Destination:
New Buffalo Harbor
Guests Onboard:
Kyle & Kara
Departure
Port:
Monroe Harbor in Chicago, IL
Date/Time:
05/18/23 @ 6:05 AM CT
Arrival
Port:
The Moorings in New Buffalo, MI
Date/Time:
05/18/23 @ 1:15 PM CT
Length:
40.1 nm
Duration:
07:10
Weather Conditions:
beautiful sunrise (golden red), and completely clear but a bit hazy and freezing cold
Temperature
in the 40°s but it did warm up closer to NB
Wind (speed + Direction)
12 – 19 knots S for 3/4 of the way home, and then it calmed to 2 – 5 knots close to NB
Wave Height
mostly 2′ – 3′ with some 5′ rollers, until we reached NB than < 1′
Notable Experiences, Events & Places
We unhooked from the mooring ball for the 1st time. It was very hard to pull the ball up, but Kyle’s method worked and we were off. Chicago’s ABC news helicopter was in the sky reporting traffic updates so we thought we might be on the morning news, but we couldn’t find any shots in the video recap … oh well, it was still newsworthy to us!
Because of the waves Kyle drove a majority of the way home. I just held on! Most of the time I was fine, but every once in a while, we’d have confused waves coming from the north and the south together. After about 20 nm, it finally calmed down and Kyle need to switch so I drove for a bit.
About 7 nm out of NB, our engine started acting up. Lesson Learned: We need to change the fuel filter every year! The engine died at 6.3 nm out from NB. FORTUNATELY, it was calm and nice so we could just float – and Kyle had the spare parts to fix it. He could change the fuel filter, and it started back up – whew, we’re off again! Made it home without too much delay … our guardian angels were working overtime for us – again!!!
