Our One and a Half (not 3) Hour Tour

We started our day with a latte’ and some Cinnamon Coffee Cake Bread Elda Ann had made for us and then off to church.  The guys provided us our Sunday lunch at Walkers. 

The weather was so beautiful, 80 some degrees and very little wind.  I was able to purchase tickets through the internet for a sail on the Friends Good Will.

   

The drive to Muskegon was beautiful with the fall colored leaves on the trees lining the freeway.  Dan and Dorie Roth came with us.

We boarded the ship with about 9 crew members and only 11 (they can carry 20) passengers .  The ship leaves and returns to the dock under motor power.  Once underway they ask for volunteers to help raise the sails.  Both Dan and I joined in.

    It was fun rubbing elbows with the crew.  We took a tour of the lower deck where the crew sleeps and eats.  It sounded like the crew didn’t think the old army cook had gourmet meals.  

One thing the cook pointed out to us was a prism embedded in the upper deck floor.   When we got down below, he showed us how it lit up the area where you could check navigation maps, without fear of burning up the place with a kerosene type lamp.  The only disappointing part of our trip was we only sailed around Lake Muskegon because the ship was docked too far from Lake Michigan to make it out and back again.  Dan and I also helped (see video) lower the sails on the way back in.

Dick took the scenic drive home, but we failed to stop and take pictures as we were all ready to get home for a good night’s sleep.  I spotted a ½ price sale at Coney Island as they were closing for the winter.  Many of the little drive through restaurants close for the winter and clear out their inventory this way.   We stopped and got an ice cream, way too many points, but it sure was good!
To see all the pictures of our cruise, click on this link.