The Chippewa Indian word for large lake is "Michigama". This word is the basis for the name given today to Lake Michigan.
With a maximum depth of 923 feet, Lake Michigan is the third largest and second deepest of the five Great Lakes, with Lake Superior being the largest and deepest.
Lake Michigan is 307 miles long, 118 miles wide, has 1,640 miles of shoreline, and is oriented on a north-south axis.
The waters of Lake Michigan are bordered by Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
There are only two ways for a large vessel to enter and depart Lake Michigan; from the east via the Straits of Mackinaw and Lake Huron near the north end of the lake or from the south end of the lake via the Illinois River and its two canals in Chicago. We enter from the north and will exit to the south.
The predominant winds on Lake Michigan are from the southwest. If the wind is blowing from the northwest you STAY in port. And, the eastern shore is very sandy once you get to Frankfort.
There are safe harbors about every 20 miles or so, except for the northeast shore from the Mackinaw Point to Harbor Springs (50 miles) and Leland to Frankfort (40 miles).
The series of "harbors of refuge" are maintained by the state of Michigan as well as many marinas. You make your reservations on line with the DNR.
Michigan has more registered pleasure craft than any other state in the US except Florida.
Beautiful sunrise
Last look at Mackinaw City
Ride to Holland MI....Fund raiser for Lead Dogs for the Blind
Great place to visit
The most prominent landmark on Lake Michigan is the Mackinac Bridge, spanning the Strait of Mackinac (pronounced Mack-i-naw). It is 4 miles long and 135 feet high. This is the point that separates Lake Michigan from Lake Huron.
Today we follow a course from the Mackinac Bridge steering 273 degrees for 20 1/4 miles to the White Shoal Light. You have to swing wide of Waugoshance Point.
Lots of shoals and shallow water Captain
Oh my....we are on Lake Michigan...where is the western shoreline
White Shoal Light
Then we change our course and steer 186 degrees heading south
through the Gray's Reef Passage
Gray's Reef Light
From the passage you run due south passing well to the east of both the Ile aux Galets and Dahlia Shoal.
We stay one mile off shore because of the floating fish net markers
Just like crab pots
More homes on eastern shoreline as we approach Little Traverse Bay
Open water to the Western shoreline
Zebra Mussels keep Lake Michigan a marine green
Follow John and Terry on Lucky Us into Petoskey Marina
Swimming off the Breakwall
Fuel Dock is our first stop
We will be at the Petoskey Marina until Monday......Understand this is a great little town to visit.....maybe rent a car and visit Harbor Springs and Charlevoix.....These are two areas we could not find a spot to hang our hat......busy, busy, busy because they are so neat, neat, neat......Harbor Springs does not take reservations and Charlevoix is having their annual Arts and Crafts Fair and they are full....
Again you need a reservation in advance.....hard to do on a boat when you have to consider the weather....
Day One on Lake Michigan went well.....we have cruised 880 miles this season....making it a total of 4880 miles on The Great American Loop.
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