Great Loop Day 031 Sept 28, 2016, South Haven to Saint Joseph, Benton Harbor, West Basin Marina.
South Haven to Saint Joseph, Benton Harbor, West Basin Marina.
“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, and compassion. These three are your greatest treasures
– Lao Tzu
(Personal Note: I want to deeply thank all the great people that have sent me tips on the PayPal Tip Jar site and also those of you who have subscribed to the monthly subscription! It feels so gratifying people are enjoying the travels of this humble sailor(and Mickey my sailing cat) and you have my commitment to continue to the end.)
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Day 31 Wednesday, Sept 28, 2016, This morning I argued with myself about whether to go or stay another night at South Haven. Talked it over with Forest, the dockmaster of the Southside Marina. The decision was made to go before the weather window closed. In this case, I was glad I made the right decision. 3 more nights on that rocking South Haven marina would probably have tested my sanity.
It was a short sail today to the West Basin Marina in Benton Harbor St. Joseph and quite uneventful. Well, technically I motored. Nevertheless, I knocked off 24.1 miles and added 4 more voyaging hours. Along the way, I was passed by Grant in his trawler, Gale Force. He didn’t reveal to me his next overnight stop but as it happens we may meet again further on our journey.
St Joseph Light House and entrance to St Joseph River and Benton Harbor
Can’t help but feel a warm welcome seeing these magnificent beacons of light guiding the sailors off the lake.
As noted the weather forecast for the next 2 days looked abysmal. The forecast for later this evening calls for Small Craft Advisory for Thursday and Friday. 'Tis the season I guess. From St Joseph, it's about 57 miles to Chicago and I'll be inching my way there.
But here I am tucked away in a sheltered dock practically away from everyone and everything. Guessing there must have been a statewide dock cleat shortage as with South Haven there are no dock cleats only these huge telephone pole pilings to tie off on. Again got all lines out. 2 stern, 2 bow, and 2 spring lines out. you should have seen me lasso the port stern piling. My boathook came 6 inches short of wrapping the stern line. However, a couple of hand flips with the line and bingo! I am convinced the best western rodeo rope masters got their start as Lake Michigan sailors. Wrapped on. Shoreline power is on, and the marina even has a decent WiFi signal here as we sit back and relax in the boonies.
All my boat cleats on the sailboat have lines attached to the pilings and dock.
Met Andrew the Dockmaster on the fuel dock. Paid for the gas (3.9 gals) but haven't paid for the dockage yet. Told him I might be here for a few days. Guess I'll check with him in the morning.
Next to me on my port is an old wooden dock that follows the shoreline, over a few feet from there is an earthen embankment going up about 20 feet. A light jaunt up to the top and there on the ground lies a rail line. I got closer to check on the condition of the rail. Why? Wanted to know if this was an active rail line or not. Check the top of the rail for rust. If it was unused or rarely used tracks they will have a lot of oxidation on them. These had clean and shiny rails then they are frequently used.
Back at the boat darkness has descended and at this moment the distant chattering sound of a train rumbling toward me and blasting its horn for some unseen road crossings. It's so close now… I can see....the passenger cars after the diesel locomotive. Yes, 4 passenger cars and in the darkness of the night, brightly lit compartments with darkened silhouettes of people sitting near the window. Looking hard I tried to locate any insignia on the cars. To dark. The locomotive was definitely not the typical Amtrak locomotive, more like a freight engine. A locomotive, 4 passenger cars, and a baggage car traveled over from my right as it crossed the closed swing bridge by the river heading north. When I approached the marina earlier today the swing bridge was open for boat traffic. I can still hear the now fading sound of the train horn and the clatter of the steel wheels as it moves further away. The noise as it passed wasn't that loud. It appeared to be traveling slow about 35- 40mph, I'd guess, and the sound of the crossing gate bells could be heard well ahead of the train. A commuter train from Chicago? Sure would like to see one in daylight.
Speaking of trains, I must record this or it may be lost to antiquity. As a young lad, I can not recall the occasion nor how many eons ago it was when someone much older than the oldest person I knew, took me aside. He looked me square in the eye and said, “Listen very carefully, son, for a special train whistle, a sound, unlike any whistle or horn that you have ever heard before. A mournful tone that starts slow and low and builds to a crescendo before dropping on a sad note to a soft fade. Sad, yet mysteriously wonderful. For that train is very special and is destined to take someone to Heaven.”
