Northern Lights

We were blessed with an evening of glorious Aurora Borealis this month. It wasn't the first time we'd witnessed this amazing natural phenomena, but it sure was the best we'd seen this far south in central Minnesota. The incredible light show was visible in Connecticut, Florida, and all over the southern United States. It was spectacular!

My first encounter with a glowing sky was in the 1990s. I was working nights and saw a red light in the distance on my drive home. I thought it was a police event and woke Dave to tell him all about it. From my description, he was certain that I had seen Northern lights. 

We were lucky to witness the Aurora when we had a slip at Knife River Marina, north of Duluth, MN. That viewing was very active with green and white colors that pulsed and danced across the northern sky. We sat on the rocks at the beach and watched, unable to take our eyes away. 

We happened to be in White Bear Lake visiting our friends Scott and Mary, during the most recent explosion! Mary received a bunch of notifications on her phone. Her daughter was sending cell phone images of the sky at her home nearby; glorious images of Northern Lights that streamed from one end to the other. We went outside and were rewarded with vibrant colors of red, purple, green and white. The streets were dotted with neighbors all holding their phones up and whispering in excitement as the colors and movement constantly changed! 

On our way home, we stopped at Otto Berg Park, on the north end of Stillwater, where it was dark with very little ambient light. The parking lot was buzzing with cars and folks were walking into the pitch black park to get a better view. It seemed like the entire town woke up and came out to share in nature's beautiful gift. Dave and I laid down in the grass and enjoyed the show until the wind and chill chased us back to the warmth of our car.

Northern Lights are magnetic, in origin as well as in attraction. They rate up there with meteor showers and phosphorescents. We never tire of viewing the natural expressions of beauty that they deliver. This particular show was special because it was visible with the naked eye all over the United States.

Canvas Waterproofing Project

A few years back, we purchased a heavy duty Sailrite sewing machine. It has been incredibly useful in creating an assortment of items for our Alberg 35, s/v Mystic. Among the projects we've completed are storage bags, winch covers, dinghy chaps, rain and sun tarps, and a winter cover.

The cover was our biggest project, taking a total of 50 yards of SurLast water repellent fabric. We got a great deal purchasing it from Rochford Supply's seconds bin for $5.00 per yard. The project took six weeks to put together but has proven to be well worth the work. It has protected our boat for the last five years, keeping her dry and shading her teak from the sun. Each spring, we inspect, clean and make repairs where needed. In spite of the exposure to the elements, it has held up nicely with only minor chaffing damage.

Last year, we decided to re-waterproof the canvas in the hope of extending the life of the cover. Over the counter spray products are easy to find but proved to be expensive. Dave researched making our own and found a recipe on one of the boat forums he follows. We decided to take it on as a DIY project.

There are only two ingredients in the waterproofing solution, silicone caulk and mineral spirits. We combined them in a large bucket then blended the mixture until the silicone completely dissolved into the mineral spirits. The amount of fabric we were working with required tripling the recipe. After cleaning the cover, we laid it on a poly tarp face up and rolled the waterproofing mixture over the entire cover, making sure to saturate every inch, then hung it outside until it was dry.

The fabric felt a little stiffer than before the treatment although it didn't feel heavier and it didn't smell like chemicals. Last fall, we installed the cover and crossed our fingers. When we returned in the spring, we found that a pocket of snow had accumulated over winter. As it melted it created a deep sag in the fabric, bulging downward with about 5 gallons of water. We were amazed to see that not a drop of water seeped through. The waterproofing did it's job!

I have to admit that I was a nervous about using a home-made recipe instead of purchasing a commercial product. I didn't want to ruin our cover. Not all fabrics can handle these chemicals, including Sunbrella. We researched SurLast and felt confident about the compatibility before beginning this project. We experienced a successful outcome and plan to use this method on our other boat canvas. 

