The start of the Fall boating season

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This was the view the day after Pictured Rock touring. Best viewed from the comfort of a sports car with heated seats and the top down.
The top shot is of Munising Bay during better weather. Again by car.
 
I don't know what it is, but when the sun is shining, it takes me back to summers as a child. It puts a smile on my face. Clouds, rain, dreary weather are not my forte. I however do like to travel to areas that have snow in order to snowmobile. I enjoyed 6-8 years straight of trips to the UP in order to sled and it was amazing. I finally moved south to TX where winters are short... Maybe two months. I still managed to RV last winter almost every weekend (or every other). I got good at winterizing in 15 mins when we came back from trips.... Blow out the water lines, drain the HW heater, throw some antifreeze in the sink traps and lock it up. This year I was fortunate enough to get back into the boating game and given the weather state here, I'd imagine I can boat up until early to mid December before putting her away. I still don't know how fall boating will be here, but I will probably try to anchor out and enjoy things a little longer.
 
Yes. Pictured Rock area. You don't really need a lot of time to see this in the fall. The south shore of Lake Superior is interesting but challenging in our small boats. We drove up from West Michigan in 6 hours and explored the area around Munising with the top down on our car. The colors are starting to show and it will only become more beautiful with each passing day. On Thursday we got on a 66 foot tour boat in fog and rain, and sat back for a 2 1/2 hour boat ride. Took these pix in pretty bad weather but we were warm and dry. Most of the 35 mile ride was in 15-20 feet of pale blue, crystal clear water. We could have gone another 40 miles, but the view would have been somewhat similar. We did drive along the shore line and found that to be just as interesting. Came home on Friday after seeing a lot of the eastern half of the UP. Great short trip and a Big Bang for the buck. Hate to think of what it would have cost in time and money to run the Tiara to Munising from Grand Haven. Safety wise it is a no brainer. There are 50 mph winds today on Lakes Superior and Michigan.
Yea, it will take a bit of funds and time to get the boat up to the Pictured Rocks area and beyond ( I have a goal of also hitting Lower Harbor in Marquette). Just need to plan for the time and money aspect. Going from Lk St Clair up Huron, then through the locks out into Superior and all the way back will be a great trip. However, by the time I plan on doing the trip, might have to put the 480DB up for sale and get something a little bigger ( I have been eyeballing the 580DB)
 
Couple of random photos over the past couple of days on the Erie Canal. Cool brisk nights followed by warm sunny days. Perfect fall boating weather.

Approaching a lock on the western Erie
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Sunrise west of Syracuse
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Just starting to get some tinges of color in the leaves
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Yesterday ....you can see some colour in the trees beginning to pop. All those bright green trees are about to turn bright yellow. Weather was cool, cloudy ...felt like fall.

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Yesterday ....you can see some colour in the trees beginning to pop. All those bright green trees are about to turn bright yellow. Weather was cool, cloudy ...felt like fall.

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The first pic looks like an advertising photo from a SR brochure. Beautiful shot.
 
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This is where the boat will be in mid October. Clean and 50 degrees all winter.
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No inside storage around here. In fact, in the last few decades the choices for storage have narrowed. Lots of Marinas and boatyards sold out to developers who built condos and available slips go to residents.
 
The first pic looks like an advertising no photo from a SR brochure. Beautiful shot.

Thanks ...except for the yellowing happening at the water line form a season of boating. Doubt we'd see that in a Sea Ray ad. I hate that. :(
 
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Thanks ...except for the yellowing happening at the water line form a season of boating. Doubt we'd see that in a Sea Ray ad. I hate that. :(
Each of those shots look good enough to be an ad. SR could have just photo shopped out the scum line.
 
Nice spot ..I'm sure you sleep well at night during the winter months.
As I've said many times before, there is a rhythm to the seasons where we live. Spent part of yesterday decommissioning the water system after doing a good job of cleaning the galley, defrosting the ice maker and fridge. I'm about ready to treat the fuel today. Tomorrow changing fluids, and filters. The holding tank is pumped clean after many flushes with fresh water. Later this week I'll watch the weather and put the boat away after it is washed. We should be warm and dry by the time the gale force winds move into the Great Lakes. When that happens we will be enjoying good books in front of a nice warm fire.
 
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Was a beautiful fall day here and 80 degrees at our dock. Got all the fluids changed, all new filters, new holding tank filter, transmission fluid and filters changed and cleaned, Stabil added to fuel. Sirius weather subscription suspended which took twenty minutes talking with an "English speaking" customer care person who could not understand what I was trying to accomplish. Now will watch the weather and head for the travel hoist on the first warm day with no wind. It has been a great summer of Lake Michigan boating. Time to shift gears.
As I've said many times before, there is a rhythm to the seasons where we live. Spent part of yesterday decommissioning the water system after doing a good job of cleaning the galley, defrosting the ice maker and fridge. I'm about ready to treat the fuel today. Tomorrow changing fluids, and filters. The holding tank is pumped clean after many flushes with fresh water. Later this week I'll watch the weather and put the boat away after it is washed. We should be warm and dry by the time the gale force winds move into the Great Lakes. When that happens we will be enjoying good books in front of a nice warm fire.
 
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Was a beautiful fall day here and 80 degrees at our dock. Got all the fluids changed, all new filters, new holding tank filter, transmission fluid and filters changed and cleaned, Stabil added to fuel. Sirius weather subscription suspended which took twenty minutes talking with an "English speaking" customer care person who could not understand what I was trying to accomplish. Now will watch the weather and head for the travel hoist on the first warm day with no wind. It has been a great summer of Lake Michigan boating. Time to shift gears.

Nice clean engine room, but that's really the only positive I see in this post. :-(
 
i am fantasizing about all the work I could get done during the winter in such a place... my boat would look like it just rolled out of the factory .. and I could take my time !!

Me too!
 

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