Day 47 - Lake Macatawa to South Haven - August 22, 2011

We travelled 25.4 miles south today to South Haven and got a dock at South Haven Municipal Marina No. 2.  There are actually three different locations along the river that are all South Haven Municipal Marinas.  We stayed at the one on the south side of the river that is for transient boaters only (no seasonal slips are available).  If it is blowing hard out of the west, this location can get a bit uncomfortable as the waves roll down the channel and rock the boats; fortunately we didn’t have any issues.  Marina No. 2 is on the side of the river where the main shopping in South Haven is located so it is convenient if you want to check out the restaurants and shops.

We took a dinghy ride up the river and checked out the many places to keep your boat in South Haven.  There are more options than you can imagine with marinas, yacht clubs, condo docks and private docks for all types and sizes of boats.  You can definitely tell the difference between cruising “up north” in Michigan and cruising in southern Michigan.  The towns “up north” seem quiet and peaceful compared to what you find once you are south of Muskegon.

We have been following the Loop blog for a couple we met in Alabama last fall.  One of the things they keep track of for each day is miles, bridges and locks. Fred likes this tally, so we will begin putting this information at the end of each day’s blog.

            Miles: 25.4      Bridges: 0        Locks: 0

South Haven channel as we approach in Boreas

the view out the South Haven channel from the dinghy

the Tall Ship "Friends Good Will" that sails out of
South Haven

the Tall Ship "Friends Good Will"

securing a sail near the top of the mast (you can
see these two working in both of the other pictures as well)