Sunday, September 6, 2015

Month Twelve/Total Trip Stats


August/September  2015

Number of days:                           35         Trip to date:          368
Miles traveled:                             442                                    6295
Engine hours:                                48                                       826
Locks:                                             0                                        109                           
Gallons of gas:                          OK, OK, here it is!                 6687
Nights on anchor:                             4                                        60
Nights on free wall/marina:                4                                        59
Nights at marinas/lock wall:              27                                     249


States covered:  Michigan 

Laughs and memories made  - too many to count
Trip travel days - 172
Trip cities/ports, anchorages visited - 172
Average cruising speed - 7.62 mph 
Highest fuel price - $4.70
Lowest fuel price -  $2.35
Transmissions replaced - 1
Fuel pumps replaced - 1
Spark plugs replaced - 2 sets
Distributor caps replaced - 6
Props dinged or damaged - 0
Boat haul outs - 0
First mates replaced - 0!!!!!!


Highlight: Being together 24/7; 368 days! 

Grand Haven - HOME! - September 4

The final voyage! We cruised 15 miles on calm Lake Michigan to our home port of Grand Haven. As we approached the lighthouse we were greeted by friends and family cheering, waving balloons and holding a large "Welcome Home Pura Vida" sign. At 4:02pm, Friday, September 4, 2015 we paused as we crossed our wake between the pier heads to remove the White Looper flag and hoist the Gold Looper flag. Wowdywowwow! 

We proceeded through the channel and took a slip at the Grand Haven Municipal Marina where we were welcomed by more friends. Throughout the evening many more friends arrived via boat, dinghy and car to congratulate us! Also in honor of our arrival, the city of Grand Haven put on a musical fountain show at sunset which we were to exhausted to stay up and watch. (Sorry)

Saturday morning we cruised back to Keenan Marina our home marina in Spring Lake where we were greeted by many of our dock mates with balloons, champagne and cheers! 

It is with mixed emotions that we write this final blog. While it's good to be home safe and sound, it also marks the end of our Grand Adventure. We thank our Lord for 368 days and 6300 miles of safe seas, good health, great weather and many new friends.

To our faithful blog followers: Thanks for riding along. It was way too great of an adventure to keep to ourselves! 

PURA VIDA!
Steve & Sheli
Out!


 Wow! What a welcome!

 Changing of the flags.

 We did it!

 

 Our escort.

 Happy homecoming! 

 Pura Vida!

 Celebrating at Keenan. 

Friday, September 4, 2015

Muskegon - September 3-4

Thursday morning Steve and Henk went out for breakfast at a local diner in Muskegon. Around noon we left the marina and anchored inside the Muskegon breakwater and awaited the arrival of our friends Reg & Vicki who came up on their boat from Grand Haven. After they arrived we moved into Muskegon Lake an rafted together and dropped our anchors. The 2 captains successfully set the hooks for the night. It was a fun adventure as it was our last opportunity to anchor out on our trip and Reg & Vicki's first opportunity to anchor out with their recently purchased boat. It was great to have such a nice day for the last day of our trip! 

Friday morning we shared a yummy pancake breakfast on the boat before Reg & Vicki headed back to Grand Haven. The first mate thought one more dinghy ride was in order. We took the dinghy to shore and climbed the beautiful sand dunes for one last view of the Pura Vida anchored out. After some time spent reminiscing about our incredible trip we headed back to the boat, pulled up the anchor, headed out the channel and turned left.


 Reg & Vicki arriving Muskegon. 

 Vicki enjoying the day!

 Our last anchorage (for this trip anyway)


Thursday, September 3, 2015

Ludington-Muskegon - August 31-September 2

Sunday afternoon we exited the Ludington channel, turned south and traveled 16 miles to Pentwater where we dropped the anchor in Pentwater Lake. It was a smooth, comfortable ride. After getting settled, we took the dinghy to town for dinner.

After breakfast on Monday we lifted the anchor and moved over to Snug Harbor Marina in Pentwater. We were assigned a great location on their north sea wall where we were parked under a large shade tree with a picnic table and grill right next to the boat. Awesome! It was a hot sunny day so we spent time at the beach and also took a dinghy ride across Pentwater Lake and up the Pentwater River. 

On Tuesday we had special visitors! Sister Sue brought our moms up to visit! It was so great to see them as we have not seen them since we were home in March. Big hugs all around!  It was beautiful day for picnic lunch under our big shade tree. It was a perfect summer picnic including brats on the grill. We enjoyed chatting, spending time together and even a little shopping! What a fun day!

Wednesday morning we left Pentwater and traveled 48 miles to Muskegon. There were small swells on Lake Michigan but it wasn't too uncomfortable for our 6 hour ride. We pulled into Lakeshore Yacht Harbour where our friend Henk Witte was waiting to catch our lines. Henk and Thressa are platinum Loopers which means they have completed the Loop twice! Henk invited us aboard their boat the Marco Polo II to share Loop tales. Henk was a big influence in our decision to do the Loop and seemed very happy and proud of our accomplishment. Thanks Henk! Later we jumped in Henk's car and went to Dockers, a local restaurant for dinner. After returning to the marina we were treated to a beautiful sunset before retiring for the evening. 

 Pentwater, made in the shade!

 Sheli & mom!

 Steve, mom & sister!

 Freighter arriving Muskegon.

 Marco Polo II

 Platinum Looper Henk & soon to be Gold Looper Steve.

 Cruise ship leaving Muskegon channel.

 Sunset over Muskegon Lake. 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Frankfort-Ludington - August 25-30

The winds kept a blowing! Lake Michigan was living up to its reputation and Loopers were stacked up like cord wood along the Michigan shore line. We waited patiently in Frankfort for the winds and the waves to die down. Our friends Dick & Pat on Dream Catcher abandoned their plans to cross northern Lake Michigan and came down and holed up in Frankfort also. We shared several evenings together dining and playing cards. 

On Wednesday the first mate insisted that we get on our bikes and ride six miles to a local Alpaca Farm & Boutique. What a hoot! The first mate thought they were adorable. The captain thought they looked like Donald Trump! Sheli bought a pair of alpaca socks to keep here feet warm this winter as she will not be running around Key West in flip flops this year. Boo Hoo!

Thursday morning as Dream Catcher left the marina and headed across the lake to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin we also cast off our lines and headed south to Ludington. Our 45 mile cruise was rough. In fact we heard another Looper on the radio who was headed for Ludington but decided to stop at Manistee because the first mate was sea sick. We were happy to pull into the Ludington pier head and out of the waves. This was our worst (combination long/rough) cruising day of the trip. We docked the Pura Vida at a private marina at a condo project where Steve's company has provided doors & drawers. This is also home to Patriot (fellow Looper friends) who will be finishing their loop here next week. This is a very nice marina that ranks in our top 10 of the trip!

Our friends Reg & Vicki Stroven came up from Spring Lake on Friday afternoon, went to dinner with us and spent the night on the boat. It was fun catching up. Late Saturday morning Reg & Vicki left. By afternoon the weather finally began to clear and get warmer. It's been a cold couple weeks in Michigan. To celebrate the change in weather we went for bike ride, a dinghy ride and cooked out that evening. 

Sunday morning our friend Jim who manages the marina took us by car to his church, Cornerstone Baptist Church for the morning service. (Take a car to church, what a concept!)  After church, we readied the boat, untied our lines and headed out. 



 Love these guys!

 Donald?



 Can I have one on the boat?

 Dream Catcher.

 Passing Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course.

 Lake Michigan shoreline.

 Pura Vida docked in Ludington. 

 Ahhhh....the good life!