mncruiser
Senior Member
Like BDofMSP, many things I’ve meant to post to pay y’all back for your many wonderful posts over the years. Here’s a short one. Hope you enjoy!
A little setup, purchased our Mainship 390 in April, moved it from Charlevoix, Michigan to Bayfield, Wisconsin (Lake Superior) via water. This is one of our first real outings with the boat and the kids, post-delivery.
We arrived at the boat Thursday afternoon, and this is really trip #2 for us as a family. To say we are still learning is nice. We’re a bit of a mess! I had forgotten to get a pump out, and with 3 aggressive flushers and an iffy tank monitor, that was a must. Left the dock without incident, didn’t even touch the nice big dock wheel the marina installed for me on the “crushing corner” of our slip. I’m sure I’ll be caressing Mr. Dockwheel during a windy day real soon. Glad it’s there.
After heading out in calm to nothing, we made the decision to head to Stockton Island, one of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. You can read more about the area here: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm but ssssh! It’s mostly quiet here. Only tell the people you like!
We made it to Stockton, and to my delight found some dock space. Pulled in where the tour boats normally do, but they aren’t running this year. Here we are all set at the dock. I was surprised, it was not crowded at all! Here we are at the dock:
A quick hike to Julian Bay to explore. They can’t wait to go back tomorrow!
The next morning the kids got up, and ate on the rocks next to the dock. This seems like a simple thing, but these are the same rocks I ate breakfast on when I was here at around 11 years old. We’d been talking about all of this for years…and this was a super awesome moment for me when all it came together. This is why we got the boat…all the work to purchase, make ready and get here. Experiences for us as a family are why we boat! The famous rocks-
Then off for a dinghy ride -
Then hike back to Julian Bay to walk on the “singing sands” (the sands sing when you walk on them, one of 10 places in the world like this) and swim in the somewhat warm water. It was not bad!
Sunset on the fly bridge is an awesome place to be! -
Also, we have 2 new Junior Rangers on staff here on the island. They earned their badges from Maintenance Ranger John!
Saturday we decided after 2 days of roughing it, to head to Madeline Island. We had hiked the heck out of the kids several times this trip. Some of that went well…some of it did not. Adjustments for all.
Ice cream, then pizza at Grandpa Tony’s rooftop. Everyone forgot about the bugs and hot hikes. Ice cream, beer and pizza can fix a lot!
Then a visit to the famous art car outside Tom’s Burned Down Cafe.
Then back to the boat for games and more sunset on the fly bridge, and everyone is starting to appreciate The Jerry Garcia Band that I play so much! 9 year old’s favorite is “Cats under the stars”! It’s a catchy one
We woke Sunday to some light rain, decided to take off back for the mainland. Man do I love my lower helm for times like this!
An awesome 4 day real trip for us. Again, a reminder to me why I do this. For the time together, and make new memories like my dad did for me here so long ago!
If you haven’t been up here…..find a way! An awesome place on this earth!
A little setup, purchased our Mainship 390 in April, moved it from Charlevoix, Michigan to Bayfield, Wisconsin (Lake Superior) via water. This is one of our first real outings with the boat and the kids, post-delivery.
We arrived at the boat Thursday afternoon, and this is really trip #2 for us as a family. To say we are still learning is nice. We’re a bit of a mess! I had forgotten to get a pump out, and with 3 aggressive flushers and an iffy tank monitor, that was a must. Left the dock without incident, didn’t even touch the nice big dock wheel the marina installed for me on the “crushing corner” of our slip. I’m sure I’ll be caressing Mr. Dockwheel during a windy day real soon. Glad it’s there.
After heading out in calm to nothing, we made the decision to head to Stockton Island, one of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. You can read more about the area here: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm but ssssh! It’s mostly quiet here. Only tell the people you like!
We made it to Stockton, and to my delight found some dock space. Pulled in where the tour boats normally do, but they aren’t running this year. Here we are all set at the dock. I was surprised, it was not crowded at all! Here we are at the dock:
A quick hike to Julian Bay to explore. They can’t wait to go back tomorrow!
The next morning the kids got up, and ate on the rocks next to the dock. This seems like a simple thing, but these are the same rocks I ate breakfast on when I was here at around 11 years old. We’d been talking about all of this for years…and this was a super awesome moment for me when all it came together. This is why we got the boat…all the work to purchase, make ready and get here. Experiences for us as a family are why we boat! The famous rocks-
Then off for a dinghy ride -
Then hike back to Julian Bay to walk on the “singing sands” (the sands sing when you walk on them, one of 10 places in the world like this) and swim in the somewhat warm water. It was not bad!
Sunset on the fly bridge is an awesome place to be! -
Also, we have 2 new Junior Rangers on staff here on the island. They earned their badges from Maintenance Ranger John!
Saturday we decided after 2 days of roughing it, to head to Madeline Island. We had hiked the heck out of the kids several times this trip. Some of that went well…some of it did not. Adjustments for all.
Ice cream, then pizza at Grandpa Tony’s rooftop. Everyone forgot about the bugs and hot hikes. Ice cream, beer and pizza can fix a lot!
Then a visit to the famous art car outside Tom’s Burned Down Cafe.
Then back to the boat for games and more sunset on the fly bridge, and everyone is starting to appreciate The Jerry Garcia Band that I play so much! 9 year old’s favorite is “Cats under the stars”! It’s a catchy one
We woke Sunday to some light rain, decided to take off back for the mainland. Man do I love my lower helm for times like this!
An awesome 4 day real trip for us. Again, a reminder to me why I do this. For the time together, and make new memories like my dad did for me here so long ago!
If you haven’t been up here…..find a way! An awesome place on this earth!
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Obviously not Stockton, California.
