We End Our Great Lakes Adventure and Go to Chicago

Little Sable light

Grand Haven lights

Grand Haven sidewalk days

We left Ludington with Joysea heading for Grand Haven, MI. About one-half hour underway Capt. Larry noticed that we didn't have any power to the computer used for navigation or the ice maker. Going below to troubleshoot the problem he noticed a familiar burnt smell. The inverter was out again. Since we use this equipment to power the refrigerators, navigation computer, and ice maker while underway, this was a major concern. After several attempts to reset the inverter, we started the generator to get everything running.

Grand Haven fountain show

However, after a few hours it became apparent that we needed a new inverter. Fortunately, the one that failed was under warranty and we called the company to arrange for a replacement. We pulled into Grand Haven and announced at happy hour aboard Joysea that, although the next day would be a good day for continuing our run, we had to remain in Grand Haven to get a new inverter.

Grand Haven historical mural with southern touch

One of the Grand Haven highlights is a fountain and light music show each evening during the summer, and we enjoyed to shows immensely. Joysea left early the next morning and we received our inverter around noon. Capt. Larry installed the new one and shipped the defective one back to the company for credit. Grand Haven was celebrating sidewalk sales, an art on the river show, and a farmer's market, so we visited all three events.

Grand Haven light in the morning

Benton Harbor/St. Joseph lights

After spending an extra day in Grand Haven for weather, we left to make our way down to Benton Harbor/ St. Joseph, MI. At our marina in St. Joseph we topped off with diesel fuel so we wouldn't have to pay top dollar for fuel near Chicago. We got secured in our slip and did some visiting with some of the local boaters and fellow loopers Mary and John Leatherman aboard Mary Francis IV. The Leathermans had just begun the loop leaving from Mackinaw City just a couple of weeks ago. We had dinner at a popular local restaurant called Clementine's then turned in for the night.

Benton Harbor lights in the morning

Chicago on the horizon

Jane with General Grant in Grant Park

Larry at the former PHS clinic

We had planned to spend a couple of days in St. Joseph, but the weather forecasts indicated that a lake crossing would not be good two days out. The next day we got an early start to head across the lake to Chicago. The weather and conditions were good and about 15 miles into the 60 mile run, we spotted the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the John Hancock town on the horizon. We were surprised that we could see these landmarks so far out. We got into our Chicago marina and got the bikes down for a ride. Capt. Larry, having worked in downtown Chicago for 5 years, took Jane to some sites near the marina. One of the stops was the Public Health Service clinic site he served at on south Michigan Avenue. The building that the clinic had occupied had been converted into a condo, but was also placed on the national register of historic places. We returned to the boat and had dinner and then watched to skyline light up from our cockpit in the marina. It's all good in Chicago!