 Waterproofing recipe:

10 oz tube of 100% clear silicone caulking 

1 gallon of odorless mineral spirits

Cleaning Sails

We are in the midst of winterizing our Alberg 35, Mystic. One of the tasks that was necessary this year is cleaning our main and jib sails. Both are going on 20 years old. The main is in pretty solid condition, the jib is starting to look a bit worn. 

We began the process by soaking the sails in a trough that Dave built with 2x4 framing and a plastic liner. We filled it with about 50 gallons of water and 2 cups of oxyclean dissolved in hot water. Oxyclean works by releasing the bond that dirt has with the canvas. It starts out as sodium percarbonate. When you dissolve it in water it breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and washing soda, (a kind of baking soda).

Sail soaking in trough

After the long soak, we scrubbed both sides of the sail with water and dawn dish detergent. We thoroughly rinsed it before hanging the sail from two trees. Once it was hung, we rinsed it some more and let it hang in our backyard all day until it was dry. 

Rinsing the main

More rinsing after hanging 

Once the main was clean, dried, flaked and stored we turned our focus on the jib. While we worked we kept an eye on the weather. The forecast called for rain in the afternoon. Unfortunately, precipitation arrived in the morning right after we'd hung the jib. Although it wasn't ideal, we draped the sail through our living and dining rooms. Dave added fans to speed up the drying. By dinner time we had a clean, and dry jib.

Jib hanging to dry

Jib draped through our house

That's a lot of sail

While we were cleaning the sails, we inspected them from the head to the clew. We found three tiny holes in the main that will need patching. The jib had deep stains on the sacrificial UV cover edge. After taking a closer look at this area we could see that it should be replaced. 

Cleaning our sails was a huge project that created two more huge projects. Each sail took two days to complete. Patching the micro holes in the main, and replacing the sacrificial UV cover on the jib will be labor intensive. We hope to have them completed before spring. 

The sails turned out great! Not all of the stains lifted but the majority of the canvas brightened during the process. We've owned Mystic for 13 years now.  It seems like a lot of boat projects are popping up these days. She's turning 60 next year, a good old boat that's seen a lot and travelled far. She's worth all of our hard work to keep her looking beautiful.

Haul Out Challenges

Fall in the Midwest means it is time to close up our boat for the winter. Our summer slip is in Menominee, Michigan, our winter storage in Oconto, Wisconsin. We wanted to make the 24 mile trek south around the middle of September, before fall weather set in.

The second week of September, Hi-Seas Marina, informed us that the Harbor Hoist used to haul our boat out had broken down. Summer had returned after a week of cold, wet and dreary weather in Menominee so we weren't really in any hurry. We were mostly concerned about being on the water in miserable conditions in October. It took longer than anyone hoped, to get that travel lift back in working order. Hi-Seas doesn't have a lot of staging area for boats coming in for the winter. The slips are full of seasonal folks who try to stay in the water as long as possible. There wasn't a slip for us to go to while we waited. The broken hydraulic steering system put a damper in the fall routine at Hi-Seas. A hundred plus boats had to be hauled out before November. There wasn't much anyone could do about the situation except wait patiently. 

Finally, there was a slip open for us at Hi-Seas. We were relieved to take this big step in wrapping up the season. We left Menominee under dreary skies with winds expected to be 10-15 knots from the north. We headed out past the breakwater into gnarly rolling 5 foot waves with a 5 second interval, and gusting winds. Pointing Mystic into the wind, we attempted to raise our main. It was so rough that we gave up and turned east to take the rollers more from behind us. The waves continued to cause havoc, making for a very uncomfortable ride. Dave pointed Mystic's bow toward Green Island to steady us as we tried unfurling the jib. The gusts whipped the sail back and forth. It refused to stay filled so we abandoned the idea of sailing, continuing east under motor power, until we had a clear shot past Peshtigo Point. Only then could we head south for Oconto. This was exactly why we were anxious to get to Hi-Seas, inclement weather! By the time we got to Peshtigo Lighthouse, we both had bruised and bloody shins from getting knocked around the boat during the first hour of the trip.

