The Final Hurrah (of the summer)

Spending the last days of sun out on and above Lake Michigan

Dear friends,

Welcome back to another chapter of this wonderful novel Found by Felicity is turning out to be. I know that it is December, but I still wish to share the conclusion of the summer with you all; I need to fill in the gaps of my gap year.

While spending a month in Mackinaw City aboard S/V Athina where I helped out with the final charters of the season, I had the opportunity to join a crew of friends aboard S/V Retriever, a sailing schooner run by the Scouts of America. The group was sailing the boat from Mackinaw City to Boyne City where they would haul her out for the winter. I had never been aboard a schooner before (a sailboat with two masts), and with the winds ripping from the North West, the ride was exhilarating! We were on such a steep heel (where the boat leans to one side due to the force of the wind) that it was tricky to move about the boat without being knocked to the low side. I got to steer for a while, and I talked to the captain about the Scout programming. He recommended that I check out a place called Sea Base in the Keys, the only ocean-based scout high adventure camp. A seed was planted, as one of my deepest beliefs is that one’s greatest education is through teaching others. If I could somehow be in a position where I had the opportunity to teach Scouts how to sail, I would become an even better sailor myself. Additionally, throughout my childhood I had always wanted to be a Boy Scout; I wanted to go on backpacking trips and participate in survival training which were not things offered to Girl Scouts. Now that the Girl and Boy Scouts have integrated, girls can get to partake in the same experiences. That day aboard Retriever, I decided I wanted to apply to Sea Base to have a go at inspiring Scouts on the water.

Along the way to Boyne City, we passed a sailboat whose owners Jerry and I had met one evening on Mackinac Island. The young owners are on the Great Loop and have been working their way up from Key West for the past couple of years. Anytime they are running low on funds, they get local jobs wherever the boat is docked until they are ready to continue. I had never considered doing the Great Loop in their nomadic style as most Loopers are older and have spent years in their dirt home saving and planning, but it makes a ton of sense for those (particularly younger) people who are willing to have the flexibility in their lives to do so. Anyway, we were able to get pictures of each other’s boats as we passed by. Here is an awesome picture they got of Retriever:

Soon after, I began the long drive back to Holland to reunite with S/V Felicity for the final few weeks of predicted sunshine. I drove West along the scenic Highway 31 which follows Michigan’s West coast. I stopped by Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City where I climbed a dune and visited a beautiful remote beach. I had no idea dunes could be so huge! The picture doesn’t do the dune justice; I was about 1000 feet above the crashing waves below.

I continued through the quaint string of beachside towns, and I got an out-of-the-blue text from Natalie (from the campsite in the U.P) which included an invitation to go sky diving later that day in Grand Haven, a town I was set to pass through within the next few hours. At that point in my existence, skydiving was not on my bucket list. It was not on my radar in the slightest, but I said yes. It was a beautiful day, and I did not know if I would ever have another chance to jump out of a plane over the coast of Michigan with a new friend and a stranger. So three hours later I drove up to a hangar in the outskirts of Grand Haven while I prayed none of my family members would check my location on “Find my Friends” to see I was at a business called “Skydive Grand Haven.” After signing my life away, I was paired with my instructor - a British lad wearing flip-flops with rubber bands securing them to his toes; nothing could go wrong! We boarded the plane where we straddled two bleacher benches facing the rear of the plane, and in no time we were flying above the inlet. It was magnificent! The flight up was my favorite part; we were so close, yet so far from the green and blue haze below. The noise of the town was muffled by the winds at 14,000 feet. The first few guys jumped solo before us. I could see from the window of the plane as they twirled and tumbled through the air with grace and ease. Finally, it was our turn. The stranger was the first one to jump. Then Natalie. Finally me and the British lad (whose name was Ian). Correction: we didn’t jump, instead we were heaved out by our instructors at the count of three. During the initial freefall, I forgot how to breathe. Once we were caught by the parachute, the view was amazing and the feel was surreal. After we landed safely on the ground, filled to the brim with adrenaline and gratitude, we went to the Paisley Pig (a local gastropub) and walked out on the inlet we had just flown above to watch the sunset. I will never regret saying yes.

I got back to Felicity that night for the first time in a month, and it was great to be home. All her lines held through the storms, and boat neighbors had been sending occasional updates so I knew she was in good hands while I was gone. She got a very thorough bath, and while I was scrubbing I met the owners and friends of the boat in the adjacent transient slip. Both couples had done the Great Loop, and they invited me aboard to celebrate the naming of their new boat. What was going to be a quiet night on Felicity turned into a lively evening of connecting with new friends over shared experiences. I continued to keep in touch with one of the couples throughout the conclusion of the sailing season as they were interested in buying a sailboat to cruise the Great Lakes. The generosity and hospitality of people who spend time out on the water is astounding, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community.

Thankfully, we had a weather window for one last adventure before sailing up to Muskegon for the winter. Natalie joined me for the last hurrah. We spent the better part of the day sailing thirty miles North from Holland to Grand Haven where we docked at the municipal marina. It was my first sail on Felicity to an overnight destination, and it was a big step in building my confidence as Felicity’s skipper. Natalie was a wonderful and helpful crew member. Grand Haven is always a nice place to visit. The town and beach are within walking distance, and there are many nice restaurants, coffee shops, and shops. The next morning, we walked around town and picked up coffee and breakfast before starting the sail back to Holland. The winds were slight so we only went one to two knots without the assistance of the motor; we jumped in behind and followed through the cool clear water holding onto a line. It was a nice warm day and felt like a perfect last day on the water before the winterization activities began. I was also grateful to have found an awesome friend and helper in Natalie; I hope she can join me in future sailing endeavors!

With the summer season concluding, I made a hodge-podge video recalling some of my fondest moments. It is linked below; I hope you enjoy the vicarious experiences!

Sky and Sea Summer 2023

Looking back on these clips brings me immense joy and fulfillment, as this summer was certainly one for the books. It was sad to wrap up back in September, and maybe the feeling of losing it is contributing to why I am only wrapping it up on paper now in December. With fondness for the past, I must launch into the present and the experiences that the future will bring.

Up next: Winterizing Felicity, a solo trip to Canada gone wrong, Backpacking through the UK and Europe with Mom, Getting my Captains License at Maritime Professional Training in Ft. Lauderdale, Sea Base, and coming home for the Holidays.

Where I am currently: home for the Holidays!

With love,

Maddie