Timeless Yacht

08/30/2026

One relaxing day in Chicago.

A morning of cafe latte on the aft deck contemplating our 2027 plans and where we’ll go.

Late morning “small” (smaller than Timeless) Architectural Boat tour with a local friend which was just about perfect. Sharing a few of the photos only. So much history and hidden design can be missed.

A Triumph collection was on disokay on our stroll back to the marina.

Afternoon spent with our friend catching up on the aft deck.

Evening anniversary dinner with a view, though not the million dollar view we could have had, still a great dinner made more so by our server Megan.

The day completed with fireworks just for our anniversary, right?

08/29/2026

Another early departure to maximize our time in Chicago. Unfortunately Dee’s flight back from supporting her mom was delayed for 5 hours. She showed up after 4:00p instead of being here when we arove.

Our lines dropped at 0630, we pushed the throttles up to 950 RPM which today equaled 7.7 knots. It was a tad lumpier than expected on the south end of the lake but totally comfortable for all but the weakest stomachs. Loopers were making the best of the flatter day and LOTS of loop boats were moving about, and on to new harbors.

We arrived at the breakwater for Chicago Harbor at bit before 1030 after gaining an hour on the lake to a different time zone. We let a boat out of our fairway, spun around and backed into our slip at Navy Pier in the heart of Chitown.

We bid farewell to the guests then spent the next 4 hours cleaning and cleaning more to make sure Dee was welcomed back. A huge thank you to Mike and Pam. I couldn’t have done it without them!

My nephew moved to Chicago a Month ago so the first order of business was inviting him onboard for a tour, and then taking him out to dinner at the Girl and the Goat. 🐐 soooooo good. Totally lives up to the hype. Maybe he can join us for our short leg to Hammond in a few days.

08/28/2026

This morning we departed early for the 60+ mile run from Saugatuck to New Buffalo. The models showed lighter winds and they were light but the wind was brisk to our north rolling 1-3 footers on our starboard beam. At times they were small and other times they built. We cruised along at our energy efficient 1000rpm and 8knots. Mid day we got the old gal on plane for excitement in the rollers. She can still cruise over 19 pinned and surf down at 20 knots. 80% load gives us about 17 knots and fuel burn which I’ll spare you the eye watering cost.

We arrived at 1400, after just a bit over 7 hours and 30 minutes we got tied up, pumped out and headed to the beach.

Oh, the beautiful beach. Air temp 75f felt warmer in the sun, water temp 75f and it was absolutely beautiful. It’s a bit of cognitive dissonance looking at the clear Caribbean looking water, but no salt when the surf splashes you in the face. After a swim and some time relaxing on the beach we headed back to the boat to freshen up and head to dinner at PostBoy just steps from the marina. It was so nice to enjoy non standard and actually elevated dishes on a realer and inviting setting.

A stroll through town to check it out, and of course find the ice cream shops. A sunset to end a great day.

Tomorrow we head to Chicago. We have a full weekend planned. Can’t wait.

08/28/2026

New Buffalo Michigan created some cognitive dissonance. We kind of felt like we were back in the gulf, or islands, but were up in Michigan with no salt in the air and no shells on the beach.

08/27/2026

This morning was a “lazy” morning getting some odd and ends done. At about 1130 we headed to town for a yummy lunch at Fresh Basil. I then wondered town while our guests and crew rented a retro boat to tool around. I really loved all the unique shops staffed by the actual artists and owners. I stopped by the performing arts center (sad I’ll miss the show) strolled the galleries and gardens and then hopped over to the very much lightly used Douglas public dock. It’s a cute all be it sleepier town. I wondered through Douglas and then headed back to Timeless to stroll up to the Root Beer Barrel (it’s a thing). For dinner I met everyone back over at Noble Twist Tap House. All yummy homemade pizza, little yummy twists on dishes and bread and butter everyone would go back for without hesitation.

I couldn’t see coming back to Lake Michigan without stopping here again. One of my favorite stops on the loop.

Tomorrow we head further south.

