Good morning!!  We really enjoyed watching the SSBadger come into port.  However, it is time to move on down the Lake Michigan coastline as the weather looks promising.  Cloudy but no rain.  We expect 1-2foot seas and low wind.  A great RWW day! (rain, wind, wave)

I saw SS Badger all lit up and getting ready to head out of port at 8:45am.  We are leaving just ahead of it.  I don’t know when the SS Badger returned last night.  We were in bed early.  This morning, like magic, it was back in Ludington ready for the next trip over Lake Michigan.  Pretty exciting, I tell you!

8 am going by the SS Badger on our way out of the marina

Leaving the Ludington Municipal Marina

Water looks perfect!  Very little wave action as seen in this photo.

Sun peaking through the clouds at sunrise

Muskegon is home to a the USS Silverslide Submarine that is now a museum.  Here it is from the harbor entrance as we pass by.  We didn’t do the tour.  We arrived too late in the day.

USS Silversides

USCG McLane

As we entered Muskegon Lake, we saw a couple of large ships across the water.  We assume they are the ferries.  Too far to tell even with the binoculars.

Across Muskegon Lake

We stayed at the Harbour Town Marina right inside the lake entrance.  We wanted an easy in and out for the next day’s travel.  Harbour Town Marina only has a few transient slips.  Only one person was at the marina to help with lines, pump fuel, and any other duties that might crop up.  When we arrived we had a slip number and was able to find it.  Our beam is 16 feet across without the fenders hanging down.  I pulled up all the fenders and we squeezed into the slip with inches to spare.  A fellow Looper came down to help us with our lines.  Squeezed, I tell you!!  I should have taken a picture but I was running around getting things organized for docking.

Wayne found out in short order that the power pedestal had a broken 50amp receptacle.  We had to untie and start all over again.  This time, we were given permission to go the the T-head on the adjoining dock and park overnight.  The crew from SeaHorse helped get our lines.  We really do appreciate all the help we can get.  Good practice going in and out of slips, right?!

Other than the submarine museum and a restaurant, there is not much else around the marina.  My walkabout was short but I did find some interesting things to share.  Like the parking lot full of gulls.  I saw a man in this red truck throw something out to a few of them.  Only a few of the gulls actually responded.  The rest just stood there.

Gulls hanging out

I walked down to a small beach area near the edge of the lake.  I saw the Coastal Cruiser drive by.  For size difference, see the small fishing boat in front of it?  Nice boat!

Coastal Cruiser driving by

Something finally startled the gulls!  Certainly not me or the other humans walking about.

Gulls in flight

As I was walking back to the boat, I saw several tall plants.  They were about 3 feet tall with strange looking pods of them.  I did touch one of the pods.  I just had to know was it soft or hard.  Soft.  I don’t know what they are.  Do you?

Plant leaves and Pods

Plant and pods

They look too small for the “Invasion of the body snatcher” pods.  I wonder if I will be able to fall asleep tonight?!

We went out to dinner at the Dockers Restaurant with two Loopers crews.  SeaHorse and Penny Pinchin.  A fine time was had by all!!  No sunset picture as a result of good times, good food and drink, and great Looper stories.