Cruising with Rich and Sheilah Michigan

07-21-11 Richard Merwin and Sheilah Garhardt arrived around 9 am in sweltering heat…We found an inexpensive hotel for the night in Mac City. Took them to dinner at the Keyhole Restaurant…been open for many years…then went over to the museum to let Sheila and Richard see the building of the Mackinaw Bridge…great history movie from back in the 60’s.
07-22-11 Fuel at Sheplers and head for Harbor Springs…beautiful day light breeze out of the North so we sailed a little out to Gray’s reef. Arriving at Harbor Springs we threw a hook up in the northwest corner ….it’s Friday night and the fancy boats are all out for a cocktail ride….I think I saw 15 Hinckley Picnic boats from 36-55 feet…..wow…tall cotton!
After cleaning up we headed to a restaurant called New York Restaurant for a great meal……then back to the boat….forgot the white light for the top of engine and used flashlights….attacked by regional sheriff….his comment was “Got to your boat after you did…let you go this time”….so much for needing the tourist trade….harbor Springs has this wonderful natural bay with a Penninsula anchored by the Wrigley House and another 100 beautiful houses of the old Chicago Blue Bloods……fun time …tomorrow off to Petoskey.
07-23-11 Motored over to Petoskey in the afternoon…..fun touristy city…wish Erie could be like this….had Pizza at the Hotel restaurant in Petoskey ant Noggins…had a guitar player…fun …. We decided that we would stay another night and explore more of the city….fun….
07-25-11 Monday we are off to Charlevoix to see the boat houses and sail on the lake. We had a wonderful sail down there…approx. 18 miles from Petoskey…that’s what makes this area so unique….lots to do between Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Bay harbor and Charlevoix. You come into the city thru this very narrow cut into a small harbor that opens into the Lake is about 14 miles long…beautiful with big houses wrapping the shores. Arriving around 1PM we sailed 5 miles into the lake before returning to the harbor and dropping a hook. Sat on the boat for two hours watching huge storms on Sirius just miss us and go North…..not god for tomorrow….15-18 knots on the nose and we want to go to Beaver Island before returning to Mackinaw Island.
07-26-11 Morning comes at 7AM…windy…Captain pondering what to do. It was decided we would go out into Lake Michigan and see if we can get to Beaver Island…27nm upwind in 3-4 foot seas….. I am sitting in this beautiful Beaver Island Harbor telling you we made it….pretty rough for two hours …had the PFD’s out and I stayed Harnesses …..sailing due west we managed to get off shore as the winds started to diminish around noon….tacked over and arrived around 3PM having a pretty sail up the side of beaver Island. That evening we had a treat going up to the Beaver Island Inn for a good dinner and a wonderful sunset. (See Pictures).
07-26-11 Making an early start for Mackinaw Island to avoid weather that was coming into the area, Nyanza heads toward Grays Reef at 0730. With finally a south east wind Nyanza openned up her jib and we had a delightful sail at 7 knots toward Mackinaw Bridge. Arriving Mackinaw at around 1500 Rich and Sheilah checked into the Chippewa Hotel (Home of the famous PINK PONY BAR) After cleaning up Rich took Sheilah and I to my favorite restaurant at the Iroquois hotel for a wonderful end to the sailing week. Thanks Rich and Sheilah for enjoying a great week aboard Nyanza in upper Michigan. Morning came too soon and off they went on the ferry, not before recovering with a great breakfast after a great evening at Horns for some good music. Stay turned and go to the picture book to see some great pictures of our trip. The captain is now resting in Mackinaw waiting for Dale Mcbrier, Brandon Mcbrier and Kiel (Brandons new brother-in-law to be to arrive on Friday Night. Stay tuned for a great trip thru the North Channel of Canada. Captain Jim