Thursday's Ramblings...Lake Michigan and The Great Lakes

You learn something every day if you pay attention.
                                                                  ~Ray LeBlond



 Just curious, but have you ever seen Lake Michigan, as in really see it in person?  It can be very angry at times, and I've heard that people who have sailed in the ocean, actually prefer the ocean to Lake Michigan because there's more space between the swells versus in the lake...

 I keep running into people, all the time, who are so surprised to hear that you can't see across the lake.  I mean, can't you see across most lake?  When I tell them that it's like looking into the ocean and just seeing the horizon with nothing but water, they seem really surprised.  I think I might have shown this photo before, but I'm with Corbin in Grand Haven, Michigan and you can't find land, even with binoculars or a telescope.  In case you're wondering, because I sure was, I checked and found out that at it's widest point, Lake Michigan is 118 miles across.

Usually when we went sailing in Lake Michigan, we would sail either north, south, or west depending on which way the wind was blowing.  This is me, in my younger days, sailing our sailboat in Lake Michigan.  I hate to say it, but even Mr. Cottage knew I was good at steering our boat.  Whenever he raised the sails or we tacked, I was always at the helm. 

So I thought I would share some interesting thoughts and facts for you, just in case you play trivia some day and need this information.

• Lake Michigan is the only one of the five great lakes that's entirely in the U.S.  All the rest are shared with Canada.
• The average depth is 279 feet, while it's greatest depth is 923 feet.
• There are car ferries that will take you from Michigan to Wisconsin.
• There are all kinds of islands, but the most famous is Mackinac Island, which is actually located in Lake Huron.
• For those of you not familiar with Mackinac Island, there are no motor vehicles allowed on the island.  Everything is walking or bicycles.  The taxi service is provided by the horses.

Our youngest son, Chris, and his wife, married on Mackinac Island and after the ceremony and photos, they road off in a carriage.  How romantic!

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park was voted the number 1 most beautiful location in the United States just a few years ago...

• There are many State Parks and really great towns all up and down the Lake.
• The only drawback with Lake Michigan is how long it takes to warm up.  You need a few hot days and nights before it feels good enough to really take a plunge in it.
• There were many times we would sail and anchor off one of the many sand dunes.  We'd take our dinghy to shore and let the kids run up and down the dunes.
• Did you know that a dinghy is another word for a small boat.  We use to tow ours behind our sailboat.
• Once a rope is on a boat, it's referred to as a line.
• In sailing, to heel, means the boat is inclining towards the water on one side. 

• Many people not use to this, think you're going to rollover in the water, but it's actually very thrilling and I loved when we heeled.  It's very natural for a sailboat to do this.



This is where we've spent much of our time this week.  It's at Grand Haven State Park.

Tomorrow I have a few surprises for you!

Come see  Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style!