Rolling Meadows

Mary and I have given the boat a good cleaning and taken inventory of what's on board.  Don helped install a bow cable connection but there are still a few project that will need to be completed before we start the Loop.  We have a magazine rack and mirror ordered for the staterooms as well as two additional speakers for the new stereo to be mounted on the aft deck.  I need to install a relay to control the auto pilot from the upper helm.   The plan is to complete the misc. projects as soon as we return in August.  We also have the Cat service man scheduled to preform the 1,000 hour check on the engine.  After which I will change all the fluids and filters.  Then we hope to spend a few days at the cottage while finishing up on provisioning the boat before casting off on our adventure.

Mackinaw City

We survived our mini trip with the some destination adjustments. Things were a bit too hectic to do any postings while on the trip, but the Mifi worked fine. We decided to take everyone to Mackinac Island on Thursday the 14th. The Schwalbs stayed for dinner then took Sheplers back to Mackinaw City and spent a few more days at the cottage. The Crandalls stayed with us on the boat. Kelly and Don took the new fold up bikes for two laps around the Island before we left on Friday. Grandma took the kids for a walk while Grandpa cleaned the boat and got it ready for the trip.

All 5 grandkids on the Island, getting everyone to smile at once was next to impossible.

Our next stop was Beaver Island, which was very rough leaving the island then it smoothed out and was dead calm for the last 10 miles.  The trip was 48 miles and took us 5 hours, we got the last slip at Beaver Island marine.  After the long trip we decided to stay two days and then go to Harbor Springs for one night and then spend the last night at St. Helena instead of going on to Fayette.  We felt the shorter trips would be more kid friendly and allow some sailboat viewing of the Chicago to Mackinac race.  Kelly and Don were able to get in a nice long bike ride while, grandma and grandpa had a couple of short rides.

The trip to Harbor Springs on Sunday went off without a hitch, it was quite hot once we got tied up and everyone enjoyed swimming off the swim platform.

The skin divers.

Our plan was to leave Monday around noon, but a squall had came through overnight capsizing a boat in the Chicago to Mackinac race and another storm with 60 mph winds was predicted for the afternoon.  Needless to say we stayed put.  The storm that came through was not that bad and it became very steamy in the afternoon.  Not quite as hot as the day before but hot none the less.  

The Crandalls took a nice long dingy ride before dinner.

We were all set to leave early Tuesday morning but the fog had rolled in, at one point we could not see the end of the dock.  

Grandma going ashore in the fog.

The fog lifted mid morning and we were able to head back to Mackinaw City.

Don and Owen enjoying the water.

Owen strolling the deck.

The trip back went well just with a small amount of fog around Gray's Reef.  I pushed up the throttle a bit and we made the 51 mile trip in 4 hours.

All in all the trip went well and everyone enjoyed themselves.  We now have almost 50 hours on the boat and a better understanding of it's strengths and weaknesses.  Still getting used to docking with the single screw in a wind.  

Rolling Meadows

It's been almost a month since the last posting.  The day after Mary retired last month we headed up to the cottage and spent three nights on the Island during the Lilac Festival.  Once we got back to Mackinaw City we worked on a few more boat projects, there are only a couple more to do before we leave.  The sign guy has changed the hailing port and added the name to the sides of the fly bridge.  We have decided to completely replace the top and isinglass, which while not terrible was difficult to see through.  Everything was original so we figured it was better to replace everything and enjoy it on the Loop rather than trying to get another year out of it.  The work will start after our up coming two weeks up North and should be done before we return in August to make our final preparations for the Loop.  The last big thing that needs to be done will be the 1000 hour service on the engine.  This will be done by Caterpillar once we return in August.  I will also be changing all the fluids and filters before we begin the Loop.

We have made our reservation for the month long stay in Key Largo at Marina Del Mar.  Kelly and family have their plane tickets and will be there staying on the boat with us for our last week there.  We are hoping that Christy and family will also visit that week staying at one of the hotels within the marina complex.

On Sunday we are heading up to Mackinaw with both Christy, Kelly, Eric, Don and all the grand kids for a two week stay.  We will all be at the cottage for a while before Kelly and family go with us on our first extended cruise to Beaver Island and Fayette for 5 or 6 days.  We have our Verizon MiFi hot spot so I will try to post daily on our trip.  I have updated and refined some of the dates on our schedule as things are falling into place.

John