A few days after, on a quiet foggy morning when all was still, looking over Clark Field from my backyard and I thought, no, I know I heard that whistle in the distance. Started slow and low and built up to a crescendo before dropping on a sad note to a soft fade. Later that same day I was told the old man had died that morning. Kids can be made to believe the dumbest things.
The cloudy skies have opened up a bit as a few stars are silently looking at me. There have been reports of G1 and G2- geomagnetic storms where the sun sends a high-speed stream of charged particles known as the solar wind slamming into the Earth's magnetic field and getting diverted northward some southward over the poles creating the Northern Lights or Aura Borealis as we call it here in the northern hemisphere. Hearing the news I quickly check spaceweather.com for the Planetary K- index. If it reads 6 or higher and if the sky is clear it can be seen from Cleveland's latitude. The best results are with a camera capable of doing extended time exposures. Right now it's a K- 4. Not quite strong enough for local viewing. People near the arctic circle are probably ecstatic about getting the best views.
A long-time nursing friend, Jean, contacted me on Facebook the other day and said her sister and her husband live in St. Joseph. Jean was my mentor at the old St John Hospital on Detroit Rd. In my first job as a nursing grad, I was green behind the ears and no one likes a nurse with green ears. Thanks, Jean for showing me the proper ear-washing technique. I'll give your sister a call and see what's cooking. Dinner maybe?
One more note. As I walked about the docks 2 sailboats caught my ear, well my eye, and were named Duet and the other Symphony. Sounds much like musical sailors but that reminded me I have a harmonica aboard. Blew out the cobwebs and tried to remember some old songs from years gone by. I now like this place, no one to yell at me to stop playing. Now anyone can play a blues harp. YouTube is crowded with instructional videos. But give me the old standards classics like 'This Old Man' and 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' Mickey must have enjoyed it, he fell right to sleep. Well, that's about it from the cabin of the Sea Marie. Join me tomorrow for more observations. Fair winds and gentle seas...
Mickey enjoys sitting out on top of the hatch with the rain curtains up watching the raindrops fall around him.
A CSX freight train heading south toward the Indiana border.
The swing bridge is closed to allow the train to cross.
The obligatory selfie
Comments from 2016;
Dan Whitmore, I'm captivated. Each night I find myself checking FB for your daily post before heading to bed. Keep up the good sailing and posting! Safe travels.
Henry Krzemien RN Thank You Dan! I hope your captors used a cheap brand of duct tape! Glad you enjoy this musing of an old man. Where I have no TV no radio just the internet, I feel some of my neuronal units awakening when I write.
Pogo Bob, I could have saved you a walk up to the tracks, Henry! LOL! BTW, this is where we dropped our mast while we were waiting for the wind to lay down and go SE. Saved us a bit of time in Chicago and gave us other bailout options on the way there (we ducked into the marina at Portage, IN, which you can't do with the mast up).
Henry Krzemien RN I'm docked to the left! Looks like a metro from Chicago is heading northward. How cool is that!
Henry Krzemien RN You know I might do that also, take down the mast, It's pretty sheltered here.
Pogo Bob, Indeed it is. Food for thought, anyway. Also, if you need anything boat-wise, Wolf's Marine is not far. They will come to get you and bring you back. HUGE place with good prices! Here's a link:
Wolf's Marine Inc
250 W Main St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 926-1068
Something to do, anyway.
Henry Krzemien RN Thanks, Pogo Bob. Will keep that in mind.
Pogo Bob While we were windbound at West Basin Marina (where I believe you are), we watched this lovely boat and several others head out the channel for a bit of racing on the lake. Are you freaking kidding me?
Henry Krzemien RN That reminded me, I crewed on a J22 and we did go out in all weather. It had such a tiny toe rail on the foredeck it didn't take much to knock someone in the water if not paying attention. Depends on the boat, some boats do well others can get knocked down fast. I feel very confident aboard the Sea Marie. Had the rail buried in the water on several occasions But she's getting old and the original rigging showing signs of aging, much like this old sailor.
Pogo Bob This is why we stayed put!
Henry Krzemien RN That's the way it looked yesterday at South Haven. You couldn't leave the river if you tried. Yes, I'm at West Basin Marina. Lake was manageable could have gone to Mich City with a 7 am start time. All following seas. Did get a 5 footer behind me. Kept my eye on that one. You do what you have to do.