Lake Michigan - Part 2

September 20

Great News

Terri and I received some great news this past week.  No, Micaela is NOT having #8.  But our youngest, Colton (and his wife Emily), are going to have #1! YEA!!!

Tell me that doesn't look just like Colt (after a little to much bourbon)!   Anyway, we are real excited and that was fantastic news to receive on the trip.  Congrats Colt and Emily!

Lake Michigan

I owe the state of Michigan a huge apology.  My impression of the state was largely from my business dealings in Detroit.  In general I wondered why anyone would ever choose to live here or even attempt a short visit.  I could not have been more wrong.  Take your family to the Michigan side of the lake.  You will not be disappointed.  All the towns have been quaint, fun and beautiful.  The people are outstanding and the water spectacular.

The places we have visited since I last wrote include really cool towns like Petosky, Ludington, Pentwater, Muskegon, Grand Haven and Saugatuck.  Each of these places brings a unique but upbeat flavor to it.  The water was so clear and the dunes were amazing to see.

Thistle

In Muskegon we got to attend something pretty special.  Thistle crossed her wake and turned gold.  For those not familiar, this means they have fully completed the loop and they now have the right to fly the gold looper burgee.  It took Doug and Shari two years, but they did it.

There are two traditions when someone crosses their wake.  First is changing the flag from white to gold.  The second is a toast of "tiny beers".  Tiny beers are actually not beers at all but a liquor called 43 with a topping of whipping cream.  It is served in a tiny taster glass (much less than an ounce).

Congrats Thistle!  We are targeting attending the wake crossing of Last Arrow in St. Joseph Mi in a few days.

Salmon Fishing

Who knew there were salmon in the Great Lakes?  I mean King and Coho salmon!!!  I didn't. But yes, they are not just there, but they are thriving!  What?  Why?  How?????

As the story goes:  A very invasive small saltwater fish called Alewives entered the lakes vial the Welland Canal in the late 1800s with no natural predators.  By the mid 1900s they were so ample that they a) were obliterating indigenous species like trout and bass and b) were washing up on shore during fish kills by the tons making it harmful to humans.  In 1966 salmon were introduced to the lakes to control the alewives.  They not only survived, but flourished. Today, there is a vibrant sports fishing industry around them.

So, off I went salmon fishing with some buddies.  What a hoot!  After the catch, a group of us got together for a feast.  Fresh caught salmon is AMAZING!

USS Silverside

As fun as all of this has been, there has also been a very educational / historic aspect to the trip.  Michigan pays tribute to the US military at almost every stop.  In Muskegon we visited the USS Silversides.  This is a WWII GATO class electric / diesel sub.  Fascinating.  

Next we head to the bottom of the lake where the Admiral will be exiting the boat for a short while.  First we will take a week and go see Micaela and her family and then Terri heads back to Kilmarnock/Raleigh to take care of some business.  I will be getting a substitute Admiral in the form of Jim Hauenstein!  No, I will not be snuggling with this Admiral.  He gets the "Presidential Suite" (aka, the single berth in the port hull).  I do believe I am going to ask him to write the next blog post.  Stand by for a far more articulate publication.

Until next time,

With Love,

Terri and Aubrey