"The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!" Kenneth Grahame
Yes, I have a song for every occasion. It's just the way my brain works. Drives Craig crazy since I hum each tune as it pops into my head. Today it is... It never rains in Northern Michigan, but girl, don't they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours. If you don't know this great …
When we first arrived in Grand Haven I often found myself humming this old Temptations tune... I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May. We'll, I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way... Joy Girl, talkin' 'bout Joy Girl. Yes, she is a …
Ahoy, mateys! We hope all is well with our friends around the world! Winter has passed and spring is here. Hallelujah. It was a strange winter for us. We were lost in retirement transition pains without our full and active life on Joy Girl. And it was difficult to watch my mother suffer as she …
During our 9 months living aboard and 7 months of travel from May to October we docked or anchored Joy Girl in 86 different locations. We cruised 3,100 nautical miles (3,584 statute miles) in 10 states and 2 countries. Naturally, people ask us "What were your favorite places?" We asked the same question of other …
Since we talked last the Team Joy Girl trajectory was modified. After weeks of discussion and prayer we decided to return home to Colorado for the winter! What?! Why? Primarily, we both have parents in their 80's (two are holding their own at 88) who we want to spend time with and provide assistance to. …
Last time we left you we were cruising down the Wisconsin coast toward Chicago... In a fluke of good luck, Lake Michigan was quiet as a lamb, the wind-free weather on the Great Lakes related to Hurricane Florence in some weird weather front I don't understand. As heartbroken as I was that North Carolina was …
Door County, Wisconsin was named after "Death's Door", the legendary passage between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The exact number of deaths and ships lost in this narrow passageway is unknown but the official 1906 Sailing Directions for the area describes the passage this way: There is a strong current setting in and out according …
For the past two weeks we cruised the bay of Green Bay, which extends north from the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin. One of the highlights was the Northern Sky Theater, an enchanting outdoor venue located in Peninsula State Park. At first, we were flummoxed about how to get there since it's in the middle …
Did you know they call the western Michigan coast the "Riveria of the Midwest"? We had no idea this area was that beautiful. Craig always visualizes Detroit when he thinks of Michigan, but just like New York, these states are so much more than their famous cities. Way up north, Mackinaw Island is surrounded by …
Mackinaw Island is so picture perfect it's like an amusement park for grown ups. Touted as Michigan's crown jewel, it's encircled by Caribbean-like beaches (only with rocks, not sand), sprinkled with elegant Victorian architecture, crammed full of charming shops, delicious eateries, plus it's steeped in history, including war. No cars allowed here since the late …
