Lake Michigan (and other random thoughts!👸🏼)

This lake is NOT a lake. It’s an enormous fresh water ocean. The waves are crazy. The winds are fierce and totally unpredictable. The locals warn to be on your toes because conditions change without notice. They are right!

Every entrance had pretty lighthouses to guide the way in.

Our first stop was Petoskey where we connected with Wayne and Jody from Chasing Eighty. They had been there while and I was super excited to catch up on with them. I had missed them. This little town was awesome. We had 4 days to explore, walk the downtown and shop, eat out. This area is known for a particular stone called Petoskey stones. Jody walked us to a rock covered beach where I found a handful of them. I now need a rock polisher to shine them up.

A pretty little chapel we walked past.

We stayed 4 day because this was a great town AND the lake was not cooperating. We didn’t mind as we explored, shopped and ate our way thru the town. The day we decided to depart the prediction looked good. We began to make our way out of the inlet and the water got choppy. Then the swells hit. They were coming right at our nose and they got bigger and bigger. We kept going knowing that as we rounded the corner and they would be at our side. I was not very excited about this but we kept going. We eventually made it to Charlavoix and into the protected lake. We hooked up to the dock and relaxed. We all looked at each other and said “Ok, what they say about this lake is true. Let’s look for the next good day before leaving.”

Before we left our friends in Petoskey, I made bracelets for everyone. I was honored to be able to do this and so happy the guys even got into it.

I am the Bead Woman!

We spent 2 days in Charlevoix and enjoyed this cute little town. There was an art show and a small downtown.

The next stop was Frankfort for an overnight. Nothing really here to here except sleep. We found a local brewery and had a beer.

The next stop was Grand Haven. This was a great stop. The town was super cute and the town did a light show every single night. We were there 3 nights and every show was different. I loved it here. It was hard to leave. It feels like we get in someplace, get familiar with it just in time to leave. I loved the boutiques and the marina was right on the town wall with people walking by, concerts every night and it was really awesome.

The light show every night was amazing!

The next town was Saugatuck. We pulled into this little inlet and it was lined with homes that were so amazing. I could tell that this little town was a wealthy town, lots of wealth here. Especially as we get closer to Chicago for the boaters to come for weekends. We stayed at a yacht club and payed more for one night then some place for a week. Obviously we stayed 1 night.

This boat was a fellow “Looper.” I loved this!!

We ate here and we learned this was a famous spot. It was good and full of old money and stories. My story just started here. Robin had been here with her mother and we reminisced about those days.

The next town we headed for was where we would leave our boat for awhile. We had some projects that needed to happen and I needed to go home. Andy had been in touch with a mechanic who would be doing the work. I had been terribly homesick and I was counting the days to flying home. We had been traveling with Robin and Ted Curtis on Curti-Sea. Robin was from this area and she needed some time home and so did I. As we pulled into the marina a fireman tribute was happening and we got a welcome spray from the firehouse.

This is Panacea on the wall as we passed. A fellow Bayliner from California.

This is our buddy boat Curti-Sea

We arrived in Saint Josephs and pulled into the marina and it was SHIT. Our boat was too big for the slip and the poles were broken and the cleats were missing. We managed to get it secured and took a deep breath. It was cheap for a reason. We had a mechanic arranged so we didn’t want to move and mess up the plans. I worried about leaving the boat here but what can we do? I also realized some marinas are good, some not! This one was NOT! We have been pretty lucky so far.

This sunset was incredible because we were getting hit by a storm. The storms in this area are incredible.

I am packing up for a little break from the boat. I am ready for a break.

I am sitting on my boat today in St. Josephs Michigan, the night before we head to Chicago for a little luxury. The sky is dark and thunder storms are passing by. We had some work started on the boat that Andy had set up. We wanted to be here to supervise step one (no one cares about your stuff like you do!). We are headed home for a boat break and celebrate our birthday at home this year.

Going home for our birthday is poignant.

I will explain:

To those who don’t know my history with Mr. Andy Scheer. We share a birthday. The same day, not the same year. We are both Virgos but born under different moons, Thank God! Virgo/Virgo combinations could be deadly. We are different Virgos, but somewhat both intense energies. It works. We care deeply, we are totally loyal, we both are total analytical, we both are dedicated to our cause.

We discovered on our first date, June 27th 1989, this rare fact and we were blown away. What are the chances? I cannot remember how it even came up. I do remember us both pulling out our driver licenses to prove it. That August, just 3 months after our first date, as our joint birthday was approaching, he suggested a weekend trip to Cabo San Lucas. To my mothers horror, we went away together and had the best time. It “sealed the deal” and just a few months into this guy I was hooked. He was my forever guy.

Today, 29 years later, I am sitting on my boat in the middle of America and I cannot help but wonder where the time went. 29 years of shared birthdays!

As I reflect on this trip I still have questions and find it hard to gather my thoughts. We have been a lot of places on this crazy journey in such a short time. I keep thinking:

How the hell did we get here?

What the hell was I thinking?

Will I ever have a home again?

Do I actually WANT a home again?

Shall we just pack a bag and travel the world untethered?

Where shall we go?

Why does everyone think we are crazy? Not everyone but A LOT of people!

I said YES to this crazy trip because frankly I felt tired of the day to day but more importantly I felt it was time for Andy to live his dream. He spent all his years working for us to make a future and he really wanted this. He was unappreciated, burnt out and because I love him with my whole heart, I said YES!! Yes to selling everything and not knowing what the future would hold or if I could handle this trip. This trip has been far from easy. It has actually pushed me beyond anything I could have imagined. I have been tested and toughened up. On land, when you don’t like a situation you can remove yourself, walk away, get in your car and drive. Here, I have had to suck it up. Face my emotions. Sometimes scream in a pillow, cry and then move on. There is no escape. There is no running away. I have been force to dig deep. I am not the same person who left my big comfortable life. I have let go of every luxury and I have found a new equilibrium.

Here is the map of just how far we have gone so far. Impressive.

NOW, home for a boat break, celebrate our birthday, but first CHICAGO!!!