Peshtigo Light

Once we passed the lighthouse, things calmed tremendously in the lee of Peshtigo Point. The rollers slowly disappeared and the wind lightened. We pulled into Hi-Seas marina in glass calm waters and glided into the slip we had been directed to. We didn't know the status of the broken Harbor Hoist so we expected to stay put for at least a couple days. In the morning we heard a knock on our hull. The travel lift repair had been completed the night before and we were coming out of the water. This was great news. Things were finally falling into place.

Mystic in the well

Harbor Hoist Ride

Setting Mystic on her keel for a good washing

Mystic was set in jack stands in the same spot as last year, next to the flagpole. Once we were settled, we had to get back to Menominee to pick up our truck. We'd planned to ride our bikes back, along scenic roads through Oconto, Peshtigo and Marinette. The 20 mile ride took 2.5 hours but that included a good half hour stop at a park where we rested and ate snacks. It was a good ride on a beautiful day!

Placing her on jack stands

Once we were out of the water, we had boat projects to do. First on our list was a few coats of varnish on the teak. In 2020, we'd put 10 coats on freshly sanded wood and added a couple coats each year since. It looked great but was starting to wear through in spots. In fact, when we scraped it, huge sections came off in one chunk with ease. We discovered that a lot of the 2020 varnish was separating from the wood. Instead of a couple quick coats for maintenance, we were facing a major varnish job.

We focused on the oak anchor windless first which was peeling like an orange. Dave decided to apply epoxy instead of varnish for a longer lasting finish. We spent all day scraping and sanding then added the first coat around 4:30 in the afternoon. In the morning, we realized the dew had gotten to the epoxy overnight before it could dry and we had a cloudy finish. Discouraged, we scraped and sanded the first coat down and added a new coat earlier in the afternoon. This time, it dried clear, giving us the glassy finish we strive for.

Sanded out Bowsprite

Next we began working on our teak toe-rail. Over summer, everyone commented on how beautiful our teak looked. Unfortunately, it was also compromised. We tried to lift all the worst spots and sand out the greying areas but some the 10+ coats had to be 100% removed. We approached our work one hour at a time. Trying to muster an attitude of making lemonade out of lemons by reminding ourselves how beautiful Mystic will be once we complete the dreaded teak work before us.

Although our end of season experience hasn't worked out smoothly, we are getting close to comfortable about leaving Mystic on the hard until spring. We still have to empty and clean her. Dave will build our winter cover frame and we'll install the cover. Tying it down takes about four hours. It's a lot of work closing down for the season but Mystic deserves the attention we give her. She's worth it!

That's a wrap!

The Ahnapee Bike Trail

Having a vehicle at the Marina allows us to explore and bring our kayaks and bikes along. In July, we brought our folding bikes with us and drove over to Algoma, Wisconsin, on the east side of Door County, to ride the Ahnapee bike trail. The north end of the trail runs from Algoma to Sturgeon Bay. We rode 7 miles to the Forestville Dam then turned back. It took a lot longer than we expected as the folding bikes allow us speeds up to about 6 miles an hour tops.  That was only if we kept up constant peddling. If we coasted, forward motion slowed to a crawl. We were exhausted at the end.

After the ride, we loaded our bikes up and drove into Algoma to visit the original Ahnapee Brewery,  "The Garage". It's located in an old two stall car repair shop just a few doors down from the original 1800's microbrewery. We'd already been to the second Ahnapee tasting room just off of highway 41 in Suamico. It is a bit upscale compared to The Garage. The Garage is across from the marina and has gorgeous views of Lake Michigan, along with that alternative vibe that microbreweries are known for. Both are great places to have a cold beer. Ahnapee makes very good beer!

