AUGUST 18-24 FRANKFORT TO PENTWATER

August 18 & 19: Frankfort:  Weather prediction for today is for calm seas at least in the morning so we were up and underway by 7:30 a.m. heading for Frankfort.   We had a pleasant transit to Frankfort.  This section of the Michigan coast is scattered with huge sand dunes. 

Example of the large sand dunes along the coast.

We entered Frankfort via a long seawall into a well protected harbor.

Frankfort Light.

Frankfort is yet another delightful small town.  We met an interesting older gentleman here who has been farming in the area all his life.  He regaled us with stories about the town and its history.

Not your typical multiplex theater.

Downtown Frankfort is thriving-at least in the summer.

One of the locals who visited our boat.

August 20-21:  Manistee:  Good weather is on tap today so we left early for Manistee.  Manistee began as a lumber town around 1840.  By 1896,  Manistee was one of the richest towns in America with a population of 10,000.  Today, it maintains its beautiful Victorian architecture but has fallen on hard times with many stores and restaurants shuttered.  Some of the locals that we spoke to indicated that the Casino that is located about 5 miles away has siphoned commerce away from the downtown.

Downtown Manistee with well preserved Victorian era buildings.

The town has a newly renovated municipal marina which is located along the river.

The town has also invested considerable funds in a river walk that is delightful and well maintained.  We hope that their economic developments are successful as it really is a quaint town.

August 22-24:  Pentwater:  As our travels are so weather dependent, we again took advantage of a good weather window and headed out for Pentwater.

The seawall leaving Manistee.  This one of a kind elevated wrought iron walkway was built so that the lighthouse keeper can have access when the the waves are higher than the seawall!  We were glad that we did not have to deal with waves that large today.

As the municipal marina did not respond to our call, we checked into Snug Harbor marina which is a little further up the river and very sheltered.  It turns out that this was a good choice as the municipal marina is old and does not have the greatest facilities.

Snug Harbor Marina at sunset.

Pentwater is a thriving town with a real buzz and lots of visiting fishermen to boost the local economy.

We had hoped to spend two nights at Pentwater but the weather has turned bad with strong winds and high seas so we are stuck here for at least three nights maybe three.  We will see if the weather improves tomorrow-Thursday!