Frankfort

Today was planned to be relatively short. The day started out with nearly perfect conditions. The wind was pretty light but at a beam reach (60-120 degrees relative to the boat path) and no waves. We made good speed on relatively low wind. It all ended at midday, but rather than getting rough like the previous two days, the winds died. The wind speed indicator on top of the mast stopped moving. We put up with it over lunch and then started to motor. We thought we had wind a couple of times but it never lasted. We arrived at Frankfort considerably earlier than the previous two days largely because we hadn't planned a long run.

The lighthouse and dune upon entering Frankfort looking north.

View of Frankfort as we pulled into town.

Dune and lighthouse seen from shore looking south. 

 

Looking up one of the dunes.

We stopped at a local brewery called Storm Cloud Brewing Company. We had stopped here last year on the way through. They specialize in Belgian style beers and they do not disappoint. We stopped for a before dinner drink and an after dinner drink. Before dinner I had a Whiled Away IPA that was excellent. After diner I had a Cool Cat Kitty Face that was like a NE IPA that was fermented with Norwegian Kveik yeast. Last year we ate at Storm Cloud. This year we ate at Villa Marine Pub. I had a fried Blue Gill dinner that was good and a Short's Brewery Psychedelic Cat Grass IPA that was excellent.

One thing that I figured I could add to this, since a lot of the boating stuff will be redundant with last year, is more on the food/drink as I've already started, but also marinas and the local. So to the extent that I have time and recollection when I get back to the boat I will do that. I will start with a catch up on previous stops.

In Muskegon we were at Torreson Marine which is more of a boat, specifically sailboat repair place. They have transient (overnight) slips but little in the way of accommodations. They pretty much just have a bathroom. We chose this place last summer because they would take the boat out of the water in July where other marinas said we had to wait until September requiring the need for a slip until then, which was a significant cost. Torresen met our needs for storage but is not a place to "camp". Torreson is a way out of Muskegon, which is a pretty big city. There are a couple of breweries nearby but you'd need at least a bicycle to get to them from the marina. But the state beach is nearby, about 15 minute walk and there is a place called The Deck. It is a place that looks like it was made in part out of shipping containers, one of which is a stage where they have bands 7 days a week over the summer, and two bands on Saturdays and Sundays. The have good food and been and are right near the lighthouse that you can walk to. It is also walking distance from the Silversides submarine museum.

In Pentwater we stayed at the municipal marina. They had a bath house for boaters with a bathroom that had one shower and then 3 more showers accessible from outside. The were typical of what you'd find at a campground with a dry area separated by a plastic curtain from the shower area. The town was very nice and close by. It looked like a small one street town.

In Manistee we stayed municipal marina. This one was like a country club. You entered into a family room area with TV and a counter with sink and coffee maker. Off that was a laundry area and through a door was a men's and ladies room and about 6 showers that were quite large. It all looked very new. We were pretty much in the downtown area so food and drink were close by. By far one of the nicest marinas that we've stayed in over the two years.

In Frankfort we stayed at Jacobson's Marina Resort. It also had very nice facilities for bathroom and shower. In addition it has a pool and boat supply shop. It is also right in the heart of downtown so food and drink are close by. The beach is also very nice with volleyball, a walk to the light house, playground and large beach.