Charlevoix to Frankfort

We left the beautiful Mackinac Island on Tuesday the 14th for Charlevoix at 8:00AM.  We crossed over to Mackinaw City to fuel up and to get a pump out.  Get day to cruise.  The seas were 1 to 2 feet and blue sky's.  Don cruises at about 10.8  to 11 mph.  We had a good day on Lake Michigan and arrived in Charlevoix at 4:00PM.  We stayed at the Municipal Marina downtown.  Great marina and very friendly staff.  We were on the end of "B" Dock and all down the docks we saw many more Lopper's.  Went for a bike ride that nite, nice town.  Had dinner at Whitney's Oyster Bar and had a great whitefish and walleye dinner. 

Next morning the 15th, we got a ride to the plaza to buy our Verizon MIFI and then walked to the Kmart plaza to the AT&T store to buy our SIM chip for my phone.  We decided to walk back by the water.  It was a beautiful day for a long walk back to the boat.  We met Jerry and Janet Guyer on the Wind Song and had "5 o'clock cocktails" on their boat. It is so nice to talk to other people that are doing the same dream we are. Had dinner on the boat that nite.  Don's favorite pasta with meatballs and a salad and bruschetta bread and of course wine....When for a walk and then called it a nite. 

The next day the 16th, there was a market downtown at the Marina.  Just great.  They were also having sidewalk days at the stores this weekend and had some great buys.  Went for a long bike ride back to Kmart and to see some of the Earl Young homes.  They are so amazing.  On the way into the Marina I fell off my Bike and hit my head on the lamp pole.  What a headache I had !!!!  Had "5 o'clock cocktails" on our boat and invited Jerry and Janet. So many great stories they have.  Did not feel like going out so made souvaliki and rice for dinner.  Better than going out...

On Friday the 17th the weather was suppose to be better so Don decided to leave.  We left the dock at 10:00AM and were gone about 30 minutes and decided to turn back.  The wind was coming out of the south at 15 to 20 knots and waves were 4+ feet coming right at our bow.  Not a fun ride....  After we got back at the Marina we went for a walk and had a nice lunch at the Weathervane and sat outside.  Nice restaurant and tried some good local beer, Bell's Oberon for Don and North Peak Siren for me.  Later we met Joe and Tara Parker and Lit Bits on the Seabatical.  We invited them and Jerry and Janet for "5 o'clock" cocktails and munchies on our boat.  Tara showed me how to do "The Bitch Wings", so funny!!!! Again one of the things that all of us agreed on was that meets other lopper's and their stories was a great part of the journey.  That nite we had a lite dinner at The Villager Pub and had walleye and cod fish and chips.  To die for....  Then back to the boat, one nite cap and bed....

On Saturday the 19th we just stayed around the downtown area.  Made a great blueberry pancake breakfast with Canadian bacon, yummy...  Everyone was going to leave the next day.  The weather was calling for calm seas and wind lite from the north and west.  Left Charlevoix at 8:30 on Sunday the 19th and had a smooth cruise.  Don's 69th Birthday.....  The marina was starting to look empty , what with all the boats leaving trying to make up for lost time....  Arrived in Frankfort at approx. 3:00PM.  Small clean Marina.  Many Lopper's there.  Picked up some parcels that we had sent there.  Don talked to some of the Lopper's and they invited us to a group "5 o'clock cocktail" get-together.  We met Mike and Kathy McMahon on the Queen Kathleen, Carl and Ricki Guthrie on Quest, Ron and Lynne Taylor on Northern Spirit, Joe and Edie on Seaquel and Jerry and Janet on WindSong.  Everyone brought a little something.  It was so much fun.  Went up the road for dinner and then back for a nite cap....  Head still hurting so I went to bed....

Municipal Marina in Charlevoix