Monday, June 22
We knew we had a shorter day today and were going into an anchor so there was no rush to get up and underway. Unfortunately I woke up just before six and knew I would get back to sleep. So I got up, made my coffee, strolled the dock and went on line for as much news and weather as I could find since it maybe three days before I have internet access again. The admiral finally
rolled out and made use of shore power to cook a hot breakfast of eggs and toast. The toaster runs off the inverter but not the stove.
We finally got underway about 8:30, the weather was beautiful, temperature of 61, mostly sunny and light SE winds of about 5-8 mph. We cleared the harbor and set course for Point Betsie, it took us parallel to shore but about 4 or 5 miles out. The wind was behind us on our stern quarter and the small swells add about an extra .5 mph to our speed.
It was 56 miles to our planned anchorage at South Manitou Island; Point Betsie was a little over half way. Just in shore from Point Betsie is Crystal Lake, it is less than a mile from Lake Michigan but does not have an entrance channel. Diana and I were there about ten years ago to do race officer work for the NCESA national championship.
By late morning the winds had gone almost calm and the temperature even on the water was up to 75. We went topside to pass Point Betsie. First is Frankford with a large light on their
breakwater. Next there is another large sand dune. Finally we approached Point Betsie. When we were here for the “E” regatta one of the evenings was a beach party right here about a 
quarter mile south of the light. At that time Diana got pictures of the light and did a nice oil painting of it that now hangs at home.
We rounded Point B. and headed a little farther east, South Manitou was in sight on the horizon about 20 miles ahead. As we proceeded north northeast Sleeping Bear Dunes past on the right, the picture was taken from about six miles away and does not convey the height of the dunes which I believe is close to 400 feet. The close up shows a section in which some people see a sleeping bear, thus the name, Sleeping Bear Dunes. We also passed this tug pushing a large barge, filled with either very light colored sand or possibly salt.
Soon we past the south end of the island with this large sand dune. The anchorage is in an almost circular cove closed on about 240 degrees and open to the east. Just at the south edge of the 
anchorage is the beautiful old South Manitou Lighthouse. Like so many of the old lights it is no longer in use. The entire island is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. There is a daily ferry from Leland that allows people to visit the light and walk the beaches. It was at the dock near the light when we came by the time we were anchored it was just pulling out for Leland. I thought about swimming in to the beach for a hike but one foot in the water changed that thought, the water is probably about 65.
We thought we might have the area all to our selves tonight, but as we grilled dinner three nice
sailboats came in and anchored then a 50 foot trawler. The area is large enough that we are not crowded. We had grilled mixed vegetables and shrimp. As I write this Diana is serving sherbet and putting a movie in the DVD player. For those that have an interest you might find our position on Google Earth with N 45 01.570 W 086 05.898
A near perfect day, we will hope for many more.
We knew we had a shorter day today and were going into an anchor so there was no rush to get up and underway. Unfortunately I woke up just before six and knew I would get back to sleep. So I got up, made my coffee, strolled the dock and went on line for as much news and weather as I could find since it maybe three days before I have internet access again. The admiral finally
rolled out and made use of shore power to cook a hot breakfast of eggs and toast. The toaster runs off the inverter but not the stove.We finally got underway about 8:30, the weather was beautiful, temperature of 61, mostly sunny and light SE winds of about 5-8 mph. We cleared the harbor and set course for Point Betsie, it took us parallel to shore but about 4 or 5 miles out. The wind was behind us on our stern quarter and the small swells add about an extra .5 mph to our speed.
It was 56 miles to our planned anchorage at South Manitou Island; Point Betsie was a little over half way. Just in shore from Point Betsie is Crystal Lake, it is less than a mile from Lake Michigan but does not have an entrance channel. Diana and I were there about ten years ago to do race officer work for the NCESA national championship.
By late morning the winds had gone almost calm and the temperature even on the water was up to 75. We went topside to pass Point Betsie. First is Frankford with a large light on their
breakwater. Next there is another large sand dune. Finally we approached Point Betsie. When we were here for the “E” regatta one of the evenings was a beach party right here about a 
quarter mile south of the light. At that time Diana got pictures of the light and did a nice oil painting of it that now hangs at home.We rounded Point B. and headed a little farther east, South Manitou was in sight on the horizon about 20 miles ahead. As we proceeded north northeast Sleeping Bear Dunes past on the right, the picture was taken from about six miles away and does not convey the height of the dunes which I believe is close to 400 feet. The close up shows a section in which some people see a sleeping bear, thus the name, Sleeping Bear Dunes. We also passed this tug pushing a large barge, filled with either very light colored sand or possibly salt.
Soon we past the south end of the island with this large sand dune. The anchorage is in an almost circular cove closed on about 240 degrees and open to the east. Just at the south edge of the 
anchorage is the beautiful old South Manitou Lighthouse. Like so many of the old lights it is no longer in use. The entire island is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. There is a daily ferry from Leland that allows people to visit the light and walk the beaches. It was at the dock near the light when we came by the time we were anchored it was just pulling out for Leland. I thought about swimming in to the beach for a hike but one foot in the water changed that thought, the water is probably about 65.We thought we might have the area all to our selves tonight, but as we grilled dinner three nice
sailboats came in and anchored then a 50 foot trawler. The area is large enough that we are not crowded. We had grilled mixed vegetables and shrimp. As I write this Diana is serving sherbet and putting a movie in the DVD player. For those that have an interest you might find our position on Google Earth with N 45 01.570 W 086 05.898A near perfect day, we will hope for many more.
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