Home of Northern Michigan University:Marquette

entering Marquette Harbor

After a beautiful cruise, with a lot of bridge time, we arrived in Marquette to Cinder Pond Marina on Monday, June 24 @ 1:15 PM.  It's a beautiful day and a warm day, at least high 70's, maybe an 80 in there.  The dock boys were actually sweating-yahoo! Waterford docked in the hoist well and we are on the end of the run, closest to the lake.  This is the first Marina of our trip that has been semi full.  While on anchor Sunday, we were hailed by fellow Krogen owners; Marty and Suzanne on Alizann, a beautiful 48 Kadey-Krogen North Sea.  They were anchored in the bay on the other side of Grand Island and had been hiking when they spotted us.  With the AIS, they were able to find the name of our boat in order to call us.  Hopefully we will meet up with them here in Marquette.

Marquette Light, est 1853

Downtown Marquette from the water

We decided to get the chores out of the way today so tomorrow we can play.  First right in front of the Marina is a great park with lots of people playing, picnicking & even jumping in the water off the wall-brrrrrr! The area is very well maintained.  There are 2 boat ramps at the Marina, we couldn't believe how busy they were.  Boats in and out continuously, doesn't anyone work in this town?  It's always entertaining to watch people launch their boats. We have a hard enough time remembering what day of the week it is and this looked like a Saturday with all the people out and about.  We were told, that these beautiful days are so rare, that when they occur, everyone calls in sick or somehow takes the day off and heads for the water.  We are lucky to be experiencing this. We walked around the area by the Marina, I think it is considered the Downtown.  We found a clothing store that had been recommended to us; Getz's.  They had a great selection of clothes; outdoor, rain gear & Carhartt's.  Doug & Jacque found pants there. There really wasn't too much else within walking distance, so we called a cab & went out to the Highway, where there was a grocery, Loew's, Walmart & Menard's.  The guys were able to get most everything on their current lists. I don't know how they keep coming up with all this stuff they need. Jacque & I grocery shopped for necessities, we have to eat! The Taxi driver told us he had gone to Northern in the 70's, when they really knew how to party. Craig, you probably knew him, haha! 

Fresh Lake Trout filets

Tuesday morning, Doug & Garry washed the boats. We did laundry & walked to the fish market. It's my turn to cook us up some fresh fish. I bought a big fresh caught lake trout filet. 

Alizann pulling into Marquette

one of many beaches

Alizann pulled into the harbor as we were getting ready to go on a bike tour to Presque Isle Point, (still in Marquette, not to be mixed up with the one in Lake Huron).  There wasn't room in the main Marina for Alizann, being a 48 foot Krogen trawler, (looks somewhat like ours, but on steroids) so they docked on the wall beside the park.  We stopped over to say Hi, while they were tying up.  They decided to join us on our bike ride.  There is a great paved bike trail along the shoreline, which is mostly sand beaches.  You wouldn't believe how many people were on the beaches, even Lifeguards. People were actually in swimsuits, some actually in the 56-58 degree water!!  The place was happening.  

Presque Isle

Crystal clear water

Rode around Presque Isle, which is rolling with cliffs, lots of green & sand.  The bike path stops & we had to compete with all the cars, it was a constant stream of traffic.  On Tuesday mornings till 1:00 PM, the cars are banned from the park, but this was after 1:00, darn!

the WoodenDome

Football field, inside the Dome

 On our way back to town, we passed the Northern Michigan wooden dome, so we stopped in.  We were in luck, it was open, (found out it was Orientation Day for fall). It is a very cool structure and they had it set up for football.  Doug's godson, Paul & the Hillsdale football team will be traveling to Marquette this fall for a football game, will it be played in the dome? That would be cool & warm.  

Doug & I then split off from the others to go find the infamous dorm, Halverson Hall, where Jeri & Craig lived and played.  We found it and there were people all over again because of Orientation.  I was able to snatch her a pair of NMU sunglasses they were giving to the new students. I called Jeri so she could reminisce with us, but we couldn't get up to her room on 2nd floor.  We took a bunch of pics for her.  I'm sure it doesn't look any different, it's only been over 35 years. 

While I'm on the subject of Jeri, her Birthday is tomorrow, so we all need to sing Happy Birthday to her. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Jeri, Happy Birthday to you!  Wishing you a GREAT year to come!  Sorry we're not there to celebrate with you, :'(  Love, Jan & Doug

can you see the duck?

We biked back to the Marina and met up with Waterford & Alizann for a cocktail party.  We swapped stories about anchorages we've enjoyed on Lake Superior.  It was one long cocktail party & a traveling one to boot.  Marty & Suzanne were gracious enough to give us a tour of their beautiful vessel.  All I can say is WOW, well done.  Alizaan is very self sufficient and could travel anywhere and they do have plans of traveling across our country and beyond.  Talk about adventure!  We loved meeting them and hope to connect later on this summer.  

Alizann, part of our new Krogen family

Marquette Harbor dock

We left Marquette on Weds morning @ 7:30 AM, I sure don't get to sleep in very often. Air temp 70 degrees already. Sunny & calm. Lake Superior is again like glass-Beautiful!  This area is gorgeous, no wonder Ridge moved back up here & Wayne comes to his Camp every chance he gets. I just wouldn't want to be here in the long winter months.  

Important for 2 reasons, our duck & Doug