Captain's Choice blog: South Haven, MI

On Monday we arrived in South Haven which has 2 municipal marinas, one on the north side and one on the south. We stayed on the south side and it was very convenient to downtown with an abudance of shops and restaurants. A major retailer, Meijer is only a mile away. We made several trips by bike to Meijer as we take 2 cooler bags with us and when they are full we check out. If it isn't all the groceries we need we go back to the boat, unload and head back there again. We get our excercise that way :).

The marina really filled up by Thursday which included at least 6 looper boats, 2 yachts (about 100 ft and 85 ft) and the marina was booked for the weekend. People walk by the marina all day on the way to and from the beach. Once again with all of the sand on this side of the lake the beaches are great and loaded with people. We've enjoyed biking, walking, dinghying, exploring the area and meeting new people. On Wednesday we visited the Michigan Maritime Museum with wonderful displays on the ship wrecks of Lake Michigan along with a room dedicated to the unexplained disappearance of Flight 2501 in Lake Michigan in 1950.

We enjoyed strolling through the Farmer's Market on Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday we strolled to the music of the Song Peddler (a bicycle with a piano attached to the front). Thursday night we enjoyed a country band in the Riverfront Park located right next to the marina with boaters Dennis and Mary Ellen.

Friday was the start of the Sea Ray Rendezvous and what a great time we had! We were very fortunate that the rendezvous dates worked with our schedule. Friday afternoon we started visiting all the Sea Ray boats and asking if they were part of the rendezvous. By 6:00 pm we had a group of about 13 that headed to the Legion to make plans for the weekend. Friday night dinner followed along with a plan for a 10 am dinghy ride or 2 pm (if rained out) down the Black River on Saturday. We woke to rain and no dinghy ride. Jeff, who coordinated the event messaged everyone that it may end up being a euchre tournament as the forecast and skies were dismal. But by 2:00 it was bright sunshine and hot, so we not only went down the river but we were able to go to the beach and jump in the water. That was followed by docktails and dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

Sunday morning was 10am cinnamon buns and coffee before everyone headed home. Funny story about the cinnamon buns...Karen from Kari Mi Aweigh had told us the one bakery would have the buns ready by 11 am. At least 3 of us went up to the bakery between 11 and 12 inquiring about the buns. Well, the baker got a late start and said they would be ready at 2pm. I told her we were going on a dinghy ride at 2 and she said she would save me a couple and I could pick them up later. While on the dinghy ride we started talking about the buns and Karen's husband called the bakery, they had 24 left so he reserved all of them. Once we headed for the beach we called and gave them a credit card and had them delivered to the boat. Well we were all anxious on Sunday morning to try the "infamous cinnamon buns"...I can tell you they did not disappoint.

We shared a lot of laughs with our new Lake Michigan Club Sea Ray friends! We hope if they ever find their way to Lake Erie they will look us up!

Sunday we left for St. Joseph, where we will stay until Tuesday morning. We again are carefully watching the weather as they are predicting strong winds later in the week. Our initial plan is Chicago on Friday and that may change.