Pentwater, day 2

Saturday, September 13, 2014
Stats:
Six miles:  three out, and three back to port with our tails between our legs and stuff all over the floor.

Yep, we made a run for it but it was not to be.  We should have known better when we saw that the boat ahead of us kept disappearing and reappearing down in the trough of the rollers ahead of us...  and we were still in the "protected" channel!!  As we were leaving, another, bigger boat, was entering the channel.  We thought, well, other boats are out there, it can't be tooo bad.


The weather forecast is for five to seven feet waves with occasional ten footers.  Yep, we found them.  So after a few miles we turned around (carefully, worried about taking those waves on the beam as we turned) and headed back to port, with our tails between our legs.

Once back, we tied up, went out for breakfast and met up with two other boats that are also on the Loop (and had also been "out there" for a short while).  We were all commiserating about the weather.  They were the boat we saw entering the channel as we were leaving.  They were chuckling at our foolishness.  They were much bigger than us and were wondering where the heck we were going as they watched us heading out.  They were only out for a mile or so before turning around and heading back in, so they knew what we were in for out there.

So it is another day of hurry up and wait.  And tomorrow is supposed to be the same.  We've got our fingers crossed for Monday and Tuesday. Right now they're forecasting one to three foot waves and ten to fifteen knot winds.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

Pentwater is a nice little port, with a few restaurants, shops and bars, most of which are closed up for the season.  We're pretty sure we can find one open if we put our mind to it tonight, though, and will meet some of the other loopers for cards and dinner.

We've been hearing reports that the river system is experiencing flooding and all the boats heading south are stuck and can't get past a certain point.  Apparently there no room in the marinas etc.  So we are in no hurry to get off the Lake.  At least we have lots of anchorages to choose from!  Looks like we'll be enjoying Lake Bichigan for awhile.

We anchored a short distance from town and enjoyed an evening of cards on Perfect Balance, the other, bigger boat we had encountered earlier.  They are another Canadian couple, from Hamilton, also on the loop.

Cold, wind, rain... and the chart plotter no longer works.  Apparently the chip they sold us and was supposed to have all the necessary data on it, does not.  I'm trying to figure out where I'm going using charts downloaded on the iPad.
We'll pick up a new chip in Muskegon, when we get there.  In the meantime, loving the iPad charts.  They are pretty handy!  (we have the paper ones too as well as charts downloaded on the laptop.  Lots of options.)