Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day #34: From last evening we played two games of cribbage we each one a game (The one that Patty won was a skunk). Light rain overnight. Up at 7:00 A.M. this morning for coffee, cherries, pineapple and Nutty Dunkers (YUM!). Cloudy, light rain and temps in the low 70's (already). Mike worked in the engine room for a bit. We went for 3.09 mile walk out on the water loop walkway. The waves were crashing over the break wall. The winds were definitely stronger than what had been predicted. There were white caps in Pere Marquette Lake. We had mist on and off so when it wasn't misting Mike and I walked the main street browsing in some of the stores. We had happy hour on the flying bridge.  Multiple times the sun attempted to come out but the clouds filled in quickly. Mike and I took a walk to the post office before dinner, Mike found an "SS Badger" t-shirt that he liked so he purchased it. Back to the boat for dinner which was cold sandwiches as we didn't want to light the grill with the winds being so strong. About 6 P.M. the sun came out and the clouds dissipated which warmed up the temperatures. Mike played his guitar while I blogged. Hoping to have a good sunset tonight at 9:03 P.M.  The plan is that we will be staying in Ludington Tuesday and we are evaluating a day at a time, Lake Michigan waves need to settle down after two days of very strong winds.

Tug "Undaunted" with Barge "Pere Marquette 41" in Pere Marquette Lake.

Waves crashing over the south break wall. 

More waves crashing over the south break wall light.

                                                                                     

                                              Waves crashing on the north light in Ludington.

We have seen this in multiple places in Ludington. This is painted on a wall of a store.
 

Mike's new t-shift.

Pre-sunset

Patty with the "SS Badger" in the background.

Most evenings the "SS Badger" has a sheriff/coast guard escort out of the channel.

Sun shining on the "SS Badger".

Beautiful but again the clouds have obscured our full sunset. 

Badger, Ludington Light and sunset.

Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day #33: Up at 7:00 A.M. for coffee, banana bread, cherries and nectarine. We watched the local news/weather going to be in the 90's, sunny and windy. We went to the market this morning for a few items. Back on the boat for a bit of paperwork. We had lunch on the flying bridge. The winds are very gusty but the boat seems to not be moving much so Mike played the guitar and I read my book. There is a bit of cloud cover which kept the temperatures in the mid-80's. Mid-afternoon showers were taken. We settled back onto the flying bridge we talked to multiple people on the dock during happy hour. Due to the winds being so strong and gusty Mike and I decided to have cold sandwiches for dinner (it would have difficult to light the grill). We needed a few more items at the grocery store so we hiked up to the market. On the way back we stopped at the House of Flavors, which is a staple here in Ludington. I had Tennessee Toffee in a cup on our way home. We did video chatting with Mom/Dad Burdo and Amanda. Mike talked to Mark and Mom/Dad Boynton. It is suppose to start storming here in Ludington around dawn tomorrow so Mike and I are all set to stay on the boat tomorrow. At this time it is looking like we may be moving to Manitowoc on Wednesday.

Three helicopters flew overhead this afternoon. We are thinking that they may have come from the

Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival.

The tug "Zeus" came into the Pere Marquette Lake this afternoon pulling a barge.

The barge "Robert F. Deegan" being pulled by the tug "Zeus".

House of Flavors is a very popular here in Ludington. Patty had a craving for ice cream so she had a 

Tennessee Toffee.

Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day 32: We have been Looping for One Month:
Miles Traveled: 403
Ports of Call: (Harrisville, Presque Isle, Rogers City, Mackinaw City, Harbor Springs, Leland, Frankfort and Ludington)
Location for the Nights: Marinas: 31 Anchorages: 0
Miles Walked:  109.7
Games of Cribbage: 23 (Mike wins: 12 (1 skunk) Patty: 11 (3 skunks)
Books Read: Mike: 2 Patty: 0

Up at 7 A.M. for coffee, nectarine, fresh cherries (bought at the farmer's market) and banana bread. We walked 3.32 miles on the Waterfront Walkway Loop. We headed back to the boat and we did some boat cleaning. I did laundry. We took a walk up to the Post Office. On our way back there was a gentleman admiring the side curtains that Mike made for our boat. We got talking to the gentleman and he and his wife are thinking about looping starting next year. He invited us to look at their boat (Mike had been admiring this boat since we arrived).  The name of the boat is "Osimo". The boat is a steel custom conversion. Mike and I both agreed that it is a beautiful boat. We talked to the husband and wife for a bit about the Loop. Mike and I headed back to our boat for happy hour. Beautiful day 87 degrees with a south breeze. We had a visit from a former colleague of Mike's Charla, her husband Scott and friend Deb who came to see us and check out the boat. We had sandwiches and corn on the cob (bought at the farmer's market). Live music this evening in the park near the marina, Young Guns from California. They were awesome they played all types of music it was a great time. 

Cool walking Loop!

"SS Badger" heading out.

"SS Badger" on its way to Manitowoc this morning.

Prop display at the beach.

"Fruits of Fishing"

Charla, Mike and I. Thanks to Charla, Deb and Scott for stopping by the boat.

This is a bit deal in Ludington. 5,000-6,000 people at this event. 

The Ludington High School Jazz Assembly started the night out.

The band the Young Guns out of California. They played all types of music from the 70's to present music. 

