South Haven to Michigan City, Indiana

Wednesday & Thursday August 20 & 21

We left Anchorage Marina in Holland for South Haven on Wednesday morning and it was another beautiful day for a cruise. When we got to South Haven, like most of the other stops, we entered a channel edged by a breakwater to get off Lake Michigan.

Large clock near the channel into South Haven -
and it was on time
 

There was a municipal marina facility on both sides of the river and we were on the smaller south side. It was another nice, well kept public facility within walking distance of both the beach and the main street of town.

Serenity at South Haven Municipal Marina just inside
the channel from the lake
 

When we got into the marina we saw that the same DNR research ship, Steelhead, was tied up there. They must be working their way around the lake.

Better photo of the DNR research boat Steelhead
 

 Captain’s Log: August 20, 2014

Departed: Anchorage Yacht Club, MI 7:50 a.m.
Engine hours: 4.3 hr. – 25.49 nautical miles
Actual hours: 4 hr.  10 min
Arrived: Municipal Marina, South Haven, MI 12:00 noon
Wx: clear, 65 degrees, waves 1’ or so, Northwest wind. Gradually winds died down to 5 kt. or less – nice cruise, no issues.

We stayed in South Haven the next day and were pleased to see several other Looper boats come in to the marina, including Infinite Sea, a 35' President and two other Mainships almost identical to ours, Thanks Dad, which we had traveled with before, and Fruitcakes. We gathered for a "docktail" hour and were glad to renew acquaintances and meet some new boaters.

 

August 21 was John's birthday so I took him out
to Clementine's - hearty Captain in a vintage setting!
 

Friday through Tuesday, August 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2014
Friday was a relatively long cruising day for us. The weather was good and so we decided to go all the way from South Haven, MI to Michigan City, IN. It was a total of 52 miles and took us about 7 ½ hours.

Sunrise as we were leaving South Haven
 

Another looper boat, Infinite Sea, with Paul and Stephanie on board, was making the same trip and so we followed them out of the harbor. They travel a little faster than we do so we gradually watched them pull ahead although we always could see them even when they became a little dot on the horizon.
 

Infinite Sea leading the way
 



It was a pleasant ride and the hours seemed to go by quickly. We had plenty to do aboard, and John even fired up the generator so we could warm up some lunch.

By midafternoon we arrived in a new state and a different time zone! At the Michigan City Port Authority we stopped at the gas dock, fueled up, pumped out, signed the register and were soon plugged in at our slip. It was warm and humid so I guess we finally found summer.

 

Dinner with Paul and Stephanie from Infinite Sea at the old yacht club
 

Captain’s Log: August 22, 2014

Departed: South Haven, MI 6:50 a.m. EDT
Engine hours: 7.8  – 50.27 nautical miles
Actual hours: 8 hr.  20 min (includes time at gas dock)
Arrived: Port Authority, Michigan City, IN 3:15 p.m. CDT
Wx: hazy, southeast wind 0 to 5 kt., quite smooth no other issues

After our new looper friends left the next morning we settled in and decided to stay for a few days in Michigan City. They have a lovely beach right next to the marina, a park with gardens and unique stone benches and an old lighthouse museum. Oh, did I mention that there is huge power plant complete with  smokestack just across the river from the marina? Also, this southern part of the lake is known as the storm belt as unsettled weather comes across from the west almost every day.

Storm clouds roll in above the marina and power plant
in the background
 

 

After the storm...
 

We were treated to a beautiful sunset
 

One of our stops had to be the Old Lighthouse Museum, built in 1858, which is operated by the local historical society. They had an extensive exhibit of boating memorabilia, photos of the growth of Michigan City and furnishings from an older time. We were most impressed with the Fresnel lenses on display which magnified the gas light in the tower and, as eerie as it seems, they had on display a death mask of President Abraham Lincoln who grew up in Indiana.

Old Lighthouse Museum
 

View to the east from the top of the lighthouse overlooking Trail Creek -
a siren goes off every time the drawbridge opens
 



Looking northwest from the top of the lighthouse - Port Authority and
Lake Michigan - Serenity is here, off to the right out of sight
 

I just happened to be color coordinated with the blue fountain
 

There are dozens of sports fishing boats and charters on the dock. We happened by just as one of the charters was displaying their catch of the morning. The fishermen encouraged pictures as they were understandably proud of their catch. This charter, the Crorkindill, is known for their captain who obviously knows where to find the fish. This is an assortment of lake trout, rainbows and salmon.

Catch of the day!
 

Several of our fellow looping friends arrived this week and the names should be familiar to you by now: Thanks Dad, Fruitcakes and Charis. We will be making to crossing to Chicago sometime in the next two days when the weather looks favorable.

The night before we left Michigan City, John and Sue hosted a wonderful
fish fry! Kathy, Andy, Julie, Ken, Ann, John and Sue