South Haven, Michigan

Spending two months in a 1940's-era fish camp and working on our boat while it was still in the storage shed was a great way for us to begin the process of winding down. I retired in June of 1998, thinking that I needed the extra time to have garage sales, ready the house for selling and helping Michael with his responsibilites as Commander for District 24, United States Power Squadron. That alone took up 16 weekends that winter that would not be used for getting ready to leave. Our home in Columbus, IN, sold immediately so we found ourselves moving to Indianapolis, nearer to Michael's work, for six months before we ever made the final move to South Haven, Michigan.

South Haven, MI, had been our home port for eight years. We lived some four hours away in south central Indiana. We had learned to sail on nearby reservoir Lake Monroe; but once we caught the cruising bug, we looked for a home port that would give us greater sailing/cruising experience than we would find on our inland lake. (Lake Michigan is an inland lake as well, but her deep waters, length and width, and inviting ports became our instructor for the cruising life we hoped to live.)

During the first part of the 20th century, South Haven was a summer destination for thousands of Chicago residents looking for a cooler climate during those long, warm summer days and nights. A steamer made regular trips across the lake to South Haven. With the advent of air conditioning, the resort area declined and the orchard business remained as the major industry. Reminders still exist of that era such as the Super Haven Campground, Sleepy Hollow Resort and numerous Victorian homes along the shoreline. Today it is again a hot tourist destination with its mild summer climate and perfect sandy beaches. Boaters find numerous places to dock along the length of the Black River. We found a slip at All Seasons Marina, across the river from the local yacht club and the ever popular sternwheeler-restaurant The Idler. Whether it was a quiet weekend or one which hosted the Blueberry Festival or Blues Fest, South Haven captured our hearts and became our door to the cruising dream.