Ariel's Lake Michigan Cruise

David VanDenburgh · Post by **David VanDenburgh** » Aug 5th, '08, 02:47

Ariel is home from a month of cruising Lake Michigan: up the east shore to Charlevoix, over to Beaver Island and back down the lake. About 600 miles altogether. Slides are on Picasa if you're interested. Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/david.vande ... Cruise2008

Warren Kaplan · Post by **Warren Kaplan** » Aug 5th, '08, 07:28

FABULOUS PHOTOS!!!

Dave,

I looked at them all. Whadda' trip. And you are quite the photographer. You have a marvelous eye!!

I applaud thee to the very echo!

David VanDenburgh · Post by **David VanDenburgh** » Aug 5th, '08, 09:30

Thanks for the kudos, but I have to confess that it is my son who took most (and the best) of them. Both my boys are good photographers.

BTW, here's a link showing the route in Google Earth:

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » Aug 5th, '08, 12:53

I greatly enjoyed the picture cruise of Lake Michigan and Ariel. Charlevoix and its lake is one of my most unforgettable stopovers from a previous cruise. Thanks for the photos.

The last picture we saw of Jacob, he was an infant. Now look at him.

It appears that you are blessed with a beautiful, loving family.

Best regards,
O J

David VanDenburgh · Post by **David VanDenburgh** » Aug 5th, '08, 15:40

OJ, you're right. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. A wonderful wife of 36 years. Two great sons: David (whom you know from this board) is married and has two great sons of his own; Jonathan (who isn't much interested in sailing but humors me) is engaged to be married in September. And a Cape Dory! What more could I ask? Blessed - I am very, very blessed.

Being a college teacher has many benefits and one of the best is the freedom to sail all summer. It lets us get in one long trip (about a month) and some shorter trips. We have to make hay while the sun shines because the season is so short on the Great Lakes. If we get in the water by June 1, we are doing good, and the marina wants all the boats out by mid-October (earlier, if they could) to avoid the late fall storms. November on the Great Lakes makes them some of the biggest shipwreck sites anywhere.