Our Great Loop Adventure: Lake Michigan - August 3

Leaving Mackinac Island on August 3, we arrived at Beaver Island, Michigan after six hours on relatively smooth water. Although it was hazy as we passed under the Mackinac Bridge, the sun finally appeared. Once we arrived at Beaver Island, Michigan, we headed to Beaver Island Marina. I was so tired that I just stayed on the boat and cooked dinner and had a glass of wine.

Beaver Island Marina

The next day, we traveled west for another six hours (approx. 60 miles) on Lake Michigan to Washington Island. The oldest Icelandic settlement in the United States is devoted almost entirely to the tourist trade. Ferries transport tourists and summer residents from Beaver Island and back. A friend of Richard's, Dan Porter, and his son Dan, stopped by briefly before they had to board the ferry to their cabin on Beaver Island. It's always nice to see familiar faces as we travel! We docked at Shipyard Marina in Detroit Bay and found the marina to be very quiet and several open slips.

Washington - Beaver Islands Ferry

August 5, we made our way to Fish Creek, Wisconsin in Door County. We stayed at Alibi Marina for two nights and we thoroughly enjoyed this small, artistic community. We rode our bikes for miles around the island and through Peninsula State Park, stopping on our way to visit the Settlement Shops where artists display their pottery, jewelry, and paintings. We then enjoyed the Friday night "perch fry" at Cooper's Corners, where we also indulged in fried cheese curds. They reminded us of fried mozzarella sticks - just a different shape and cheese. I still like fried dill pickles better!

The horse is interesting but I really couldn't find anything that I wanted to buy in
this overstocked store for tourists!


Unfortunately this shop was closed when we walked by!


One of the highlights of our stopovers is enjoying the local wine and food. This restaurant had been newly renovated and we enjoyed an excellent meal of their fresh broiled perch.

We traveled further down Green Bay, through the Sturgeon Canal and back out to Lake Michigan where we spent two nights at Salmon Harbor Marina in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Wow! I cannot believe how we are getting around from state to state and visiting so many places I did not know existed! This little town had so much to offer. People at the marina were so helpful and informative, suggesting we have dinner at The Cork Pub & Restaurant. I was able to get a three loads of laundry done with time for a long bike ride along the lake. Furthermore, a famous decommissioned tugboat is open for tours on the week-ends. Tug Ludington, as it is now called, was built in Oyster Bay, NY in 1943 and was christened the Major Wilbur Fr. Browder. The tug participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, towing ammunition barges across the English Channel. At the end of the war, it joined the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. In 1947, the tug was transferred to Kewaunee and renamed Tug Ludington.


We had a strenuous ride up this long hill but the ride down was a breeze. I might even get into shape on this trip if we continue biking a few times a week!


We love our tug but seeing a REAL tug inside and out was very interesting. The engine room was impressive! The tug was powered by an Enterprise diesel engine, developing 1,200 SHP at 275 RPMs. I do not know what this means but the engine is huge!


The Tudington Statistics: Length 115 ft.; Beam 26 ft.; Height 64 ft.; 1943 construction cost $396,400; Range 8,000 miles


On Sunday evening, we walked to town and stopped to enjoy the weekly Concert in the Park.

The streets are lined with attractive benches but this one sat outside the local bar.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, our next stop on August 9, is famous for its bratwurst, but with much more to offer. I enjoyed a long walk on the Riverfront Boardwalk back to Harbor Centre Marina. In the evening we treated ourselves to an incredible dinner at Stefanos Trattoria.

We arrived in Milwaukee on Tuesday, docked the boat at McKinley Marina and in the morning, Aug. 11, I flew home to Rochester to see my grandchildren, Ethyn and Ella and to visit with our close friends. Richard flew home on Friday and we headed to the 1,000 Islands. We started the week-end by participating in Pirate's Week-end in Alexandria Bay, NY. Richard's daughter's family, Heather, Ben, Conner, Keagan & Jonah joined us and Ethyn and Ella while we were there. What a great time we all had. We were also fortunate to spend time with our good friends, Rick & Pam, Bob & Dottie, Robin & Emma, Lauri Bob, and Tom & Kim. I was in Hamlin for the rest of the week, keeping very busy taking Ethyn to Summertime Readers camp each day, heading to appointments, enjoying shopping with Ella and getting together with the girlfriends. Thanks Donna for hosting our get-together on the lake! Helen, Pam, Michele, Doreen, Dottie, Donna and I did some real damage to the pizza and wine, but oh how we talked, talked, talked!! On August 20, Richard and I flew back to Milwaukee, where we stayed until August 24.