View out over the docks and Coral Gables deck with live music
Waiting for the railroad bridge to open before getting to the marina
Our weekend in Saugatuck was very relaxing. Monday morning we headed to South Haven. We had a spot at the Municipal Marina and we were the only boat there. It felt so sad. The end of their season is coming and being a weekday there just was nothing going on in the marina.
The downtown of South Haven had several restaurants and shops. Although we had dinner out, we did not have much time for exploring downtown. It was time for Southern Style to have her engine oil changed. We were able to Uber to the Super Walmart where we purchased all the oil and buckets needed as well as groceries. With the oil change completed and a weather system predicted to be moving in over the next two days, we decided to move on to Benton Harbor/St. Joseph on Tuesday morning.
View back out onto Lake Michigan from the municipal marina
The downtown of South Haven had several restaurants and shops. Although we had dinner out, we did not have much time for exploring downtown. It was time for Southern Style to have her engine oil changed. We were able to Uber to the Super Walmart where we purchased all the oil and buckets needed as well as groceries. With the oil change completed and a weather system predicted to be moving in over the next two days, we decided to move on to Benton Harbor/St. Joseph on Tuesday morning.
Moon across from the marina in South Haven Monday night
Double rainbow over Lake Michigan on our trip to Benton Harbor Tuesday morning
One rainbow made a half circle
Harbor entrance at St. Joseph/Benton Harbor
Waiting for the railroad bridge to open before getting to the marina
After arriving into the dock at St Joseph/Benton Harbor we rode our bikes to Wolf's Marine. This is a marine supply place with all kinds of stuff. We poked around there for about an hour. If you are really in need of certain parts, it is a good spot to try. We did not think the prices were remarkably discounted, but still a fun place.
We had a real treat Tuesday afternoon. Daryl and Tina came to visit and have dinner with us. Keith helped Daryl move their boat from Staten Island, NY to Benton Harbor, MI in 2014. They still have their boat here and use it a lot. We had a great evening with them. It is special for us to be able to reconnect with friends Keith has made over the years doing deliveries.
Wednesday we knew was going to be windy and a no-go for cruising the lake. We had a relaxing morning then headed into downtown St. Joseph to explore. Lunch was at the Silver Harbor Brewing Company. Michigan has many wineries and breweries.
Their food was good also. After lunch we went down to the beach. The wind had the waves pretty kicked up.
St. Joseph's main beach is Silver Beach and there is a large park just back from the beach. They also have a very well known replica carousel in the park. The history of the carousel is quite interesting (I love this stuff). The original carousel was built in New Bergen, NJ and moved to St. Joseph, MI in 1910. There were 44 horses in the carousel carved by master carver Charles Carmel, praised to be the creator of the most perfect carousel horse. At the time the Silver Beach Carousel was state of the art with its horses and brass ring machine. It was a popular tourist attraction in Michigan. The purchasers of the carousel wanted to keep her cutting edge, so in the 1920s they converted it to a "jumping machine". Eight pairs of jumping horses replaced the 16 inner row standers. Then during a planned repainting in the 1940s, the painter passed away after priming the horses and they were left with their signature white with trappings and bejeweled accents the only colors on the horses. Legend has it that Walt Disney adopted the Silver Beach Carousel's all white horses look for his carousels feeling it gave a magical feeling to the ride. The Silver Beach Carousel operated continuously until 1971 when it was closed and sold to a founder of the National Carousel Association in New Mexico. Over the years many in the area wanted to bring the carousel back to Silver Beach. In 1997 the Silver Beach Carousel Society was formed and they worked tirelessly on the project to have a carousel back in Silver Beach. They could not obtain the original however, they were able to build an exquisite replica. They had 20 unique horses designed and 22 new menagerie figures, plus a rocking peacock and wheelchair-accessible serpent chariots produced. They also created 18 rounding boards that appear at the top of the carousel. Each rounding board depicts a different historical theme, place, or event in Southwestern Michigan. It is believed to be the first carousel to use a montage of colorized historical themes. The new carousel opened in 2010. Unfortunately after Labor Day the carousel has reduced hours and was not open on Wednesday when we were there. Looking through the windows was all we could do. They had things decorated for Halloween inside.
Wednesday we knew was going to be windy and a no-go for cruising the lake. We had a relaxing morning then headed into downtown St. Joseph to explore. Lunch was at the Silver Harbor Brewing Company. Michigan has many wineries and breweries.
Silver Harbor had many selections of micro brews
Captain Keith's drink
My drink was a Smoked Old Fashion
Their food was good also. After lunch we went down to the beach. The wind had the waves pretty kicked up.
Nobody was in the Compass Splash Pad today
St. Joseph's main beach is Silver Beach and there is a large park just back from the beach. They also have a very well known replica carousel in the park. The history of the carousel is quite interesting (I love this stuff). The original carousel was built in New Bergen, NJ and moved to St. Joseph, MI in 1910. There were 44 horses in the carousel carved by master carver Charles Carmel, praised to be the creator of the most perfect carousel horse. At the time the Silver Beach Carousel was state of the art with its horses and brass ring machine. It was a popular tourist attraction in Michigan. The purchasers of the carousel wanted to keep her cutting edge, so in the 1920s they converted it to a "jumping machine". Eight pairs of jumping horses replaced the 16 inner row standers. Then during a planned repainting in the 1940s, the painter passed away after priming the horses and they were left with their signature white with trappings and bejeweled accents the only colors on the horses. Legend has it that Walt Disney adopted the Silver Beach Carousel's all white horses look for his carousels feeling it gave a magical feeling to the ride. The Silver Beach Carousel operated continuously until 1971 when it was closed and sold to a founder of the National Carousel Association in New Mexico. Over the years many in the area wanted to bring the carousel back to Silver Beach. In 1997 the Silver Beach Carousel Society was formed and they worked tirelessly on the project to have a carousel back in Silver Beach. They could not obtain the original however, they were able to build an exquisite replica. They had 20 unique horses designed and 22 new menagerie figures, plus a rocking peacock and wheelchair-accessible serpent chariots produced. They also created 18 rounding boards that appear at the top of the carousel. Each rounding board depicts a different historical theme, place, or event in Southwestern Michigan. It is believed to be the first carousel to use a montage of colorized historical themes. The new carousel opened in 2010. Unfortunately after Labor Day the carousel has reduced hours and was not open on Wednesday when we were there. Looking through the windows was all we could do. They had things decorated for Halloween inside.
Picture through the window of the carousel
The wind is supposed to lay down this evening and Thursday we expect to be under-way making-way to New Buffalo. This is likely our last stop in Michigan and then we will be heading to Hammond, Indiana and into the river system. Things may be a bit more remote and Internet coming down the rivers is reported to be pretty spotty. Hopefully I can still get out a post during our trip down the rivers in October about weekly, so don't give up on the blog if it is a bit more quiet than normal. Start thinking muddy waters, catfish, and banjos.
2 comments:
Rich and I just came down the Illinois River and are now at Grafton Harbor Marina. We found there to be WiFi at all the marinas where we stopped (Heritage Harbor in Ottawa, IVY in Peoria Heights, Grafton Harbor) as well as Logsdon Tug Service in Beardstown, but it was very slow, so we relied on our cellular data plan to access internet and post on my blog. We’ve been following your blog and hope we’ll get to meet up somewhere along the loop!
Thanks for the heads up Maggie. We look forward to catching up with you and Rich along the Loop.
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