Day 12 - Tiger Envy

We have decided to stay here in Beaver Island awhile. The winds have helped make that decision easier. Captain and I have never really had this much time out this early in the season. The blows seem to come for a few days in row and then nothing. We may have to head back under motor again, but we aren’t headed back in a major blow either. We are enjoying our time here very much.

We awoke again to no bugs this morning!  When we finally peaked our heads out of the cabin we saw a ship we knew had arrived earlier in the morning.   Tiger was parked at the marina!  We first saw Tiger in 2022. We were coming up the west coast of Michigan from Manitou Island.  She motored alongside of us for a few hours keeping up a nice 6-7 knots.  We were impressed she left no wake as her stern was masterfully designed.  She would anchor next to us that same year for a few days in Traverse City. We never met them that year. The waves at anchor were pretty knarly, if I recall, and not well suited for coming by on dinghies and being social.  Last year, when we were anchored in a cove opposite of Mackinaw City, we had seen her tired up at the marina.  We were so excited we walked over and met Beth and Mike.  I was so embarrassed as I was so excited to see their boat when they offered. They remembered us this year. We are a lot more rememberable if you can see our boat. Last year our boat wasn’t in town and they had to take our word that we had sailed alongside of them before.  If Captain and I ever need to retire from sailing, but not from boating, this would be our dreamboat.  All aluminum, extremely seaworthy and efficient.  And to make this boat rank even higher, Beth and Mike spend their entire summers on her. She doesn’t have a slip.  This year grandkids are aboard. They have so many stories of Tiger in waters all around the world. It makes us so happy to see boats being used and loved by their crews.

We started some laundry, threw some Frisbee.  Picked up some non-food items at the grocery store that were needed and walked to the nice sand beach on the south side of town.  We sat on the swings overlooking the bay for a while and just soaked in the beauty.  We watched people run to the ferry and almost miss it, just like the big cruise line videos. Everyone cheered from onboard when the couple and their two dogs made the gangplank just in time. We hailed a car on our way back thinking it was Joe (who we were still keeping an eye out for). It wasn’t Joe but a nice man named Bud who thought we were someone else too. But it turns out he knows boat, Fishtug Gloria that our friend has owned, and it continues to be a small world. We chatted with him on the side of the one road in town for half an hour.  That is Island Life!!! Pretty sure it takes no time to meet everyone here.

We came back to the boat for Bloody Mary’s, and I settled in to read a bit.  Captain ran back to the hardware store to grab some parts to help fix a loose stanchion we have been dealing with. While ashore he did find Joe. I was sad to have missed the meeting.  Captain gave him a print of a drawing he had made last year of his island.  He was touched and the two of them had a lovely chat.  It is nice to be remembered in small towns and feel so welcome.

Reading got the best of me and I required a late afternoon nap while Captain banged on the hull a bit to fix the stanchion. The winds really picked up around 4pm. This very protected bay had 1-2 foot waves with white caps coming offshore considerably not far away.  Thankfully we have a great anchor. We agree one of the best upgrades we have purchased.  I’m pretty sure the weeds here will keep us in place regardless. Ha! The winds finally calmed and brought about 2 hours of steady rain.

We made that caper chicken for dinner finally and it was amazing, as always, and when we went to take Kona to shore for her last walk, we were rewarded with very clean decks!  The rain had done a great job for me! We took some nice evening photos on our walk and picked up the last of our laundry.  I played Taps to a now still water harbor and we settled into the saloon for a little more wine, a little more oil lanterns, a little more enjoying each other’s company, and this life we have made.

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Day 13 - If you know, you Jeanneau

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Day 11 - Island Life