Check out the pictures for more of the story 🙂

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Some days are just perfect from start to finish. Conditions today exceeded all predictions in the flat sea category. Kelly Rae got the jump and earliest start. We followed dropping lines from Snug Harbor a bit behind at 0630. Ti Amo wasn’t far behind us and Moonshine pulled up the sweep. It wasn’t long until everyone passed us at our leisurely 8 knots.

The sun rose over the land creating a beautiful start to the day as we rolled down the Pond, I.e. Lake Michigan at 950rpm. After passing White Lake the slalom fishing course opened, adding some fun to the day. Not sure if they were catching but after an infields worth of lumpy days everyone and their brother and cousin was out fishing and looper boats filled the lake. Most boats did their best to troll off our course.

Our three friend boats stopped in Grand Haven but we continued on. Hopefully they catch the drone show on Thursday. We continued on to Saugatuck to make up our extra short day to Pentwater. We arrived in Saugatuck, slowed through the longest channel to the basin which opens a bit like Ft Myers Beach with a shallow middle and marinas on both sides but more the charm of Boca Grande but unpretentious. We’re at Tower Marine (Safe Harbor) so we launched the tender to ride across to town, exploring the water from up close before tying up at the dingy dock.

This might be my favorite town yet. First there’s 6 ice cream shops in a 300ft radius. You can quite literally see one Kilwins from the second one. So many well regarded restaurants, on the water eating and drinking establishments, unique gift shops (and open late), and more. It’s the furthest from cookie cutter town yet. We’re excited to have an extra day to explore tomorrow.

08/25/2026

We hung around most of today in Ludington. In the early afternoon we replaced the port auxiliary / house alternator belt we shredded the other day as well as its mate. While we were there, we replace the primary alternate belt because, why it hasn’t been done in? A few years? None of this is needed to run but keeping our redundant systems in top shape keeps us running efficiently.

At 1500 (3p)we slipped our lines from the awesome docks in Ludington at Harbor View and headed to the fuel dock to pump out. We’d be arriving late at our destination and leaving early the next day so we didn’t want to chance it 2 more days.

At 1520 the s**t sucking and pumping was done, so we slid off the fuel dock, spun around in a stiff but dying breeze and headed west toward the channel from Ludington Harbor. The gentle rollers from west continued on through the mouth but weren’t much worse once we pushed out past the breakwaters.

We turned south, set the throttles at a leisurely 1000 RPM and loped along at just over 8 knots. With the 2-3ft rollers on our starboard beam we would have been rolling like a marble through a Rube Goldberg contraption but our stabilizers did their job holding us steady. A tiny bit of pitching and a smidge of yaw but not a drop of spray on the windows.

We pulled into Pentwater just under 12nm south, spun around again, let the breeze push us to the wall and got tied up. Of course it was time to see Juno and her servants on Ti Amo, and the crews of Moonshine and Kelly Rae again, as well as share a generalist walk through of Ti Amo with our guests who are figuring out which boat will be their ideal Loop boat.

Tomorrow the looper armada is dropping lines early tomorrow all bound for Grand Haven but us. That was our destination today. We only made it 12nm today as the next port would have put us in close to 8p but this short trip this afternoon took about an hour and a half off the trip to Saugatuck tomorrow. With increasing PM winds we’d like to be in port early.

Just one pic of the beautiful sky tonight.

08/24/2026

Not much to say today. Caught up on boat chores and laundry. Mike and Jenna washed the boat, and a few other odds and ends.

The sky was on fire tonight.

Tomorrow is a big TBD. We'll see what Mother Nature has in store for us.

08/23/2026

Today was a sad dad and a fun day. Dee had to leave to support her mom, as her step father passed away peacefully after a long and valiant fight with cancer. May he rest in peace and Jan find solace in all who love her.

After driving her earlier than expected to an airport an hour further away I stopped by Pentwater on my way back to Ludington to see the classic boats curtesy of the Pentwater Yacht Club but also and maybe more importantly to meet up with some of my favorite loopers. Juno primarily of course but also her crew on Ti Amo, plus the crews of Moonshine and Kelly Rae for lunch and cherry pie. How Michigan!

Tonight I picked up new crew to help out while Dee is gone, as we wait for the wind to lay down. Hopefully we’ll depart Monday for our next port. Check out the pictures from the show, on the road and land.