Great Loop Date: 09.08.2010 - Becoming Residents of Leland, MI...

Day 27 473.3 miles (today: 0 miles in 0 hours at 0 mph)

The weather has continued to give us gale force winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.  OB has been redressed in a spider web of lines and continues to rock and roll, even tonight.  We've been in Leland for 8 days now.  Our Looper friends have been here for 10 days.
 
Since more Loopers and late summer vacationers have become marooned here, we decided to move our Hurricane Happy Hour up to the Marina Lounge and invite everyone to come.  It was therapeutic for all of us.

Five out of seven Looper boats represented at Tuesday's Hurricane Happy Hour.  Left to right: Peter and Cheryl from S/V Surona, Jim and Linda from M/V Selah, Todd and Paula Sue from M/V OceanBreeze, Joan and Jerry from M/V N II Wishin and Connie and Ed from M/V Sea Estate.

Yesterday before the HHH, Todd, Ed and Jerry had removed OB's salon door. It had gotten progressively hard to open. They reworked the wheels but the bearings are shot. We are going to have to replace the wheels eventually but they are good for now. However, Todd found that he needed more good tools on board to take care of problems as they arise, which they surely will.

Today a bus from Traverse City came to the Leland Marina parking lot and picked up 5 Castaway couples.  It was a good change of venue.  Todd and I walked downtown Traverse City, had a nice lunch and took a bus out to a shopping center to go to Sears.  Todd bought a bevy of Craftsman tools that should help him with upcoming projects as they present themselves.
 
Tonight we are sitting here hoping for a good window to travel Friday and Saturday.  It looks like another storm is coming in on Sunday.  At least two of our Looper boats are considering going tomorrow in 3 to 5 foot waves.  After our problems on Labor Day, we are less willing.  Should the lake settle later in the morning, we might make a run or 6 hours or so.
 
Right now our tentative plan is to run to Ludington on Friday and Saugatuck on Saturday.  We need to get off of Lake Michigan!  From Saugatuck, we could make Chicago in one more good day.  We shall see what we shall see.  Stay tuned.