In August, we brought our road bikes to finish the trail from Sturgeon Bay to the Forestville Dam, a 20.8 mile round trip ride. It took us 2 hours and 4 minutes with several stops for water and to take in the views. As we rode, a chipmunk and a big young buck crossed the trail in front of us. A hawk soared over us, floating from tree to tree like it was leading our way. We dodged a gardener snake and a toad, sunning on the trail. In awe, we caught a cougar sneaking delicately from one side of the trail to the other. He tip toed across, pausing for just a moment to look at us, as if to say, " What the heck is that?" From our point of view he looked like a panther, very dark in the low light, with a distinctive long curling tail and huge paws. He was about the size of a medium dog. As he crossed, we noticed a hiker just ahead. She was oblivious to the event behind her but it would have been astonishing for both of them had their paths intertwined. 

We passed meadows of ragweed and golden rod, beautiful reminders that fall is in the air. There were fields of corn, tall and straight as an arrow, waiting for harvest. Tons of apple trees lined the trail; heavily laden with red and golden yellow fruit. We stopped to try the yellow which were deliciously sweet but riddled with bugs. Wildlife, possibly deer or raccoons, had shaken the trees to get the fruit down. The trail was littered with rotting debris that filled the air with the sweet smell of apple pie. 

At the dam, a couple, who looked to be around 90 years old, were trying to unload kayaks off their truck. Dave offered help but they were having none of that! The husband said, "You're not going to be here tomorrow to help me reload them, so, no I don't need help. I need to figure out how I'm gonna do it on my own".

The Ahnapee trail is hard packed gravel and easy to ride with our road bikes. There is little to no elevation change. Some parts of the trail have grass growing which required slowing down and extra attention to the ground on our road bikes. The views were gorgeous. It made for a lovely day with unexpected treats along the way.  We look forward to biking the south end of the trail from Algoma to Luxemburg then down to Keewaunee on our next ride. It's another 40 miles round trip. 

From the Door County Pulse

State of Wisconsin Trail Maps

Frankfort Michigan 2025

We woke along the wall in Manistee, Michigan, refreshed and ready for the next leg of our adventure. Breakfast was fresh salmon from Bob and Sue. After eating and tidying things up, we threw our lines and set off for Frankfort. The forecast called for rain with wind out of the east, so we expected to sail and hoped to have a easy ride. We raised our sails as soon as we cleared the breakwater but enjoyed only about 20 minutes before slowing to a crawl, our sails hung limp as the wind died. A wall of clouds formed from the west. Disappointed, we dropped our canvas and began motoring on a very calm lake, adding layers to combat the cooling temps. We put our rain awning up and huddled underneath as rain and drizzle passed over us. Swells built behind us, gently rolling under our hull. By the time we arrived in Frankfort, following seas nudged us into the breakwater channel right at 3:00 as planned. 

Sailing in gloomy weather

Bundled under the tarp staying dry

In 2016, we'd stopped in Frankfort to shelter during a big storm. We were excited to return under different circumstances. As we approached the marina, two staff members met us at slip 66 and grabbed our lines. The Dock Master, Mark was at Frankfort back when we first visited. We were delighted to see his familiar face. His eyes lit up as soon as we reminded him about the huge storm we weathered out in the marina bath house. We reminisced about how bad that storm was and how kind locals offered us assistance.

Mark and Dave in 2016

Frankfort Marina bath house

We met other marina staff including Kim and Kelly, Mark's wife. We hit if off right away. Kim gave us fresh organic cucumbers and Kelly gave us fresh salmon from local fisherman. They updated us on where to wine and dine in Frankfort. Some new places had popped up. We decided to go to a place we'd enjoyed in 2016, StormCloud Brewing Company. We'd spent a bit of time there during the storm, waiting out a storm at a place called StormCloud.

StormCloud growler lamp

We planned to stay two nights but decided to stay three. Frankfort has a lot to offer and we wanted to explore. We also wanted to stay until we had the best weather to head to our next port, Charlevoix. In the morning we took a long walk on a paved bike path that led to the tiny town on the other side of Lake Betsie called Elberta. We could see Mystic in her slip from Waterfront Park. 

