We left Holland on Thursday 8/30 because it was covered with spiders. Spiders everywhere. Kermit used half a bottle of Home Defense just to clear out the electrical outlets on the dock. He had to spray twice before we could plug in. We were afraid that the big ones would haul Rusty away. So after a great evening with Diana and Ron, we left Holland. It was gorgeous. One of those perfect departures early in the morning, before the spiders woke up. Little did we know what was in store.
The instant we left the harbor and turned south we knew something was up. The weather forecasts did not predict the rollers we started getting. We had another one of those trips where the back furniture piled up on one side or another as we took 3+ foot waves off the front quarter plus bigger rogue waves with unpredictable timing. As we started to feel the wave action outside the entrance to the harbor we saw another boat leaving. We radioed him about the conditions but he said it was no big deal. We are such weenies. We put Rusty's life jacket on and ours on to and kept going. We didn't want to be babies about it. After an hour of this tossing and turning, Kermit said that's it. We are done. What is the next port?
Our target had been South Haven MI for Labor Day weekend. We wanted to be closer to the bottom of Lake Michigan so we could have a shorter journey to Chicago after Labor Day. We even made a reservation since it was a holiday weekend but we could not make another 2 hours of this. I checked the charts and compared our latitude and saw we were just opposite Saugatuck. So it was Saugatuck for the Labor Day weekend! Sometimes that is how it happens.
These pictures show the entrance to the Kalamazoo Bay in Saugatuck Douglas MI. It is kind of rustic but don't be deceived. There are some big money homes up there in those hills. These are the rich folks from Chicago who don't want to head all the way up to Charlevois or Harbor Springs.
You can see Good Karma reflected in the windows of this big house.
This is the bay upriver. The Tower Marina is in the center background. You can see how big it is - it takes up an entire corner of the bay. This view is of the Douglas side of the river. 
This is a bad picture of the Chain Ferry - there is actually a chain strung across the river and the little ferry that goes between the two sides tightens the ferry as its method of propelling itself across the river. Kermit got very uncomfortable when we figured this out.
We stayed at Tower Marina in Douglas, across the little bay from Saugatuck itself. It is not a big bay so we it was very close to the action. This was our first big marina very similar to our home port of Venetian Marina except much prettier landscaping. But the people are the same - lots of fun, very friendly, and lots and lots of alcohol. We pulled into the marina area and started down the "fairway", Michigan speak for channel, to our dock assignment. Kim met us at the dock and shouted we could have this one or one across the channel. Well, behind Kim was a patio of dock sitters just like home! We knew this was the spot so we pulled in. We were not disappointed.
More spiders though. Even bigger than the spiders at Holland. The lady across the way was out with her sprayer of Home Defense when we landed just spraying up a storm. She got the spiders under control but no one told us about the mosquitoes that could haul one of us away. I am covered with bites. I am taking allergy medicine by the handful to stop the itching. The locals seem to be immune because they were not complaining and did not appear to have red welts like I do.
Tower Marina is probably as big as Venetian Marina but everything about it is nicer than Venetian. They have a nice club house, lots and lots of gas grills available on each dock, and patios at the middle of each dock for congregating together. These folks sure know how to party too. They would fit right in with our Venetian friends! Unfortunately the pictures I took did not turn out so we will have to wait for Kermit's pictures to download. I will edit this post to include Kermit's pictures. It is a very pretty marina.
They even have barge parties here. We didn't go because we couldn't fit 4 people in the dinghy. But I suspect their party wasn't as big as the Sandusky Bay barge parties. They said they had about 100 boats and dinghies and we know there are more than that at the parties in Sandusky. But the atmosphere and attitude is the same! This is a picture of the bay where the barge party was held. Notice a few boats still anchored on the left side of the bay.
This is Allen, the marina mascot. He is not very nice but he is bossy.
One reason we wanted to get settled in for the weekend somewhere is Hurricane Isaac was scheduled to hit Lake Michigan on the weekend. It did. But remember when hurricanes hit the Great Lakes they generally don't bring rain, just amazing cloud formations. This was taken on Friday afternoon.
We rode our bikes out to Oval Beach, about a mile away from the marina. I swear it was uphill both ways! Kermit was the only one who went all the way in the water. I tried but it was a little chilly so I chickened out and sat down. We sat on the beach reading for about half an hour until the bugs drove us away. Then we ate our bag lunch at a nice picnic table away from the bugs before riding back home.
Everyone said Saugatuck would be very crowded but we did not find it so. The marina had open spaces. The shops and restaurants weren't that crowded. We found parking wherever and whenever we wanted. I think it was unusual, probably related to kids going back to school.
Saugatuck is famous for art, theatres, and fine living. We took advantage of this by seeing a play on Friday night - Boeing, Boeing - based on a French play about a guy dating 3 girls at the same time without their knowledge and the fun that ensues when the girls figure it out. It was fun! Nice to laugh with friends. I really enjoyed the art center before the play and at intermission. The artist, Ken Carls, uses words and cartoons to tell his story. Here is one I really liked. It is called, "Michigan Haiku: We've done all we can, To coax the spring from hiding, Still, it hesitates." Isn't that wonderful?
While walking through the town we found a store with lamps designed for resort living. Found a lamp for the dining table!! This increases the light to livable level at night. I hope Char approves!
Marissa says I need to lose the hat. I think she is a poop head. 
The friendly folks on our Tower Marina dock introduced us to Charley and Mary on Bama Belle, from Mobile Alabama. We met up with them on Monday morning and mosey'd on down to St. Joseph MI. Interesting fight with flies on the trip down to St. Joseph on Monday (Labor Day). We probably killed HUNDREDS of flies. We broke our fly swatter!! Blood and guts everywhere!!! I am not sure why but they stayed with us even when we sped up to try to outrun them. After we arrived in St. Joe Kermit had to wash the boat with a scrub brush to get rid of the carcasses. Pretty funny.
Rusty update: Rusty did not enjoy the fly incident. He sat there on the steps and kept his head in his paws watching the two of us swatting flies, flinching every time we inadvertently swatted him. But the flies were all over him!
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