Port Austin

Dan and I had a quiet day in Port Austin. We slept late and had a continental breakfast. It was kind of rainy and a little cool. We decided to wait for the weather to clear to go into town. I finished a book [Dead Boogie by Victoria Houston] and Dan did some cruising on the web. We had some tomato soup and noodles for lunch and then walked into town.

Port Austin proper has several restaurants and some souvenir stores. I mailed a letter and picked up some postcard stamps at the post office. I dragged Dan into a couple of stores; including one that had an old fashioned soda counter. No Emily, we did not partake of the ice cream. Maybe the next town. : )

We went back to the boat and Dan did a few chores, hanging a clock and barometer and filling up the water. We decided to be very lazy and took a nice nap.

Later in the afternoon we walked out on the break wall and checked out the harbor entrance and listened to the fisherman tease each other. We came on back to the boat and had a cocktail and snack.

We walked back into town about eight to meet Dan’s brother at the Sportsman’s Bar for a pizza. They were running behind and by that point I was just about starving. We had a nice visit and hated to say goodbye. Dan doesn't get to see Johnny's family very much. They stay really busy with the store and charter fishing. Even when we visit them in Bad Axe it's always at the store as they are working.

Tonight was an absolutely beautiful evening, about 70, mild and balmy. What every Michigan summer evening should be like. Here it is August and this was probably the nicest summer night we've had.

Tomorrow moring we plan to leave early for Presque Isle. Presque Isle means "almost an island" in French. It is just north of Alpena. Dan figures it to be about 90 miles according to the chart plotter. It comes well recommended as a stopping point; it is supposed to very beautiful and quiet.