Mystic nestled between the big boats

The very first Great Lakes Life Saving Station is in Elberta. It was built in 1887 and was one of only two life saving stations on Lake Michigan at that time. Later this summer, we would visit the Life Saving Station in Keewaunee which was built in 1893. These Life Saving Stations led to the forming of the US Coast Guard. Today, the Life Saving Station at Elberta is an event center. Many weddings are held in this beautiful venue. After our walk, we picked up groceries at Family Fare finding that groceries are very expensive in Frankfort!

Welcome to Elberta

Life Saving Station, Elberta, Michigan

The former Frankfort Iron Works building is in the Waterfront Park. It opened in 1870 and closed in 1883. After closing, it was used for ferry car loading and shops before being abandoned and falling into dramatic ruins. Soon, it will disappear; a piece of history captured in photographs.

Frankfort Iron Works

A little piece of history in Elberta

An Island Packet catamaran, Inspiration, pulled into a slip nearby us. We noticed their white Looper flag right away and stopped to say hello. Later, Bruce and Amy invited us over for sangria. We talked Looping and sail boat racing. Our evening ended early so they could prepare to leave for Ludington in the morning. We weren't ready to settle for the night.  The Cool Spot, an ice cream shop, was a short walk into town. We both chose sea turtle ice cream; our new favorite flavor!

The Cool Spot

In the morning, we got up and made breakfast then took a walk over the breakwater to the lighthouse. On our way back, we meandered through the downtown neighborhoods. Beautiful homes in pristine condition lined the streets. Mature maple trees created a canopy along the sidewalk. Many homes had large murals, some painted on driftwood, hanging on their porches. Frankfort is a lovely town.

Walking the lighthouse pier

Frankfort entry channel

Frankfort Lighthouse

Later, we walked north on the beach along the base of the sand dunes. Butterflies were everywhere and seagulls were taking sips from the lake. The sun was shining in a bright blue sky; the water sparkled crystal clear as families and fishermen enjoyed the day along the stunning coastline. Stormcloud was on our way home so we stopped for a beer and met a couple from Milwaukee. They were headed for Ludington to take the Badger Ferry across the lake.

Walking along the sand dunes 

Looking back toward the lighthouse 

Enjoying a beautiful day on Lake Michigan 

 

Sand dunes to the south of Ludington 

Crystal clear water

The slips at Frankfort are quite long. The land side is lined with large rocks. Most boats are tied to the piers at least 30 feet from shore due to shallow water and the rocky shoreline. We had to fill our water tank one gallon at a time, because our hose wouldn't reach. 

Mystic tucked in at Frankfort

Frankfort docks

We'd planned to go to Charlevoix but, once again, weather did not cooperate. The forecast has been inconsistent this entire trip so we decided to make our way back to Sturgeon Bay. Cutting our adventure short was disappointing but we'd already spent 10 days waiting for the right wind. 

Frankfort Marina was sponsoring a fishing tournament on the weekend. Many boats came into the docks and mooring field to prepare for the event. Dave watched as boats started lining up at 5:00 am. He yelled to me, " I just saw a shooting star! Once they headed out, we slipped in right behind them. The lake was dotted with boats of all sizes seeking the best spot for a winning catch.

It was 60 miles across from Frankfort to Sturgeon bay; we had a long day ahead of us. Winds were expected to be light and from the north, with 1-2 ft waves. We found them to be light and from the north west, a bit on the nose, so we motor sailed. Once again we took one hour watches which made the time go by faster. We averaged 7-8 mph on the crossing. 

View Leaving Frankfort

Crossing Lake Michigan 

When we slipped into the Sturgeon Bay canal we figured we might as well keep going. We maneuvered the three bridges then navigated out into Green Bay, expecting to sail the last 15 miles. The bay was dead calm, the sun was shining and the air was still. It felt like it took forever to motor those last miles to Menominee. We passed our slip to make a big u-turn so we'd be facing out just as our dock neighbors realized it was us. They grabbed our lines and welcomed us home. Our trip was not what we hoped for but it was fabulous all the same. We'll be heading out for more adventures next year!