the peace of the marina.

Time for me to take his honor to bed. We are both tired, so Im sure we will sleep well.

 

Adios!