Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday, 5June2011: Douglas to Muskegon

Weather:  Sunny and warm.  Winds light S.  Seas calm.

40 miles to Muskegon, about 7hrs.  Combination motor/motor-sailing and sailing.  Engine at 2100 rpm pushes the HR around 5 kts but sips less than .5 gph.

After wetting the fishing hook with no success in Douglas, we departed around 1000.  Late sunsets allow for no hurry departures.  Departure down river was just as neat as the arrival, but being Sunday, there was much more boat traffic.  The club/pubs in Saugatuck were quiet as we passed though their music the night before was audible across the water in Douglas.

Upon arrival at Muskegon's outer breakwater, we motored through the channel and I pointed out some old stomping grounds, the Muskegon State Park on the north side, to Kelly.  Motored across Muskegon Lake to the Great Lakes Marina on the south side based on a recommendation from by brother Tim.  Slip was waiting for us upon arrival and it looked like there had not been much use at this point of the season, lots of goose poo on the dock.  I hosed the dock off.  The dogs kept the geese off the dock during our visit.

Inside the marina was hot and the dogs were not taking it well.  The benefit of being around fresh water is I could dip the dogs and not worry about salt.  I picked them up by their harnesses, placed them in the water, let them swim around on their leashes for a moment and brought them out.  Their shake off was refreshing!

Low usage was a theme throughout our trip.  Most of the marinas had plenty of transient moorage.  The boating season at this point had been cool, kids were still in school and people did not want to buy fuel.  Many of the power boaters were using their boats as cottages with grills/tables on the dock, flower boxes and name plates like "Welcome to the Smith's"

Lesson learned:  Engine at 2100 rpm pushes the HR around 5 kts but sips less than .5 gph.

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