Great Loop Day 032 Sept 29, 2016, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor Michigan Planned Layover Day 1
St Joseph Benton Harbor Michigan Layover day 1
“We need old friends to help us grow old and new friends to help us stay young.” – Letty Cottin Pogrebin
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Day 32 Thursday, Sept 29, 2016. The rain stopped around noon and the skies cleared for a little while. I walked around the marina looking at all the sailboats. I saw Grant aboard his trawler Gale Force tucked in with the larger sailboats. Said he was going to Brian's Marina and had trouble finding it upriver past the railroad swing bridge. He ended up here at West Basin.
Back at my boat, I called Jean's sister Cindy and her husband, Alan to introduce myself They live in Baroda, a suburb south of St Joseph. Offered me a home-cooked meal. That, my friends, is an offer I can not refuse. Arrangements were made for them to pick me up here at the marina and I was ready. With Alan driving and Cindy in the passenger seat, I jump in the back. A quick tour to get the layout of St Joe's and off to their home.
St. Joseph's history began almost 100 years before the American Revolution when the mouth of the St. Joseph River was discovered and documented in 1669. Ten years later, the explorer LaSalle and his 14 men cleared a piece of land and started the construction of Fort Miami on the bluff around the St. Joseph River. LaSalle's stay was not long however, and the area was mostly populated by Native Americans, trappers and soldiers until 1785 when William Burnett established a trading post and became the first permanent settler.
A beautifully maintained home with gorgeous landscaping. We stepped inside and Cindy had the turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans from their garden, and beets, waiting for us to devour. What a great early Thanksgiving surprise!
After dinner, we talked about the old times. Cindy grew up near Cleveland and remembered the old TV shows locally produced, Capt Penny, Barnaby, Ghoulardi, and even Alan remembered Big Chuck and Hoolihan. What a wonderful and gracious couple! Thank you, Alan and Cindy. Definitely one of the highlights of this trip.
Returned to the boat as the rain started up again. Planned to take the mainsail cover off the boom if the rain would hold off, doesn't look like it. Don't want to pack it away damp, looks like I will have to do it in the morning. Well off to bed, been a long and exciting day. Fair winds and gentle seas...
Comments from 2016:
Mary Jo Cartledgehayes What a great day! Yummy food and good conversation. Lovely.
Jean Uhr So glad you were able to visit with them, Henry!! Sounds like you had a nice time, and a great meal (she is a great cook!!)
Henry Krzemien RN We had a really good time, Jean, a wonderful couple, Cindy and Alan. We had much in common. Alan helped me figure out a solution to a potential rudder problem should it ever happen. Cindy is a great cook. Delicious meal. And she gave me a few large honey crisp apples, just one is a meal. Thanks for setting this up, definitely a highlight of my journey.