Ludington MI, Fish Galore

(Wed Aug. 8 - Dist: 52 mi;  Avg Speed: 12.4 mph;
        Seas: 1-2 feet; TTT: 4:10 hrs)

After our relaxing stint in Frankfort we finally had a good travel day and a bunch of us headed for Ludington while others went to Manistee or Pentwater.  We are very pleased with our choice as the city of Ludington is very alive and interesting.  There are a number of excellent restaurants and bars.  The Mitten serves only Michigan beers and wine and between the Bades and ourselves we found a number of keepers. 

 My favourite was a dark beer, 8.5% alcohol, called "Dirty Bastard".  We have eaten on a roof top patio and had some excellent BBQ pork loin here on board with Loopers from Sojourner and Bade Boomer.

Fishing is very popular here and the Charters are bringing in huge catches.  Unfortunately, none of them are selling any of their catches.  We even considered going out to catch our own but... at $550 for 4 hours we decided to go to the store.  With all the fishing here I am surprised that there is no fresh fish store like in Frankfort, Leland and Mac City.  Darn.

We may be witnessing the end of an era.  As the only coal-fired steamship in operation in the United States, the S.S. Badger operates between Manitowoc Wisconsin and Ludington MI. 

We may be here a few days as storms are rolling through Michigan and most of Ontario.  Waves at this time are 11 feet in the center of the Lake and currently 6 feet climbing to 9 in our normal travel zone in shore.  Oh well, it is a fine place to hole up.