A Mid-Summer's Dream

The heat continues in the Michigan north country. What a change from our Seattle-like summer of 2009! Something in between is what I asked for, but wasn't granted. Oh well, we are not suffering. Cool water and shady wood is always close to us here.

As typical of the summer months, the time flies. We have already reached the Ides of July, that lovely mid-summertime between fireworks and the dog-days. Nice.

Thanks to the hot, dry weather, we have managed to get some quality water-time in the boat. Last week, we had one of the nicest days ever...and I've had many of them in all sorts of watercraft. This cruise was between Sutton's Bay and Northport on the beautiful, deep blue waters of Grand Traverse Bay. We packed a lunch and headed north up the coast. Not a long ride at all, even at an easy pace. The water was untypically calm too, which kept my first mate happy, as she is not fond of whitecaps and rolling seas. How she got to be a first mate is unrelated to her sea worthiness I have to say. It was more like affirmative-action for those that need special consideration for their maritime advancement. That's OK.

We got to our destination and had an afternoon of swimming, picnicking and strolling the short streets of Northport. The best boat trips always have a "destination" in my opinion. Just running around the water surface making waves is not really boating, although a nice ride around the lake on calm water, just after sunset, does have it's appeal.

When it was time to return, we headed directly south, but with a short stop at the lovely, tiny port of Omena and the crystal water in New Mission Bay. You can "read" the sandy bottom in forty feet of water there and it's simply beautiful. Many small to mid-size sailboats are typically anchored there in the little sheltered cove that protects from wind and waves from practically all directions, unless it was a very sneaky southeast gale, which probably rarely causes trouble in this area.

We arrived back feeling very blessed that we can enjoy Lake Michigan and these little port-o-calls on one perfect, northern summer day. No wonder they fly by!