Mike and I had a great time. 

Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day #31: Up at 7:00 A.M. this morning for coffee, nectarine and banana bread. We went for a 3.31 mile walk. When we returned from the walk we loaded up the dinghy heading north along beach. We went to the Ludington State Park where we had our lunch. After lunch Mike and I did something that we both haven't done since were kids-we flew a kite. We want to thank Audrey, our friend from our condo association. Before Mike and I left for the Loop Audrey came to see our boat. The day that Audrey came to see us she gave us two kites as a Bon Voyage present. Audrey told us that her and her husband Gene bought their first kite in Ludington which lead them to start what is now the Frankenmuth Toy Company & Kite Kraft Store. Mike and I thought it fitting that we should fly our kite (we started with one just to make that we could do it successfully) we had an awesome time. Thanks Audrey. Mike and I then headed south of the Ludington break wall along the shore checking out the beautiful homes that are built on the sand dunes. After we returned from our 13.8 miles dinghy ride, Mike and I headed to the Ludington Farmer's Market were we bought fresh cherries and sweet corn. Then we got ready for Ludington's Friday Night Live. Ludington shuts down main street.  They have sales and live music.

Ludington red, white and purple petunias everywhere-just beautiful.

Same picture of the Ludington Light and "SS Badger" but 12 hours later.

Audrey, Patty and Mike

We did it!!!

We had so much fun!!

Oops! looks like someone had an accident.

Ludington's Friday Farmer's Market.

Friday Night Live in Ludington.

SS Badger replica at Friday Night Live. 

Thanks to Marilyn and Paul T. for getting with us while they were in Ludington on Friday night.

Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day #30: From last evening we played two games of cribbage I won the first game (skunk), Mike won the second game. Light rain overnight. We were up at 7 A.M. for grapefruit, coffee and banana bread. We got ready went up to the grocery store for a few items. What a beautiful day outside sunny with temperatures in the mid-70's. We launched the dinghy we explored Pere Marquette Lake. Next we explored the water between the break walls heading out to Lake Michigan. After the dinghy ride we headed up to the flying bridge for happy hour. At 4:45 P.M. we got ready heading downtown to the "Live in the Plaza" event with Adam Knudsen who was playing from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Adam sang and played the guitar.  He played all different types of music it was great. We stayed for 2 hours heading back to the boat. Patty started to blog and Mike playing the guitar before we headed to sunset at 9:07 P.M.

Our grocery store while we are here in Ludington.

Nice sign out on the break wall directing boats into the Municipal Marina.

Patty enjoying a free concert in the park.

Adam Knudsen 

Adam with his daughter Lucy who stole the show dancing while her Dad played music.

No sunset due to cloud bank. Beautiful photo of the Ludington Light and "SS Badger" headed to Manitowoc.

Ludington Municipal Marina in Ludington, MI

Day #29: Up at 7:00 A.M. for coffee, banana bread and grapefruit. We got ready heading for the SS Badger dock, Mike had hoped that there would be a gift shop but when we arrive the only gift shop is on the "SS Badger". We headed for the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. The museum was awesome, we even think that we enjoyed the museum in Ludington more than the one in Manitowoc. At the museum we learned that the wreck that Mike and I had taken pictures of in Frankfort was actually a wreck of the "St. Lawrence".  The "St. Lawrence" was a 239 foot wooden propeller, bound for Chicago from Ontario in November 1898, with a cargo of corn, was pushed ashore during a blinding snowstorm. One crewman lost his life during the rescue and within two weeks the ship broke up. In 2008 the wreck of the "St. Lawrence" was uncovered. After the museum we headed to the Ludington Light out on the break wall. For a small fee we climbed the light and shopped in the gift shop. Just after lunch Becky from "True North" stopped by the "Parrot Bay". Becky and her husband just finished the Great Loop and live in Ludington. Becky dropped off a bag of goodies/information to us. She offered that if we needed anything such as a ride to Meijer's or hardware to just give them a call and they would help us out. Becky was very positive about their Great Loop trip and gave us helpful information from their adventure. Mike and I had talked about going for a dinghy ride but the winds were gusting so we decided to stay on the boat for the afternoon. I happened to look out on the dock seeing a familiar face headed toward the "Parrot Bay", Craig A. one our boating friends from Bay City was walking down the dock. Craig had business in Ludington stopping to see us (Thanks to Stephanie, Craig's wife for following the blog as she knew that we were in Ludington). We had a great visit with Craig for the afternoon. After Craig left we had a little bit of additional happy hour on the flying bridge. Mike and I watched the "SS Badger" come back in from Manitowoc. Time for some blogging and relaxing. We thought that we were going to have a sunset tonight but it has clouded up, we are expecting thunderstorms overnight.

"SS Badger" heading out at 9 A.M from Ludington heading to Manitowoc.

"The Car Ferries of Ludington"

Port of Ludington Maritime Museum.

Captain Van Dyke's Ghost

One of the displays in the museum was Ship Finder.  Look at the boat that showed up on the display!

Merganser swimming in the marina.

Our gift pack from Becky from "True North".

Thanks to Craig for stopping by the Parrot Bay. Thanks Stephanie!

The "SS Badger" pivots on it's anchor when backing into the slip in Ludington.

"SS Badger" maneuvering into the slip using the anchor.