Bristol-Blue Lake Michigan Sailing Adventures

Sailed Gull Lake Today! It has been 2 years since I've had a chance to get out and ice boat.  The stars aligned today and we had a good time.   Gull Lake Ice Yacht Club was hosting a party.  This is a great group of guys very welcoming.  They had a great set up down at Gull Lake Yacht club with doughnuts, chilli, and hot drinks in their club house.  I can't say enough about what a great club this is. Today we sailed for about 6 hours.  The wind was gusty and the ice a bit bumpy but very sail-able although a bit scary when hiking.    For those of you who don't know what hiking is.  This is when the wind lift your boat up and tips it to one side.  In wet water sailing it's not to big a deal.  If you hike and tip your boat over you get wet. On an ice boat hiking is fun if you can control it but if you flip over you have a good chance of going to the ER.  The gusts and ice conditions where a bit much for me today.  If the...

I found this fun song by the Flannery Brothers check it out while you read. <a href="http://dannylionmusic.com/album/the-new-explorers-club">The New Explorer's Club by Flannery Brothers</a> So on my way back from Torresen Marine's spring thaw I saw this parrot riding shot gun down US 31.  Sorry the photo isn't that great but at 70 mph down the express way you just have to take what you can get.  I think it is a sign of spring when you can take your parrot for a car ride and kudos to who ever this guy is, having an un-caged bird sitting next to you chatting.    Each year Torresen Marine puts on a big season kick off "Spring Thaw" event.  Torresen is the big sailing source here on the east side of Lake Michigan.  I've purchased boats through them, parts and attended seminars on motor maintenance over the past few years.   This year the event was great.  There was a Harken repres...