Good Morning!!  A beautiful Sunday Morning to you!  I have to check the calendar to be sure what day of the week it is.  We just go by RWW, ourselves.  Maybe a check of the old wrist watch for time.  Otherwise, it is sunrise, noon ( hot ), and sunset.  Pretty much marks our day.  Okay, we do have Ice-cream time also.  Can’t forget that.

Patchy fog forecasted.  About 58°F to start our day.  Good enough for us!  We are expecting smooth water.  Fingers crossed!!

Early Fishermen trying to catch a few

We clouds are still hanging over our heads, but no rain.  The fishermen were out in abundance trying to catch a few fish.  As I watched out the back door of the boat, I watched only 1 fisherman catch 3 fish within 15 minutes.  I didn’t see any of the half dozen boats pull anything in.  Maybe they were all fishing for different fish?

Sun peeking through the clouds in Frankfort, MI

Leaving Jacobson Marina, Frankfort, MI

Today’s adventure will be taking us down the coast of Lake Michigan another 50 miles.  We are making progress and we are excited.

Frankfort, MI to Ludington, MI

The Lighthouse on our port as we exit the Frankfort Harbor entrance.  It is still early and a bit misty/fog.  Not really misty wet and not really dense fog.  A bit in the middle. 😉 

We had flat water all day!  Almost boringly flat.  I was able to stand, scamper downstairs to the galley, fix scrambled eggs, and muffins for breakfast.   I didn’t have to grab onto something to keep from falling.  What a delightful time.

Beach view along to Michigan coast early afternoon

Before we knew it, we were in Ludington, MI.  As we turned into the Ludington Harbor entrance we waved at the group of folks sitting near the lighthouse.  They waved and a couple pumped their arms asking us to toot our horn.  Wayne did!  They clapped and waved and again.  We laughed.  We figured that meant we were in for a treat in Ludington!

Light House Folks waving and cheering

The Ludington Municipal Marina is the first marina as you enter the Pere Marquette River.  There are picnic tables and picnic pavilion right along the waterway.  I noticed the pavilion had a unique added structure.  Wind curtains to allow the view without the wind.  There was a sign above to “Please roll up the Curtains before you leave.”  I think that is a great idea.

Wind curtain at the picnic pavilion

Of course there is no fishing off the Fishing Charter Dock!!

At the nearby park there are several bronze statues that commemorate something special about the area.   They have a plaque also next to each statue to let you know more about the artwork.  Very nice.

Grandpa teaching his grandson how to fish

This horse drawn wagon commemorates the lumber industry that was so prominent in the early days of this area.  All the statues were beautiful.  No pigeon poop on any of them!

I looked out toward the channel and saw something big coming in.  It looks gigantic!!

It is the SS Badger.  A car ferry that goes from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI at least 2 times a day.  The ferry had a police escort to help clear out all the fishing boats from the basin.   The SS Badger than dropped it’s starboard anchor.  I could hear, but not see, the anchor drop.  Then the boat pivoted on the anchor and swung around.  Thus, the need to clear the area.  It is over 400 feet long.  The SS Badger was designated on the Register of Historical Places in 2009.  It was built in 1952 and is the only coal fired steam ship in America.  Very cool to see the boat maneuver so easily.  After it spun around, it backed up into it’s slip as if it were a mere 30 foot boat.  Very graceful!

As the Badger spun around, I could see the top decks were loaded with people.  The bottom deck had trucks and cars.  And people.  You can barely see a semi-truck or two in the lower bay.  For more information you can go to:  SSBadger.com

A quick walk about after dinner I saw some murals.  Looks like the place where there are concerts and big parties!!

The garden shop is ready to close down for the season.  After labor day, many of the stores in these coastal towns start closing up shop.  You could get some of these Fairy figurines for stocking stuffers.  See….Christmas is coming!!

Fairy Garden display

As the SS Badger leaves Ludington for the night, I heard the nearby Coast Guard Station playing taps as they lowered their flag.  Then a man standing on the back of the Badger was playing bagpipes as the boat went by.  I could hear the bagpipes long after I could see the boat as it exited the harbor.

SS Badger leaving again at 8:15pm