Our Great Loop Adventure

On Thursday, July 17 we left our beautiful anchorage in Oyster Bay and made our way back to Round Lake in Charlevoix and then into Lake Michigan. As we made our way to Grand Traverse Bay, we encountered a rain squall, which was not long lasting. Today we docked in Northport. The sailboat Summerlea came in behind us. We met them last February and the Great Lakes Crusing Club Rendezvous in Punta Gorda, Florida. We into downtown Northport and of course found a coffee shop. On Wednesday, we went farther south to Suttons Bay. Here we anchored and took our dinghy into town. They had a dinghy dock which is very convenient. Suttons Bay is a lovely village. They did not have a coffee shop but they did have a gelato store. (Mmmm!) From Suttons Bay on Thursday, August 1st, we journeyed out of Grand Traverse Bay back into Lake Michigan. The lake was "lumpy," but we still enjoyed the beautiful coastline and we got our first look at sand dunes. We docked in Leland. There were two other boats here doing the loop. We met the owners of Erben Renewal anchored at Beaver Island. There were also two other boats that had completed the loop and were proudly displaying their gold loop burgees. Leland is wonderful little village. Fishing used to be its main industry, but now only one fish market remains and the town has other types of stores and shops which are for people who visit the marina and come by car. The marina is an attraction for Leland visitors and there is a constant flow of people walking the docks to look at the boats. At the fish market we purchased some fresh trout as well as fish pate. After supper a couple from Indiana stopped by wanting to know how we prepared for our trip. We also invited them onto the boat for a tour. Today, we were supposed to leave for Frankfurt, but some rain squalls came through and we decided to stay another day. Oh yes, I found a coffee shop.