14 August, 2021. Beautiful day on Lake Michigan

 

55 SM; 7.6 hours

Beautiful night at anchorage, cool breezes and nearly calm water until the fishing boats headed out.  Weather near perfect for traveling on Lake Michigan today.  We raised the anchor at 0650 and made our way to Lake Michigan.  Still a bit of swell left over, but almost no wind waves.  We turned southeast on course and at 7 MPH proceeded down the coast about 3/4 of a mile off shore.  A little rolling and bumpy but not bad.  About half way, it really began to flatten out and there was more aggravation from large yacht wakes than wind waves/swells.  We will take the boat wakes after the nearly week long blow and not going anywhere.  Just a great easy cruising day.  

Sand dunes along East side of Lake Michigan

Barely a ripple

Exiting after 7 hours into Kalamazoo river and the area of Saugatuck MI.  Following a narrow and very crowed river about 3 miles to an anchorage in Kalamazoo lake.  What a progression of boats of every flavor and size going up and down the river and around the lake.  

Not sure what to call this thing

We dropped the anchor in a crowed anchorage at 1415.  12 feet of water with about 60 feet of rode.  Protected and no storms or wind tonight.  (Map). Boats, motor yachts, sailboats, skiffs and dinghies  have kept us entertained all afternoon.  Kind of fun watching the parade.  Kim’s anchorage video We are less than 100 miles from Chicago; closer if we wanted to run across Lake Michigan.  I don’t.  We will continue to hug the coast.  Weather looks good for another three days for sure.  Hope it holds.

5543 SM Traveled; 1975.9 hours hobbs