Trace our waterways adventures by clicking on each month shown under "archives" in the left panel.
Lake Michigan is roughly 307 miles long and 118 miles wide and is a wonderful cruising ground with harbors and excellent stops along both its eastern and western shores. It is also a body of water noted for unexpected strong storms, with waves sometimes topping 10-15 feet.
We are fascinated by the concept that since 1947, the state of
"Second Wind" is the name of our 34-foot PDQ power catamaran. Since we bought it in 2006, Bob and I have found "Second Wind" to be a comfortable, innovative, well-thought-out boat – perfect for carrying us on our Great Loop adventure and beyond. Cruising America’s Great Loop meant traveling the entire eastern portion of the United States and Canada on a continuous route of inland rivers, the Intercoastal Waterway, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes. The 6,000-plus mile trip usually requires from six months to several years to complete. It took us nearly a year. When we eventually “crossed our wake” on the Tennessee River, we had experienced the thrills of crossing large, open waterways like the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay, New York Harbor, and Lake Michigan; narrow, winding rivers; and a varied system of locks and canals. We had seen amazing cities and towns from a unique waterfront perspective, and we had relished the solace of quiet anchorages, miles from civilization. After our Great Loop adventure was completed in 2007, we have continued our cruising adventures. This journal is our way of sharing the fun.
