Viridian News & Views: From Foggy Gray Skies to Sunny Brown Beaches

Sunday, August 19, 2018

From Foggy Gray Skies to Sunny Brown Beaches

Morning came up with a thick blanket of fog, so thick visibility was only about 1/8 mile. We talked with some fishermen who had come in to see if it was any less foggy out on the lake. We waited awhile until we could see the bank on the other side of the Manistee River then idled out of the marina, under the three bridges and past boat slips on both sides of the canal then out into the lake. Visibility was still less than 1/2 mile, and we picked up several fishing boats on the radar. Soon we could see them through the fog. The chart plotter kept us pointed in the right direction as we slid through the smooth, calm water about a mile off shore. Soon we could make out the shoreline, and the visibility improved to about 3 miles. After about an hour, we could see the horizon to the west, and the sun broke through to highlight patches of water and sky. Before long, the sky was blue with white clouds drifting low to the surface, and by noon it was a nice cool, clear day with light winds and smooth water.

Our 40-mile offshore run took us south to the town of Pentwater, MI where we docked at the Snug Harbor Marina. Pentwater is another great little town with all kinds of shops, restaurants and bars lining Main Street. There is a huge public beach area back out on the lake with light tan sand and super clear fresh water lapping against the shoreline. We walked out to the beach and waded knee-deep in the water on a soft sand floor. Of course we explored all the shops along the main drag and enjoyed the cool breeze that felt like it was coming from an air conditioner somewhere.

Tomorrow we will keep going south for 40 miles or so as we continue to cruise down the eastern section of Lake Michigan to Chicago.

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