4 August, 2021. A beautiful day traveling south on Lake Michigan

53 SM; 7.8 hour

 Weather reviewed last night forecasted sloppy conditions initially, but wind and waves decreasing as the day proceeded.  After a sound and peaceful sleep at anchor last night, a early morning wake up call.  Coffee, then weather check.  Yes, conditions are a go.  Sloppy, lumpy and bumpy for the first hour, but forecast shows improvement as the day progresses.  We are ready and weigh the anchor at 0605 and proceed out of the anchorage toward Lake Michigan.  Very hazy and winds are a bit brisk.  Once we exit the protect waters and enter Lake Michigan it is a much improved start from yesterday.  Waves about 1.5 feet, not too stacked up and not on the beam.  We turn on course and proceed toward our intended destination of Manistee, MI,  Along the way are two protected lakes/harbors.  We hug the coast in case the weather does not match prediction.  Weather in fact matched the prediction and as we reached our intended destination at 1000, we rechecked winds and wave forecast, checked the radar app for thunderstorms and made a go decision to continue another 3+45 hours to Ludington, MI.  The hours enroute were very pleasant.  Winds remained less than 10 mph; waves about 3/4 of a foot.  Only issue as we rounded Big Sable Point was fog.  It was looking bad, but never dropped below 3 miles visibility.  We easily picked up the harbor entrance light house at three miles.

Large entry light house Ludington harbor

We entered the harbor and proceeded east and then SE to our anchorage in Pere Marquette Lake.  A deep lake with direct connection to Lake Michigan via the well protected harbor.  We set the anchor in 20 feet at 1345.  (Map). Very satisfying journey today.  No scares, no drama, just patience and pick the weather we want.  After lunch and a nap, I splashed the dinghy and scrubbed Serenity’s water line.  Amazing weed/grass growth and funk at the water line.  Once that task was complete, we rowed a hundred yards to a landing and walked over the hill to the nice public park/beach on Lake Michigan.  Kim’s anchor video

Ludington is home to the SS Badger.  SS Badger Documentary The last remaining coal fired, steam powered ferry.  It’s sister ship was given up decades ago and sits as a parts depot.  As we were having supper we heard the loud ship’s horn as the SS Badger entered Ludington harbor and watched it dock across the river from us.  There was visible smoke from the coal fired boilers.  Nice completion to the day

Spartan remains as a parts depot

It is a quiet anchorage with a few kayakers paddling by.  We have reserved a slip at the city marina for Thursday and Friday as the winds are blowing beginning mid day tomorrow.  Hope to be able to travel again on Saturday.

5428 SM journeyed; 1958.5 hours hobbs