Saying Goodbye to Michigan

Sunday (Aug. 3) and Monday (Aug. 4) gave us two more incredibly calm cruising days on Lake Michigan. After harbor fog lifted around 8 a.m. on Sunday we left for our fifty-nine mile cruise from Muskegon to the resort town of South Haven. Other than clusters of fishing boats near the various coastal towns along the way, we didn't encounter much boat traffic--until we got to our destination. The beautiful day--finally a taste of true summer--brought out the local boaters in droves.

We had a front row seat to the "boat parade" in the
inlet--including a tall ship

We really liked this stop. The municipal marina was not far down the inlet from Lake Michigan, and it was an easy walk both to the very busy beach and to the very busy (and cute and quaint and clean) downtown for an early dinner at the Black River Tavern and later on for ice cream. The approach of sunset saw a stream of pedestrians walking to the breakwater to watch the event.

Lots of swimmers and
 sunbathers in South Haven

Sunset approaches in South Haven Harbor. We couldn't
see the sun set from the boat, but we still
had a beautiful view

Pat in downtown South Haven

Ice cream in South Haven.
The place was packed; it took
20 minutes for us to get through the line

South Haven was our last stop in Michigan. Fifty-seven miles on Monday took us to Michigan City, Indiana, on the south shore of Lake Michigan about 50 miles east of Chicago. Pullman railway cars were manufactured here years ago. Today it's better known as a resort town adjacent to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and for its beaches, premium outlet mall, and the largest riverboat casino in Indiana. Oh, yes, it's also the home of a different kind of all-inclusive "resort"--the maximum security Indiana State Prison.(John Dillinger was a former inmate.) Apparently a revitalization program is going on downtown, but it was rather quiet.

Formerly the Barker Mansion, now the
Barker Civic Center 

A quiet Tuesday morning
 in Michigan City

Historic lighthouse c. 1858 and adjacent park

The beach at Washington Park

We took a break here Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 5 & 6) to relax as well as catch up on some chores. This afternoon we cycled a few miles west to the start of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. We had hoped to visit Mount Baldy, a "living" sand dune, over 120 feet high, that is moving south at the rate of 4-5 feet per year. It used to be open for hikes to the summit, but it was closed to the public last year after a young boy fell 11 feet into a hole that opened up in the dune. Scientists are still trying to figure out what caused that hole as well as a few others that have been discovered. We continued on to Central Beach for a quick look at the dunes lining the shore. It was a beautiful sandy beach and the dunes provided a picturesque backdrop. The only jarring note in the panorama, quite a significant one, was the Michigan City Generating Station.

Lon at the entry point to Central Beach

Central Beach-lovely dunes, lovely sand,
lovely water. Not-so-lovely
coal-powered generating station in the distance

The reward for the bicycling

Zipper was provided some entertainment this morning when our boat became a "swallow magnet". We had birds lining the starboard rail and hopping on the front window.

Swallows on the railing

Zipper wasn't quite sure what to make of the
bird on the front window

Tomorrow will be our final leg on Lake Michigan as we enter into the interior river system via the Cal-Sag Channel just south of Chicago.