Aboard Sauvy B: Wisconsin

Thursday, August 30, 2018

We are up before dawn, a rare event, getting an early start to cross Lake Michigan. The storms are finally past us and we want to cruise nearly 80 miles across the lake before the wind picks up again. Looking back east, behind us, we get a lovely view of the sunrise.

Sunrise over Leland MI

Soon we pass offshore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, the impressive cliffs along the shore of Lake Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore MI

After an uneventful 7+ hours, we enter Sturgeon Bay Canal.

Sturgeon Bay Canal WI

After a few more miles, we are tied up at Centerpointe Marina in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. This is a very nice, upscale marina and condo development and will be a great spot to wait for predicted high winds to subside.

Centerpointe Marina, Sturgeon Bay WI

Friday, August 31 – Saturday, September 1, 2018

We enjoy riding bikes around this charming small town and have time to run errands – groceries, local hardware store, etc. I find a wonderful farmers market, at last! Seems like we keep arriving in these towns on the wrong day. Apple season is just beginning and I stock up on some delicious local varieties. This area is known for raising cut flowers and I score a gorgeous bouquet of sunflowers and dahlias; would love to have seen their growing fields! We are also finding lots of good sausages and, of course, cheese – not just basic cheddar but many excellent locally made types.

On Saturday, we play host to friends and former neighbors from Port Aransas, Scott & Lynne. What fun to see them and get caught up on Port Aransas’ painfully slow recovery from Hurricane Harvey! They have a summer home somewhat nearby and have driven over to see us for the afternoon – much appreciated!

Scott & Lynne, Sturgeon Bay WI

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Winds are calm again, so we make a 60-mile run to Manitowoc WI. Six + hours and we arrive at Manitowoc Marina.

Manitowoc Marina WI

We are staying just 1 night here, so we quickly walk to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, a couple of blocks away. This museum has been highly recommended and it does not disappoint! Exhibits are very well done.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc WI

Located on the shore of the Manitowoc River, the museum’s prized exhibit is WWII sub USS Cobia.

USS Cobia

Our guided tour of the sub was conducted by a new and very eager docent. The young man was a history major and full of interesting tidbits. This view of the torpedo bays is representative of the close quarters on board.

Torpedo room, USS Cobia

Monday, September 3, 2018

Labor Day! We awake to light fog that is predicted to clear, so off we go to Port Washington WI. Unfortunately we spend the entire 6 hours traveling 55 miles through dense fog! En route we have numerous hitchhikers, grateful for a ride and shelter from such limited visibility.

Hitchhiker, Lake Michigan

Once tied up at the city marina, we walk the almost deserted streets of this small town. Most businesses are closed for the holiday, but catalog merchant Duluth Trading Company has a waterfront store that we can visit.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

The weather pattern changed abruptly the last week in August and we are experiencing frequent delays due to windy, stormy weather. Guess fall has come early to the Great Lakes! We are starting to skip some of our planned stops and move as far as possible when we do get good weather. Seems like we will never get to Chicago and off these huge lakes! Today dawns foggy again, but we are determined to move as far south as Racine before more weather and high winds set in.

Foggy morning, Port Washington WI

Thankfully the fog lifts and we get a great view of the Milwaukee skyline as we pass by just offshore. We had planned to stop here but will go on to Racine instead, putting us just one day from Chicago.

Milwaukee WI from Lake Michigan

We tie up at Reefpoint Marina, a very nice city facility near downtown Racine.

Reefpoint Marina, Racine WI

Wednesday, September 5 – Monday, September 10, 2018

And here we sit! One full week, waiting on … you guessed it … windy weather! Lake Michigan seas have been 6’ – 15’ for a week. Not fair! We are so very ready to move south into the rivers and away from the rough seas keeping us in port.

With time to kill, we rent a car to run errands and explore the area. Racine is still a company town – home of SC Johnson Company (the household products giant). The family provides generous support to area museums with a very interesting contemporary art museum in nearby downtown

Johnson heirs own Johnson Outdoors, a conglomerate of numerous well-known manufacturers of sporting goods, such as Scuba Pro (dive equipment), Old Town (canoes), Ocean Kayak (kayaks), Humminbird (sonar), Minn Kota (trolling motors), Eureka! (camping equipment), and others. We bike around the downtown area and stop to visit their only retail store for a little shopping. Their unique store is more museum than retail, featuring their family collection of noteworthy examples of their brands. We bike around the downtown area and stop to visit their only retail store for a little shopping.

Johnson family businesses

We also meet several loopers here, who are stuck like we are waiting for calmer wind, and enjoy docktails on their boats. Storm clouds on the horizon mean our inclement weather is not over yet.