Traveling to Sheboygan

Saturday, August 22

Here we are, making our way south to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. We got an early start - on our way by 5:45. At this early hour, the winds are only about 5-6 mph from the SSW, but they are forecasted to increase every hour until late afternoon. The water is glassy on top, but rolling underneath, with 1, 2, 3 and even some four-foot rollers. We are rockin’ and rollin’. It’s another cold day. The sunrise is gorgeous and pink.

The fun part about this kind of traveling is that from the time we wake up, we can be on our way within 15 minutes. Brian checks the boat systems and I untie the lines and we are off. No breakfast, no showers, no packing.

The weather forecast is for high winds for about two or three days. Our plan is to get to Sheboygan today and stay there until the winds die down. 

We have only this one summer to go by, but I think we’re getting a pretty good idea about boating on Lake Michigan. People don’t cross back and forth between Wisconsin and Michigan. Crossing the lake is too difficult in a small boat. The wind picks up the waves on the western side and carries them all the way across, 60 – 70 miles, building and building as they go. Some of our Looper friends on the Michigan side have been stuck in the harbors for several days with 8 - 10 foot seas, even inside the marinas. Even if you stay on either the Michigan or Wisconsin shore, you have to check the wind and weather and continue to monitor them as you travel. We’ve decided that an early morning departure is the best thing.